Hospital Founder Dr. Edward Reed Wagner (1862 to 1943) Honored in China
Canby, Oregon – November 13, 2015 – Dr. Craig Wagner Shinn announces that his great grandfather Dr. Edward Reed Wagner, a missionary doctor in the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions (Global Ministries) in the late 19th century, was honored for founding Huamei Hospital in Linqing, Shandong, China at a special ceremony celebrating the hospital’s 130th year on November 1st. Dr. Wagner’s extraordinary accomplishments and historical artifacts, coordinated by great granddaughters Ann Fisher Chandler and Deborah Wells Nolan, were displayed in a museum at the original Huamei Hospital that will be replicated at the new 2,800 bed state-of-the-art facility.
Dr. Guanguhua Wang, President of the Second People’s Hospital of Liaocheng, expressed his sincere gratitude for Dr. Wagner’s outstanding contributions, enabling the establishment of the original hospital. Rev. Dr. James Moos, Co-Executive, Global Ministries, Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ, stated that they greatly value their long-time close and productive association with the hospital and look forward to their continued joint work to improve the quality of life for the Chinese people while strengthening the friendship between the United States and China. Martha Wells Appleby, great granddaughter, said that the family was extremely appreciative of the hospital’s exceptional efforts in close coordination with Rev. Dr. Xiaoling Zhu, Area Executive for East Asia and the Pacific, Global Ministries, United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, to document the history of Huamei Hospital, locate family members, inviting 16 to the ceremony, and carry on Dr. Wagner’s legacy.
After the ceremony, Dr. Craig Wagner Shinn commented on the family’s commitment to an ongoing partnership with the hospital dedicated to its improved development, recognizing China’s very important relationship with the United States with regard to its advanced healthcare practices, procedures, and equipment that have served to improve healthcare services for its growing population of over 1.4 billion people.
Moreover, the hospital hosted family members to a guided tour of numerous historical sites, many of which were significant to Dr. Wagner’s family. They were also most impressed with China’s remarkable development, including thousands of miles of high speed rail and subway lines, international airports, roadways, and specialized facilities.
Family members bid farewell to their tremendously gracious hosts and excellent hospital staff led by Vice President Dr. Yong Chang with assistance from Dr. Yanbin Zhang, Dr. Ziyang Cao, Dr. Ming Xiao, and associates in a special gathering on November 10th.