First hospital in Celina opens its doors to patients

CELINA, Texas — Methodist Celina Medical Center welcomed its first patients on Monday, opening its doors moments before the sun rose above the horizon to give one of the nation's fastest-growing cities a new home for healthcare.

"Attention, attention," a Celina Fire Department dispatcher announced over the radio Monday morning, "Methodist Celina Medical Center is now open and accepting ambulances."

This Collin County boomtown's first hospital — and the 13th within Methodist Health System by ownership and affiliation — opened at 7 a.m. March 17, lighting up its emergency entrance to give the surrounding communities and the paramedics who serve them a new option for lifesaving care closer to home.

"The sign's on, the ER's open, and we're really excited about caring for our first patients," hospital President Cody Hunter said shortly after the hospital opened. "Our team is ready, willing, and able. We've got you."

Methodist Celina makes its debut nearly two years after work began on the $237 million facility on 40 acres of prairieland beside the northern reaches of the Dallas North Tollway. The hospital will offer a full array of service lines, including cardiovascular care, orthopedics, and cancer treatment, as well as trauma and emergency care.

"Celina, it took us 97 years to get here, but we're darn glad we're here," said Chief Executive Officer James C. Scoggin, Jr., paying tribute to Methodist's near-century-long mission serving the southern sector of Dallas and now well beyond. "We go where there's need, and we meet that need. We run to it."

Days before Methodist Celina accepted its first patients, grand opening celebrations gave the staff a chance to show off their 200,000-square-foot hospital to members of the community. Among those in attendance at Saturday's festival were Tami and Scott Page, who moved to Celina last fall.

"It's very exciting for Celina to get such a beautiful hospital," Tami Page said.

A high-tech drone show capped off the family-friendly festival, which also featured a ribbon-cutting, tours of the hospital, and live music. The grand opening was the culmination of Methodist Health System's outreach efforts that began over two years ago.

“Methodist has a long history of embracing the communities we serve," President and Chief Operating Officer Pam Stoyanoff said.

Among the community leaders welcoming Methodist Celina to town Saturday was Mayor Ryan Tubbs, who noted that the community he leads has tripled in size since 2010.

"Methodist saw our future before others did," Tubbs said. "Your presence here represents a vote of confidence in what Celina is becoming."