Jay Woodall, CEO of Corpus Christi Medical Center
Corpus Christi March of Dimes has announced that Jay Woodall, CEO of Corpus Christi Medical Center (CCMC), is the chair of its 2019 March for Babies, set for April 6. CCMC is a premier sponsor of the event and has pledged $30,000 to fund research, education and advocacy to ensure every Coastal Bend baby can have the best possible start.
“We’re thrilled Jay is serving as our local March for Babies chair,” said Kelsey Vining, March of Dimes Development Manager. “Moms and babies face higher risks than ever before. March for Babies is a day to raise awareness about premature birth and for our neighbors to make a difference by joining together to participate in this nationwide event.”
In the United States, about 380,000 babies, or one in 10, are born prematurely each year and almost 41,000 of those are in Texas. Premature birth (before 37 weeks) is the leading cause of infant death in the United States and those who survive an early birth often face serious and lifelong health issues, including breathing problems, jaundice, vision loss, cerebral palsy and intellectual delays. In addition to the human toll, premature birth accounts for more than $26 billion annually in medical and societal costs, according to the National Academy of Medicine.
“I am proud to be the chair of the upcoming 2019 Corpus Christi March for Babies,” Mr. Woodall said. “Both as a father and the CEO of CCMC, which delivers more babies in the Coastal Bend than any hospital system, I can’t think of a cause more important to me than the care and improvement of human life.”
CCMC’s Bay Area is the leading birthplace for expecting mothers in the Coastal Bend, having delivered more than 60,000 babies. Bay Area is home to a comprehensive team of nurses, physicians and two of the region’s premier OB/GYN groups. The level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is specially designed to support and facilitate the optimal environment for fragile newborns' development.
“When you March for Babies, you are making the statement that you want to live in a world where healthy moms and strong babies are a priority for us all,” Mr. Woodall noted. “It’s a day for everyone. Together we hope for the day when all moms and babies are healthy. We remember the babies we lost. We celebrate every baby.”
Thousands of families, area businesses and community leaders will join together at McCaughan Park in downtown Corpus Christi for this year's March for Babies. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the 3-mile walk kicking off at 9. Find out more about the March for Babies here.