Donor Recognition | Union Hospital Foundation

Since Union Hospital's inception in 1892, when Drs. Benjamin Swafford and J.H. Weinstein opened the 20-bed medical facility, the campus has been blessed by countless volunteers, staff, care providers and physicians who have made incredible contributions towards creating a state-of-the-art institution to accommodate those who are served by the hospital. Over the years, physicians like Dr. Jack Weinbaum, co-founder of the Terre Haute Medical Laboratory, key developer of the Tumor Registry and pioneer of the most advanced Nuclear Medicine program in Indiana, and Drs. William Scully, Thomas Conway and Roger West who lead efforts to launch the first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Indiana, have made lasting impacts through their dedication to the medical field and their service and leadership to Union Hospital.

More recently, Dr. Jean Mercho,. in the area of Cardiovascular, Thoracic and Vascular medicine has touched many lives at Union Hospital. After receiving his medical degree from Jesuit University in Beirut, Lebanon, he completed his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Afterwards, he focused on General Surgery at the IU School of Medicine Indianapolis and finally rounded out his education in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he trained in Cardiovascular Surgery. Eventually he returned to Indianapolis to work at Community Hospital but made several trips to Terre Haute to serve the patients who sought his expertise.

After realizing the need for cardiovascular surgery in Terre Haute, Mercho and his colleagues made the decision to open an office-Mercho, Roushdi, Dilley and Jacob-so they could be closer to their patients. In their first eight years, the group created and hosted annual seminars on cardiovascular disease in which they invited nationally renowned physicians to speak. Since that time, his efforts have allowed Union Hospital to complete between 285-350 heart operations per year.

While serving as Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery, Dr. Mercho was essential in attaining accreditation for Union Hospital's Vascular Laboratory through the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). The lab is responsible for 350 vascular studies per month, performing diagnostic exams for patients ranging from neonatal to a geriatric level. The Vascular Services provided by Union Hospital Cardiovascular Center are Venous Imaging, Arterial Imaging and Carotoid Duplex Imaging.

Through his dedication towards accrediting the Vascular Labs, Dr. Mercho became an invaluable resource for the thoracic surgeons. "He was so effortless-very guiding and professional to the physicians who served on the review board," said Sunni Shultz, Supervisor of Cardiovascular Testing and Neurophysiology. "He deserves every compliment."

Dr. Mercho believes that it is important that the physicians do the best they can to support the hospital in order for it to be able to provide the same high quality of care as any other hospital in the United States. "It is up to us to deliver the best care we can and we have to support the hospital because it serves everyone-the community and us personally-we have to make every effort to help," said Dr. Mercho.

Dr. Mercho has led many efforts, both individually and alongside his practice, to assist Union Hospital Foundation in its mission to support advances in medical care that benefit the patients served by Union Hospital and initiatives that promote health and wellness. These efforts include being a five-year Golf Tournament sponsor, generously supporting the Annual and Capital Campaigns, as well as making major gifts to support the Cardiovascular Symposium, Hux Cardiovascular Center and the Clara Fairbanks Center for Women, to name a few.

Dr. Mercho stands as a leader at Union Hospital. A physician who not only works to deliver compassionate and quality care to the patients-but also as an advocate for service to the hospital. "Working in a hospital becomes part of you and you have to make every effort to help in promoting the hospital, helping to provide and constantly improve the care we deliver to the patients," said Dr. Mercho.

Dr. Mercho and his wife Anna Lisa currently live in Indianapolis and Terre Haute. They have five children Elizabeth, John, J.R., Jennifer and Nicole and six grandchildren.