9/11 tribute: Baptist’s chief medical officer recalls time in New York treating 9/11 survivors, donates commemorative flags to hospital
Sep 16, 2024
Thomas McKinney, CEO for Baptist Medical Center, thanks Dr. Mohan for her gift of the 9/11 commemorative flags.
(San Antonio, TX) – A doctor who treated victims of 9/11 is treating patients right here in S.A. Sowjanya Mohan, M.D., is the group chief medical officer for Baptist Health System. She was recognized as a true “patriot” on Patriot Day 2024 as she donated to Baptist Health System two special 9/11 flags that were given to her by a 9/11 patient of hers in New York.
The patient, who on Sept. 11, 2001, was a first responder at the Twin Towers in New York, presented Dr. Mohan with two special 9/11 flags as a thank you for her service and for the compassionate care she provided him as he was among those who suffered as a result of the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Dr. Mohan in turn donated the flags to one of the Baptist hospitals where she works - the Baptist Medical Center downtown. The special 9/11 commemorative flags are now displayed near the hospital cafeteria, as it was Dr Mohan's wish for them to be displayed in a public space at the hospital for all to honor and “never forget.”
The special 9/11 commemorative flags are now displayed near the hospital cafeteria, as it was Dr Mohan's wish for them to be displayed in a public space at the hospital for all to honor and “never forget.”
The hospital staff held a dedication ceremony on Sept. 11, 2024, the 23rd anniversary of the attack, in honor of the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the first responders who risked and lost their lives assisting, and in gratitude for Dr Mohan's generous gift of the beautiful and meaningful flags.
Thomas McKinney, CEO for Baptist Medical Center said: “Dr Mohan's advocacy for our health system and our patients is evident in everything she does. She is a constant and steady voice for reason and safety,” he said. “We are so proud to have her as our chief medical officer for Baptist Health System, because of her commitment to high quality clinical care and patient safety. Clearly, exceptional care and compassion are a pattern for Dr Mohan in her clinical practice, dating back to her time spent in New York City, evidenced by the gift this patient made to her,” McKinney said.
When COVID-19 hit San Antonio in February 2020, Dr. Mohan was among the first physicians to set up a COVID unit at Baptist Health System’s downtown hospital and helped treat the first COVID patient who arrived in San Antonio as an evacuee from Wuhan, China.
Baptist Health System is proud of Dr. Mohan’s accomplishments and proud to have a female minority leading the system who represents the ever-growing diversity of our city and patients.