Healing hands mosaic art on display at Mercy Health-St. Rita's

Precious Grundy, The Lima News, Ohio
·2 min read

Mar. 4—LIMA — The Mercy Health-St. Rita's Graduate Medical Education Center (GMEC) revealed a new mosaic in February. The glass mural was created by Tom Cullen, a local mosaic artist. Cullen spent over a year working with the Mercy-Health St. Rita's team to embody the work they do throughout their ministry. The art is called 'The Healing Hands of Mercy'.

According to Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center President Ronda Lehman, donors paid the artist to create a piece that represented the organization. The art was inspired by the organization's desire to heal patients who are sick.

Cullen was given a space to create the mosaic on the top floor of the GMEC building. Lehman also said Cullen was able to be at the center to observe and gain inspiration from the students and physicians around him to get the feel of what he wanted it to look like.

"It really was just an amazing experience to work with the artists and the donors together to create what has been created," said Sara Ambroza, President of Mercy Health Foundation-Greater Lima.

The mosaic is not Cullen's first piece of artwork. The artist is known for many other creations including the windows of many churches and the mosaic artwork at the Ohio Stadium. Cullen also created stained glass that is displayed throughout the first floor of the GMEC building.

"With the stained glass everything is intentional," said Ambroza. "The different sizes and colors represent the different backgrounds and cultures that are coming into this space and also bringing light into this work and what we are doing. There is a connection as well. This is spiritual care.

"We wanted to create something that embodied our mission and our values and really distinguish the education we are trying to provide as something even beyond the medical, tangible and visible kinds of things," said Ronda Lehman. "The healing of the whole person. That is what we wanted to bring into it."

In the future, the organization hopes to continue to utilize the space for the community. The medical center has made room for first aid classes and even younger generations to see medicine firsthand.

Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.