A Place of Healing

Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital

By Lisa M. Burwell

Along the sunlit stretch between Destin and Panama City Beach, where the Gulf waters blend from emerald to turquoise, there is a hospital whose story reflects the growth of the community. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is more than a hospital—it is the embodiment of faith, perseverance, and the conviction that people deserve their own place of healing.

At the dawn of the new millennium, Walton County was defined by absence. Residents and visitors alike lived with the uneasy truth that the nearest hospital was more than an hour away. Emergencies, births, and heart attacks carried the burden of distance.

The response began not with government edict but in living rooms, business offices, and churches. Conversations about healthcare slowly took form, gathering into what became the Purple Ribbon Campaign of 2000. Children tied ribbons to oaks, retirees wrote checks from pensions, and local business owners pledged portions of their tourist season proceeds. Together, they raised an astounding $20 million—a demonstration of civic devotion rarely seen.

Land was donated by the St. Joe Company, one of Florida’s historic developers, and in 2001, construction began on a $53 million facility. When the hospital opened its doors in January 2003, the ribbon-cutting felt less like an inauguration and more like a consecration.

Long before bulldozers or blueprints, this stretch of coast had drawn the vision of Colonel Michael Grimaldi, U.S. Army (Ret.). Arriving in the late 1920s, Grimaldi saw potential where others saw dunes. He built a homestead, lent Miramar Beach its enduring name, and championed the civic infrastructure that would allow the area to flourish. His belief that “a community’s greatness rests on its capacity for service” remains inscribed—literally and figuratively—within the Grimaldi Memorial Atrium, where sunlight falls across bronze letters.

That same spirit—faith expressed through service—runs through the hospital’s veins. When Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast joined the national Ascension network, it became part of a lineage guided by the Daughters of Charity and the Sisters of St. Joseph, who viewed medicine as ministry and compassion as the first remedy.

Since its humble beginnings, the hospital has rapidly expanded, offering advanced cardiac care, orthopedic excellence, oncology programs, a Level II Neonatal ICU, and specialized women’s services. Physicians trained in world-class centers have found meaning in small-town medicine.

Today, it stands among Florida’s most highly rated community hospitals—lauded for safety, quality, and patient experience—proof that shared faith and determination can build institutions that endure the test of time.

In July 2024, that legacy passed into new hands. Trey Abshier, appointed President and CEO, arrived with a vision that was pragmatic yet ambitious: to honor the hospital’s sacred roots while steering it toward a future defined by innovation and improved access.

Before Trey Abshier arrived, the hospital had been shaped for nearly two decades under the steady leadership of Roger Hall. His warmth and dedication made him a beloved figure both within the hospital and throughout the community. Hall’s tenure marked a significant era, striking a balance between small-town familiarity and increasing clinical sophistication. As he once reflected, “I see the value in community engagement that I never had before.”

When Abshier assumed leadership, he acknowledged that Hall had set a high standard. “Roger was very supportive and helpful to me, taking me under his wing when I first arrived, and I’m very appreciative of him,” Abshier said. “Following him was a tough act, as Roger represented the best of what this hospital stands for.”

With that foundation, Abshier became the next link in a chain of stewardship—one that honors the past while preparing for the future.

For Abshier, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is not simply the only acute-care hospital in Walton County—it is the region’s medical cornerstone.

“Our mission,” he often notes, “isn’t only to treat illness but to extend hope, compassion, and excellence where it’s needed most.”

Under his leadership, the hospital has adopted new technologies and formed partnerships that enhance care throughout the Gulf Coast. In 2025, it became one of the first in Northwest Florida to install the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system, enabling unprecedented precision and recovery for patients who once had to travel hours for such procedures. Shortly thereafter came the hospital’s first Inspire® VTM implant to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Recognizing the area’s growth and the increasing demand for maternal health services, Abshier led the hospital into a partnership with the OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG), establishing a 24/7 obstetric emergency department. This addition ensures that mothers facing urgent complications—bleeding, hypertension, contractions—receive expert evaluation without delay.

Already a Baby-Friendly Hospital and recipient of Newsweek’s coveted five-ribbon designation in maternity care, Sacred Heart Emerald Coast continues to earn High Performing rankings from U.S. News & World Report in maternity outcomes.

Abshier’s leadership philosophy is visible, not abstract. During the hospital’s twenty-second anniversary in 2025, he stood among nurses and chaplains during the Blessing of the Hands. To him, such gestures matter: “Leadership must be lived, not lectured.”

Beyond ceremonies, his tenure has seen practical expansion. The hospital now operates satellite clinics and a medical park in Destin, bridging outpatient care with hospital services. A partnership with Florida State University College of Medicine will soon integrate Sacred Heart Emerald Coast into the state’s residency network, addressing Florida’s physician shortage and ensuring that future doctors are trained in the same spirit of service that built the hospital itself.

Walking through the hospital today reveals layers of history. Before each shift, the nurses say a prayer and participate in remembrance services—threads of the same tapestry that began over two decades ago. The spirit of Grimaldi, the determination of the Purple Ribbon Campaign, and the vision of Trey Abshier come together here, with each era reinforcing the next.

What began as a community’s dream has become a regional beacon. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is at once a hospital and a home for hope—a place where faith meets innovation.

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Visit Healthcare.Ascension.org to learn more about Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast and more locations.

Sacred Heart Foundation

Every great story of healing begins with a pebble, one act of generosity that sends ripples of health, healing, and hope across Northwest Florida. For more than four decades, Sacred Heart Foundation has been at the heart of that ripple effect, connecting donors and community partners to strengthen healthcare and transform lives.

Founded in 1984, Sacred Heart Foundation connects generous donors with meaningful opportunities to change lives. From the first blueprint of a new hospital wing to the launch of an innovative patient care program, the Foundation is there at the beginning of every hospital, every expansion, and every patient’s journey of healing.

The Foundation’s reach touches every corner of care: the facilities that welcome patients, the technology that saves lives, the education that empowers caregivers, and the programs that lift families during life’s most vulnerable moments.

Philanthropy bridges the gap between what healthcare provides and what true healing requires. Through the power of giving, the Foundation fuels innovation, compassion, and excellence that advance health, healing, and hope for all.

Across Northwest Florida, Sacred Heart Foundation supports five hospitals that serve as lifelines for hundreds of thousands of residents: Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola; Studer Family Children’s Hospital, the only children’s hospital in Northwest Florida; Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, in Miramar Beach; Ascension Sacred Heart Bay, in Panama City; and Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf, in Port St. Joe community.

At every hospital, the Foundation plays a vital role in expanding services, advancing medical innovation, and ensuring compassionate care is available close to home. When healthcare is strong, communities thrive. The Foundation’s mission is built on the belief that by strengthening healthcare, we strengthen individuals, families, and communities across Northwest Florida.

Across generations, donors have come together through Sacred Heart Foundation to make a lasting difference in the health of our region. Their generosity sustains and strengthens healthcare, ensuring that every gift, large or small, directly supports exceptional care close to home.

In the most recent fiscal year, the Foundation recorded $6,003,014 in total revenues for the year ending June 2024, with net assets of $31.4 million dedicated to both immediate needs and long-term priorities. Each contribution is thoughtfully invested in alignment with Ascension Sacred Heart’s mission, supporting hospital growth, advancing medical technology, assisting patients in need, and providing education and training for the caregivers who serve our communities with compassion every day.

Because nearly 70 percent of the patients served are underinsured or uninsured, philanthropy is not simply helpful; it is essential. Every dollar given helps ensure that care is available to all, regardless of one’s ability to pay.

Sacred Heart Foundation’s impact is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors, whose leadership reflects the strength and spirit of the communities they serve. Officers include Cyndi Warren, Chair; Richard N. Sherrill, Vice Chair; Ric Nickelsen, Treasurer; and Justin T. Holman, Secretary, along with members Aaron Ball, Belle Y. Bear, James Hosman, David K. Magee, David W. Peaden II, Debbie Ritchie, Thomas Roche, Kerry Anne Schultz, Mallory Studer, Stephanie White, and Brian Williams.

Operational leadership is provided by Adrienne Maygarden, President of the Foundation, supported by a dedicated team, including Jane Lauter, Hope Lukasik, Michaela McCarthy, Janet Piepul, and Lisa Wainwright, who work every day to connect community generosity with the hospital’s most meaningful priorities.

The partnership between Sacred Heart Foundation and Ascension Sacred Heart is seamless and deeply rooted in their shared mission. Together, they ensure that every donor’s gift becomes something more: stronger hospitals, better technology, expanded programs, and care that uplifts body, mind, and spirit.

Sacred Heart Foundation is more than a fundraising organization. It is a bridge between generosity and healing, between donors and caregivers, between healthcare today and hope for tomorrow. Every ripple of giving strengthens not only our hospitals but the communities we call home. When you give to Sacred Heart Foundation, you are not just supporting healthcare. You are investing in health, healing, and hope for all.

To learn more or to join the mission, visit GiveSacredHeart.org or call (850) 746-1090.

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