As Ocean County and the Jersey Shore continue to grow, community groups such as the Long Beach Island Rotary Club have helped Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center expand and modernize into the state-of-the-art hospital we know today.

The LBI Rotary Club, a longstanding partner of Southern Ocean Medical Center, is making a substantial investment in the health of New Jerseyans by donating $50,000 to help the hospital expand its surgical services center.

“Throughout the years, the hospital has always been on our radar as a deserving institution and a major part of our community,” said Anne Nachman, secretary for the LBI Rotary. “Many times over the years, our club has made the hospital a priority in who we donate to.”

An Extensive History of Giving

Before Southern Ocean opened in 1972, people who lived near LBI or Manahawkin typically had to drive to Toms River or Philadelphia for their major health care needs.

“The community members from this area didn’t have a hospital. They went around, literally, with coffee cans raising money to build this hospital,” said Mary Clair Reese, RN, MSN, NE-BC, CNOR, and interim director of Perioperative Services at Southern Ocean. 

“What began as a vision became a movement. That movement ultimately became a hospital,” said Bob Stohrer, who serves on the Board of Directors for the LBI Rotary. “It was and continues to be a symbiotic relationship.”

The Rotary’s partnership and philanthropy towards Southern Ocean Medical Center Foundation, which totals more than $200,000 over the life of the hospital, predates the opening of the hospital itself. Before Southern Ocean County Hospital, as it was initially known, was built, the LBI Rotary gave a $3,000 gift to help support the initial Building Fund. 

A Brief but Impressive History

When the LBI Rotary made its initial pledge in 1970, about 249,000 people called Ocean County home. Today, that number is closer to 670,000 people, and the dedicated doctors, nurses and team members inside this hospital have worked tirelessly to keep up with demand.

“It’s totally different,” said Bob. “It’s amazing to see all the things that have happened over the years. They’re a full-scale hospital now.” For instance, Bob pointed out that Southern Ocean was recently named an SRC-accredited Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery, and that the hospital recently received multiple Beacon Awards from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN); the Critical Care Unit (silver) and Mancini 4 (bronze) were recognized as hospital nursing units that achieve high standards of patient care and professional practice. 

Anne remembers when the hospital didn’t have a maternity ward; less than 30 years after adding one, Southern Ocean Medical Center was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a “High Performing Hospital” in National Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) for 2025-2026.

Ambitious Surgical Plans

The next step for Southern Ocean is an ambitious $31 million project to expand its surgical services center - which has remained the same size for 54 years - and better accommodate an ever-growing population in South Jersey and along the Jersey Shore. Plans are in motion to expand the hospital’s four existing operating rooms and construct two more. When the project is complete, surgical capacity is expected to increase by 60 percent, and the team is estimated to perform around 5,500 procedures each year. 

“Many of our community members look at the best and newest technology available out there, and they want to have that care for themselves, " said Mary Clair, who is also a rotary member. “We hear from people that they’re going elsewhere to get procedures because they want that state-of-the-art care, so we’re making sure that we can start offering those same procedures closer to home.”

The new surgical care center is scheduled to open in early 2027.

“The hope is that this local hospital can continue to provide for all of our needs, just as it has for many decades,” said Anne.

“It’s a relationship,” added Mary Clair. “It’s truly important that we’re in touch with the community. Not only that we’re getting philanthropy to come to us, but also that we’re giving back by keeping up with our community’s greatest needs.”

To learn more about how you can help the Southern Ocean Medical Center Foundation expand surgical services at the hospital, visit GiveHMH.org/SOMCF.