With the Christmas season approaching, Saint Louis University – Sacred Heart Medical Center (SLU–SHMC) hosted its annual Christmas Tree Design Contest at 8:30 in the morning on 11 December 2023 featuring each participant’s interpretation of the Christmas Tree with their personal touch of artistry, resourcefulness, and creativity. With 16 participants representing the various departments of the hospital, the judging started on the 8th floor down to the 1st floor of the building.
Embodying the theme The Tree of Life, Celebrating Christmas with Mother Nature, SLU–SHMC was filled with Christmas spirit through the uniquely-decorated Christmas Trees placed in hospital pocket spaces that highlight the use of recycled materials. The thrust of this year’s theme aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Change) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Under the leadership of Dr. Paul Adlai B. Quitiquit, Office of the Hospital Administrator, the SLU–SHMC was able to conduct a sustainable and eco-friendly Christmas Tree Design Contest. Unlike the previous years, their goal for this year’s competition is to nurture mother nature, hence, the use of recycled materials is highly encouraged.
Dr. Quitiquit stressed that this initiative is not for the staff nor the committee, but rather for the patients. “Andito sila may sakit but [we want them to] feel na maski andito sila sa ospital, the Christmas spirit is still there. Para medyo ma-ease yung kanilang suffering when they see decorations like this. So, we try to make it every year na ganito, different from year to year basis. Probably next year we’re gonna be thinking again how we can continue the tradition of providing our guests, our patients, and our staff,” he stated.
Sneak peeks of the Christmas Trees are provided below:
Entry 1A. Laboratory and Heart Station
On the way to the North Pole, the Laboratory and Heart Station showcased their appreciation for nature and the importance of being environmentally-conscious by choosing recyclable materials such as empty water bottles that were used in the Clinical Chemistry section, empty boxes of syringes, twigs, specimen containers, like urine containers, pipettes and petri dishes.
In light of the “Tree of Life,” the station hung up pictures that showcased healthcare life and camaraderie.
Entry 1B. Dietary Department and Central Supply Room
One of the most basic human needs that sustains life is food. This was the foundation of the Dietary Department and Central Supply Room’s Christmas Tree made out of cereal boxes as representation of Carbohydrates that serves as the main source of energy, keeping bodies immune to daily activities.
Entry 2A. Operating Room and Scope Room
The Operating and Scope Department centered their Christmas Tree concept on the significance of the season to the family’s celebration. The design intends to instill smiles and joy from the hearts of patients, employees, visitors or guests of SLU-SHMC in accordance with the branding of the institution.
Entry 2B. Emergency Room and Respiratory Care Department
The Emergency Room and Respiratory Care Department found a way to envision a meaningful bright light in their Christmas Tree design despite the spiral trend of decors. The concept revolves around life as a roller coaster and the ability of the health workers to overcome adversities.
Entry 3A. Radiology
Flashing an intricate Christmas Tree design, the Radiology team made use of X-ray film, recycled film boxes, old CDs, used contrast bottles, as well as old request files and results archives.
Entry 3B. Info, Pharmacy, and Chief Nurse
Featuring the birth of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, the Info, Pharmacy, and Chief Nurse Department used dried leaves to cover their inverted pyramid Christmas Tree. They put the plastic bottles at the top, hung old CDs, and put their star at the bottom.
Entry 4A. Finance, Admin, Med Dr, CH of Clinics, and Maintenance
The Finance, Admin, Med Dr, CH of Clinics, and Maintenance illustrated the resilience in communities through the cut-out sablans placed below their Christmas Tree. The figures of Mary and Joseph capture the essence of the birth of Jesus Christ and their role in spreading the Christmas spirit.
Entry 4B. Medical Ward
The thin and tangled leaves of the Medical Ward’s Christmas Tree was composed of paper ornaments shaped as angels, reindeers, and snowmen. Gift boxes surrounded the Tree in light of delivering the message of Christmas to the patients and guests who will visit the hospital.
Entry 5A. OB Ward
Sprinkling the magic of the season around their Christmas tree, the Ob-Gyne-Nursery family created a distinct Christmas tree of life with the goal of representing a Harmonious, Cheerful, and Colorful Family. With proper nurturing and guidance, the birth of a new perspective comes to light in which life is characterized by a combination of specs between the beginning and present.
Entry 5B. Coronary and ICU
United they stand, the Coronary and ICU’s Coconut-shaped Christmas Tree gives Quality Christ-Like Service to Everyone. The holistic service in providing physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual guidance is extended through their Tree design.
Entry 6A. Surgery
The Surgical Ward’s Bamboo Tree became the core of the celebration as it signifies continuous growth, flexibility, and resiliency. Similar to real-life situations, strong winds and storms may bend us back and forth but like bamboo, we can never break.
Entry 6B. Pedia Unit
Through the collaborative effort of the members of the Pedia Unit, the Pedia Christmas Tree was built from the use of pedal waste products, recycled Christmas decorations, plants, and dried moss. Signifying the line A Heart that Cares!, the base of the tree is made up of medicine vials to convey the stories of patients as they regain good health.
Entry 7A: Hospital Legal and CICM Ward
With an eye-catching star made out of syringes at the top of their Tree, the Hospital Legal and CICM Ward went for reducing their carbon footprint. The design was composed of old cartons, washed syringes, candy wrappers, soda bottles, and clothes.
As a collage of the Tree of Life, their Christmas Tree was an epitome of the nativity scene of God’s gift during the birth of Jesus. Their Christmas star symbolizes peace, a beacon that helps us see opportunities and solutions in times of adversities.
Creating a synergy between the members of the department, the Hospital Legal and CICM Ward operated under the motto Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.
Entry 7B. Training Interns and Residents
The team of Training Interns and Residents created a Christmas tree of inflated blue nitrile gloves to represent the Christmas season. Chain links made of white bond papers served as garlands for their tree.
Entry 8A. Hospital Information Management Department & Rehabilitation Department
The HIMD and Rehabilitation Department conveyed an eco-friendly Christmas message by utilizing old keyboards. Pasted on the wall was a saying “Everytime we love, everytime we give, It’s Christmas”, which denotes the simplicity and brevity of their Christmas Tree design.
To guide the participants and the judges, the Criteria for Judging are as follows:
- Originality and Uniqueness 30%
- Material used (use of recycled materials) 40%
- Reflect the theme of the contest 10%
- Overall Impact 20%
The winners will be announced on Saturday, 16 December 2023 during the Christmas the Hospital Christmas Party.
