Theresa Callahan Board Briefing

Theresa Callahan has a special bond with BJC HealthCare that comes from her family’s long-term commitment to health care in our community.

Andrew Signorelli, MD, Theresa’s grandfather, was the founder of Faith Hospital in St. Louis, which first opened its doors in 1932. Dr. Signorelli’s son and Theresa’s father, Andrew, joined him as administrator of Faith Hospital in the mid-1960s. The hospital moved west to Creve Coeur in 1969 and in 1989 it was sold to BJC. After the sale, the building became known as Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital. As time passed, BJC decided to replace the aging building with a state-of-the-art hospital on the same campus. The replacement hospital opened in 2019, 50 years after Faith Hospital opened in Creve Coeur.

Theresa and the Signorelli family have partnered closely with the new Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital to create and sustain educational opportunities for caregivers. They have also provided resources for an educational conference space inside the building.

“I grew up in Faith Hospital. I worked many jobs in the hospital through my early adulthood. Seeing the differences that patient care can give impacted me my whole life,” Theresa says. “I feel honored and grateful to have the opportunity to learn more about the Foundation, its board, and all that BJC does for the community.

“The timing was right for me to give back by joining the board. It does come from my family’s legacy,” she says about her grandfather and father, who have both passed away. “I know I have two really amazing men looking down at me and saying, ’Wow, we are so proud of you for getting involved.’”

In addition to the connection to Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Theresa says her father had been treated at The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Thanks to generous donors, the Foundation supports Siteman Cancer Center.

“I remember when my father was making decisions about treatment options. He said ‘why would I go anywhere else? Barnes-Jewish is in our backyard,’” Theresa says. “He got first-class care, innovative treatment options and they treated him with dignity and respect.”

Theresa’s board service is also a good fit with her professional life. She is the director of Hope Montessori Academy, a Creve Coeur school that was founded by her father. Theresa is proud to carry on his vision for quality education and care for young students. As a result, she was very excited to learn that some of the Foundation’s community grants are awarded to organizations that provide assistance to families and children in underserved areas.

“The Foundation gives so much to the St. Louis community. That really resonated with me. I would love to be involved in that aspect,” she says. “Helping underprivileged children, that’s in my wheelhouse.”