MARY STARKE HARPER GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY CENTER
CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF SERVICE
Montgomery, Ala. – This February, the Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary. Since 1996, the Mary Starke Harper Center, a comprehensive, 96-bed center, has provided specialized geriatric psychiatric treatment, education, and specialized behavior programs. Over the years, it has been known for high standards of care and compassion.
For three decades, the center has been a cornerstone of the community with dedicated staff. Euclid Dudley, a nurse practitioner who has been with the Mary Starke Harper Center since its earliest days, reflected on her experience, “It has been a rewarding experience to serve and care for this vulnerable geriatric population.”
The 30th anniversary of the center, which falls on February 7, has a special significance as it coincides with Black History Month and honors the remarkable legacy of Dr. Mary Starke Harker, the center’s namesake.
Dr. Mary Starke Harper, an African American nurse, educator, and mental health advocate, dedicated her life to improving the quality of mental health care, emphasizing dignity, compassion, and individualized treatment for patients. Dr. Harper spent more than 50 years teaching, advocating, and influencing the regulations that govern the care and treatment of people with mental illnesses.
She retired in December 1994 from the National Institute of Mental Health after 53 years. Dr. Harper also participated in the efforts of the center, while continuing to lecture and consult until her death in 2006. The Mary Starke Harper Center continues to carry forward Dr. Harper’s vision of compassionate and individualized care for the elderly, with a steadfast commitment and care.
To learn more about the Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center, please visit https://mh.alabama.gov/mary-starke-harper-geriatric-psychiatry-center/.
About the Alabama Department of Mental Health
The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) is committed to improving the health and well-being of every Alabamian by providing accessible, high-quality mental health and substance use services. ADMH works to ensure that individuals affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders can live with dignity, purpose, and hope in their communities.