Ascension Seton Hays Foundation

10/31/2025

Spooky fun at Ascension Seton!

10/10/2025

Way to go, San Marcos Hays County EMS and Ascension Seton Hays teams! It was an honor to attend such a special reunion and celebration of healing and hope. 💙

09/30/2025

It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the passing of Sister Gertrude Levy on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the age of 105.

For more than 40 years, Sister Gertrude blessed the hallways of Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin (Seton Main) with her loving presence leaving a legacy that is still very much felt today.

“Sister Gertrude was a bright light in the lives of four generations of my family and the lives of thousands who visited Seton Hospital. Sister was, in every way, a servant leader putting God first, her neighbor second and herself third. She took a personal vow of poverty yet raised millions of dollars for the healthcare of the poor and the vulnerable,” said Luci Baines Johnson. “We pray the Good Lord is now showering on Sister the joy she always showered on us.”

You can read Luci Baines Johnson's full tribute here: https://supportseton.org/2025/09/honoring-sister-gertrude-levy/

Memorial gifts can be made in her honor to the Sister Gertrude Levy Endowment here: https://donate.supportseton.org/sistergertrude

Luci Baines Johnson Honors Sister Gertrude Levy After a lifetime of service, Sister Gertrude Levy passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the age of 105. Below is a statement from her friend, Luci Baines Johnson. For over 4 decades Sister Gertrude was a bright light in the lives of four gener...

09/24/2025

We’re excited to share leadership updates from the Ascension Seton Hays Foundation Board of Trustees. The new Executive Committee includes Michelle M. Lopez, Ph.D., Next Gen Latinos as Chair, Diana Blank Torres, Community Volunteer from City of Kyle as Vice Chair, Cody Lock, Frost Bank as Treasurer, and Irene Melendez, Broadway Bank as Secretary.

This year we are also welcoming three new board members: Hollye Fain, Stacey Lynch, and Michael Sember.

We’re grateful to Kate Johnson, who transitions to Immediate Past Chair after nine years of outstanding leadership, guiding us through challenges and helping expand our impact. Special thanks as well to Buddy Ellisor, Jr. and Bobby Schmidt for their dedicated service for many years.

Thank you to all our trustees for lending their skills and talents in support of our mission!

Learn more about them here:

As we kick off a new fiscal year, we're excited to share leadership updates from the Ascension Seton Hays Foundation Board of Trustees.

09/16/2025

Congratulations to Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis on this national distinction in Cardiac Rehabilitation!

Celebrating excellence in cardiac care! Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis proudly earned national certification for our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This achievement highlights our teams’ dedication to helping heart patients regain strength and get back to living life to the fullest.

09/10/2025

This year, thanks to the generosity of our donors, the 2025 Ascension Texas Nurse Scholarship Program awarded $453,000 in scholarships to 76 Ascension Texas associates pursuing nursing degrees!

Having a well-educated nursing team is vital to providing high-quality, patient-centered care in Central Texas. We are grateful for the contributions from our donors and the dedication of our associates who are committed to advancing their expertise.

09/04/2025

The Ascension Texas Foundations is pleased to welcome Julie Barschow as the new Executive Director of the Ascension Seton Hays Foundation!

Julie was born and raised in South Austin and Kyle, and is proud to serve the communities that helped shape who she is. Her father spent nearly his entire career as a surgical technician at Brackenridge Hospital—now Dell Seton Medical Center—and his dedication to healing and service deeply influenced her path.

Julie brings more than 23 years of experience serving local and national nonprofits, most recently as the Chief Development and Communications Officer for Seedling Foundation, an organization supporting children impacted by parental incarceration.

The Ascension Seton Hays Foundation welcomes Julie Barschow as its new Executive Director.

08/27/2025

There is a new symbol of health, healing, and hope in the lobby of Ascension Seton Hays.

The Healing Sculpture, created by local artist and longtime Ascension Seton associate Joshua Farrell, was funded by the Ascension Seton Hays Foundation. It was placed here with a simple goal: to serve our mission of caring for the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.

It didn’t take long for the sculpture to start making an impact. Soon after it was installed, hospital president Joan Ross noticed a visitor sitting quietly in the lobby. She was waiting for her husband to come out of a procedure and felt anxious. Joan offered to take her to the chapel for a moment of peace. But the woman said, “No, I’m actually happy here. This sculpture is bringing me peace.”

Learn more:

There is a new symbol of health, healing, and hope in the lobby of Ascension Seton Hays. The Healing Sculpture, created by local artist and longtime Ascension Seton associate Joshua Farrell, was funded by the Ascension Seton Hays Foundation.

08/15/2025

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved friend, longtime volunteer, and dedicated supporter, Joan Searcy.

Joan was a force for good whose kindness and dedication touched countless lives. When Ascension Seton Hays opened in 2009, she and her husband, Tom, were among our founding volunteers. Over the years, Joan gave more than 2,300 hours of service, offering comfort, compassion, and a welcoming smile to patients, families, and staff.

In 2014, Joan and Tom established the Searcy Family Health Professions Scholarship Endowment. The endowment has provided 38 scholarships to date for Ascension Seton Hays associates pursuing careers in healthcare. This lasting gift continues to empower caregivers to follow Joan’s example of service and compassion.

Joan's legacy will live on at Seton in the countless lives she touched - in the patients she comforted, the associates she supported, and the caregivers inspired by her example.

Read Joan’s obituary here:

View Joan Iris Brown Searcy's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

08/15/2025

As children return to school in the Hays community, their classrooms, friendships, and routines may look and feel different in the wake of the July 4th floods. Some students may be coping with loss, displacement, or changes at home, and those impacts can follow them into the school day.

We know these shifts can be difficult for children to navigate, especially while balancing academics and social life. Robyn Moyer, Director of Dell Children’s Child Life Department, has shared practical steps and resources to help parents, caregivers, and educators support children through this transition.

Visit the link below for more Community Mental Health Providers and Flood Relief Resources:
https://supportdellchildrens.org/.../flood-relief-resources/

08/01/2025

Keri Barfield entered the conference room at Ascension Seton Hays and was immediately surrounded by a crowd of associates from and . These were the care teams that saved her life after her heart attack just a few months earlier.

Watch the video interview to learn why it was so important to Keri to reunite with and personally thank the doctors, nurses and emergency crews.

08/01/2025

Keri Barfield entered the conference room at Ascension Seton Hays and was immediately surrounded by a crowd of associates from and . These were the care teams that saved her life after her heart attack just a few months earlier.

Watch the video interview to learn why it was so important to Keri to reunite with and personally thank the doctors, nurses and emergency crews.