Hospital has new name: Methodist Southwest Medical Center

New chapter begins 50 years after Methodist Charlton first opened its doors

DALLAS — The signs around Methodist Charlton Medical Center may have changed, but its mission to serve the Best Southwest region with compassionate, quality care never will.

At midnight August 1, the hospital officially becomes Methodist Southwest Medical Center, a name that better aligns with the geographic naming of the system's 12 other hospitals, by ownership and affiliation, and reinforces Methodist Health System's deep and lasting commitment to Southwest Dallas County.

"Today is about more than a name," said Chief Executive Officer James C. Scoggin, Jr. "It is about honoring a legacy, recognizing the incredible growth of this hospital, and looking ahead to the future we will build together."

Over 50 years, the hospital has evolved from an 84-bed community hospital into a 314-bed healthcare destination for the hundreds of thousands of patients who benefit each year from major investments in emergency care, comprehensive cancer treatment, robotic technology, and women's services, including a new Breast Center opening later this year.

''In the last decade, Methodist Health System has invested millions of dollars in this hospital to expand access, to enhance quality, and especially, to strengthen our patients' experience," said President and Chief Operating Officer Pam Stoyanoff, CPA, FACHE. "We are proud of the progress we have made, and we look forward to the opportunities ahead as Methodist Southwest."

The newly named hospital hosted leaders from across Methodist and the Best Southwest communities for a ceremony Wednesday — held half a century after the facility opened as Charlton Methodist Hospital, named for philanthropist Margaret Jonsson Charlton.

Guests of honor included patients whose success stories reflect the returns on Methodist's investments in the hospital, from a TV cameraman whose spinal surgery has him walking again after years of back-breaking work to a beloved educator who survived a "widow maker" heart attack.

System leaders credited the hospital's success to its staff, physicians on the medical staff, and strong leadership, a team headed up since 2024 by President Michael Stewart. He, too, recognized that the facility's bright future depends on its strong foundation.

"Our name has changed, but our purpose has not," Stewart said. "This new chapter reflects the growth of our hospital and the communities we proudly serve, while honoring the trusted, compassionate care our patients have relied on for generations."