The Marcus Foundation has awarded a $75 million gift to Piedmont Healthcare to bolster the growth of Piedmont Heart Institute, their well-known heart and vascular program, the system announced Friday. Additionally, the large monetary gift will facilitate the renewal of Piedmont's Atlanta campus through the establishment of the Marcus Heart and Vascular Center. The Marcus Foundation's gift is the second largest ever awarded to a community hospital in the U.S.
"The Marcus Heart and Vascular Center will create a comprehensive care experience for Piedmont Heart patients, establishing dedicated space for heart-related procedures and hospital stays, as well as enhanced patient support and navigation services. In addition, it will expand Piedmont's ability to participate in and lead cardiovascular research studies, and share its work with other national experts in cardiovascular care," Piedmont said in a statement.
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The Marcus Foundation and Piedmont Healthcare already boast a relationship that has spawned specialty cardiac services for the community. In 2012, Marcus gave $20 million to establish the Marcus Heart Valve Center, which they called the nation's first "comprehensive valve center for care, training and research regardless of the valve in which the damage occurs or the reason for it."
Their newest gift of $75 million will greatly enhance support for Piedmont's plans to rejuvenate its Atlanta campus and better meet the growing demand in the community for specialty services like heart, transplant, cancer, and women's health.
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"This new gift from Mr. Marcus represents a huge boost to the tens of thousands of heart patients currently cared for by our more than 100 Piedmont Heart physicians," said Dr. Charlie Brown, chief of Piedmont Physicians and a practicing Piedmont Heart physician. "Expanding our services and supporting that work with the best technology and most modern facilities will help us have an even larger positive impact on our patients' lives."
Twitter: @BethJSanborn