Baltimore philanthropists Sandra and Malcolm Berman have made what hospital leaders called “a transformational commitment” to the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in support of the Towson hospital’s cardiac program. In honor of the Bermans’ generosity, which represents the second-largest such gift in the hospital’s 156-year history, the medical center’s Heart Institute will be named The Sandra R. Berman Heart Institute.
The UM St. Joseph Sandra R. Berman Heart Institute provides cardiac care for thousands of patients each year, including open heart surgery, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and a specialized TAVR procedure suite, a cardiac surgery unit, an all-digital cardiac catheterization laboratory and a 20-bed cardiac unit, according to a news release from the hospital.
The institute is consistently recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in cardiac care and is a designated Cardiac Interventional Center and an EMS Base Station by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Bermans for their tremendous gift, made even more significant because of the countless lives it will save,” said UM St. Joseph Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Thomas B. Smyth in the news release. “Their kindness will enable UM St. Joseph to further expand our leadership in cardiac care, providing rapid diagnosis and advanced treatment for patients with complex and chronic heart issues. To have such committed partners as Sandra and Malcolm Berman at our side as we serve our patients and our community is an inestimable blessing.”
The Bermans’ gift commitment to UM St. Joseph will support the purchase and installation of the hospital’s first state-of-the-art 256-slice CT scanner, what the hospital called “a game-changer for swiftly and accurately diagnosing critical cardiac and other life-threatening conditions.”
In 1982, UM St. Joseph became the first community hospital in the state of Maryland to perform open heart surgery.
“UM St. Joseph has a well-earned reputation of innovative cardiac care that saves and changes lives,” said Ray Daue, chairman of the UM St. Joseph Foundation Board. “The Bermans’ commitment is a momentous investment in the cardiac health of our community and will allow UM St. Joseph to continue to invest in technology, training and specialized staff that keep us on the forefront of cardiac care, bringing the most advanced options and lifesaving research to more patients than ever.”
Sandra and Malcolm Berman, founders of the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Charitable Foundation, are well known throughout Baltimore and the region for their philanthropic support of an array of organizations.
“I have personally seen lives saved by the outstanding cardiac surgeons at UM St. Joseph. It is an incredible honor to have the Heart Institute named for me,” said Sandra Berman, president of the Berman Foundation and a member of the Cardiac Integrated Care Committee at UM St. Joseph.
Malcolm Berman added, “Sandy and I are impressed by UM St. Joseph’s legacy of excellence in cardiac treatment and their committed focus on high-quality patient care. We are proud to support them in their worthwhile work.”
The Sandra R. Berman Heart Institute is to be formally dedicated this summer. The hospital did not disclose the amount of the gift.
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