NEW YORK (Feb. 28, 2008) -- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center announced today that Ronald O. Perelman, chairman of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., has made a $50 million gift to the Medical Center to be equally divided between NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, in support of health care in New York City and around the world. The gift will establish the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute, and support new research and clinical care initiatives at the internationally renowned Center for Reproductive Medicine -- which will now be known as the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine.
The new Heart Institute will function as a "medical town square" complete with a patient-friendly welcome center, a clinical trials enrollment center, and an interactive education resource center that will include the latest medical information on heart disease -- with an added focus on cardiac disease in women. And the newly named Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine will be uniquely positioned to build upon Weill Cornell's tradition of groundbreaking developments that have changed the lives of people by making it possible for them to have a child.
Mr. Perelman is a member of the Board of Trustees of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the Board of Overseers at Weill Cornell Medical College.
"I am honored to establish this new state-of-the-art Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and to support groundbreaking research and clinical care initiatives in reproductive medicine. It is in keeping with my lifelong interest and support of health care and women's health in particular. The cardiac institute will not only treat patients, but also educate and advocate -- particularly to women, who still falsely believe they are at less risk -- about preventive measures to reduce heart disease," says Mr. Perelman. "I am also honored to continue to support the great work of Weill Cornell Medical College and Dr. Zev Rosenwaks in the field of reproductive medicine and dedicate it to Claudia Cohen, who was such a great admirer of Dr. Rosenwaks."
"This gift will have an enormously positive effect on our ability to provide the best cardiac care possible to our patients and is further proof of Ron Perelman's dedication to important health care issues. We are deeply grateful for his immense generosity and unique vision, which will go a long way in helping to cement New York City's and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's reputation as one of the world's leading resources for all aspects of heart care," says John J. Mack, chairman of the Board of Trustees of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
"I am pleased to acknowledge Ron Perelman for this historic gift to Weill Cornell Medical College. He is a leader with extraordinary talent and wisdom who brings passion to all that he does. Reproductive medicine is a field of scientific discovery that holds remarkable promise for the future, and Ron Perelman's gift will advance an already outstanding department that conducts cutting-edge research and translates research results into life-changing advances for patients here in New York and around the world," says Sanford I. Weill, chairman of the Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College.
"How appropriate that someone with a heart as big as Ron Perelman's would be such an enthusiastic supporter of cardiac care. Providing high-quality cardiac care at NewYork-Presbyterian has always been a top priority. The Perelman Heart Institute will provide an exceptional patient-friendly environment and access to an outstanding multi-disciplinary team of physicians. It will also position our Hospital as one of the nation's most comprehensive resources for cardiac care," says Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
"The uncommon dedication and immense generosity of friends like Ron Perelman will support critical research at Weill Cornell Medical College in the area of reproductive medicine, and help us build on successes which include several key breakthroughs in treatment pioneered at our Center for Reproductive Medicine. Ron's gift will open the door to new medical advances and treatment options for the many people who seek our help in becoming parents, and support Weill Cornell's unwavering commitment to generating cutting-edge research, producing the finest doctors and providing excellent patient care," says Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr., the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College.
Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute
The gateway to the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute will be centered in the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell's Greenberg Pavilion. The Institute will expand upon the Hospital's cardiac care expertise and connect all cardiac services from treating life-threatening arrhythmias to complex coronary artery disease. The generous support from Mr. Perelman will also make possible the recruitment of additional top-ranked physician-scientists, and the promotion of translational and clinical research efforts aimed at new ways to diagnose and treat patients with heart disease. New interventional cardiology labs will be equipped with the latest technology and allow physicians to continue to develop advances in minimally invasive procedures that ensure quicker recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.
"Quality care is truly a team effort. At the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute, patients and their families will be treated like honored guests. Mr. Perelman's support will allow us to create a state-of-the-art facility focused on delivering the best possible cardiac patient care, the ultimate patient experience and preventive outreach to better inform patients about managing their heart health," adds Dr. O. Wayne Isom, chairman and Terry Allen Kramer Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, and the cardiothoracic surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.
"From preventive care to long-term management of complex cases, Mr. Perelman's gift will allow us to continue to offer our patients the very latest treatment options -- from new minimally invasive procedures for clearing occlusions to the use of anticoagulation medication for heart-attack patients to developing specialized approaches to preventing and treating heart disease in men and women," says Dr. Bruce Lerman, the Hilda Altschul Master Professor of Medicine and chief of the Greenberg Division of Cardiology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.
Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine
Under the direction of Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, the Center for Reproductive Medicine (CRM) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell is one of the world's most successful programs specializing in assisted reproductive medicine and infertility. The gift to Weill Cornell Medical College will ensure continued advancement and excellence in the research, education and patient care initiatives in reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell. Research will be conducted with the most advanced technology in a state-of-the-art space that is designed to enhance communication among physician-scientists and encourage interdisciplinary and translational research. At its location in the new Weill Greenberg Center, the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine will provide a special environment for ambulatory care that is designed to greatly enhance the patient's experience. Activities will take place at additional sites, including the Lasdon Biomedical Research Building, the Hamad bin Khalifa Biomedical Research Building, the Helmsley Medical Tower, and facilities in Queens and Westchester County. Mr. Perelman's gift will also support the recruitment of new top-ranked faculty and the establishment of faculty endowment.
"Becoming a parent is one of life's most fulfilling experiences. I want to thank Ronald Perelman for his extraordinary generosity and long-standing support of our IVF program. His gift will give us the opportunity to continue to expand our research efforts and apply the latest discoveries in reproductive medicine to assist the millions of patients who are unable to conceive a child," says Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, the Revlon Distinguished Professor of Reproductive Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College and director and physician-in-chief of the Center for Reproductive Medicine (CRM) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, located in New York City, is one of the leading academic medical centers in the world, comprising the teaching hospital NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Weill Cornell Medical College, the medical school of Cornell University. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine, and is committed to excellence in patient care, education, research and community service. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell physician-scientists have been responsible for many medical advances -- from the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer to the synthesis of penicillin, the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S., the first clinical trial for gene therapy for Parkinson's disease, the first indication of bone marrow's critical role in tumor growth, and, most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. NewYork-Presbyterian, which is sixth on the U.S.News & World Report's 2007 list of top hospitals, consistently ranks as one of the top hospitals in the country. Weill Cornell Medical College -- in its commitment to global health and education -- has a strong presence in the countries of Qatar, Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar is the first U.S. medical college to offer its medical degree overseas. For more information, visit www.nyp.org and www.med.cornell.edu.