During a recent press conference to launch the $25 million “A Beat Beyond” fundraising campaign to benefit the new Heart & Vascular Hospital, Robert L. Torre, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, made the surprise announcement that $10 million had already been raised.
Mr. Torre and Joseph Simunovich, chairman of the HackensackUMC Foundation Board of Trustees, presented the actual check to Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of HackensackUMC. Mr. Torre stated, “It is a rare opportunity when you can surprise the president, but I think we really did it this time.”
Two very special guests and friends of the medical center took part in the event: Charles Osgood, national honorary chair of “A Beat Beyond” campaign for the Heart & Vascular Hospital and anchor of “CBS News Sunday Morning,” and Mary Higgins Clark, national honorary chair of “Beyond Extraordinary,” the successfully completed $60 million campaign for the John Theurer Cancer Center, honorary member of HackensackUMC Board of Governors, and bestselling mystery novel writer.
“Thanks to two great individuals, dreams are becoming reality,” said Mr. Garrett. “Mary Higgins Clark’s contributions to the ‘Beyond Extraordinary’ campaign helped transform cancer care for all our patients. As the new ‘A Beat Beyond’ campaign moves forward, it is an honor and a privilege to have Charles Osgood take the lead. Thank you both for your leadership,” he added.
Mr. Garrett also announced that Becker's Hospital Reviewhas named the Heart & Vascular Hospital one of "65 Hospitals with Great Cardiology Programs." These hospitals offer outstanding heart care, and the Becker's Hospital Review editorial team selected them based on clinical accolades, quality care and contributions to the field of cardiology. “I couldn’t be more proud of our team, and more specifically our Heart & Vascular Hospital team,” he added.
“We are fortunate to have a remarkable person chairing this campaign and I thank Charles Osgood for his involvement,” said Mr. Simunovich. “We look forward to a great campaign and working together to make it successful.”
“This is an exciting time and I thank you all for your contributions both past and forthcoming,” said David B. Landers, M.D., interim co-chair of the Heart & Vascular Hospital. “We are focusing on three key areas where we need to place most of our efforts – facility and clinical expertise development as well as new paradigms for resource allocations. The success of this campaign will be largely measured by these specific categories. I’m confident that we’ll have positive outcomes in each area.”
“National news broadcasts typically explore one dysfunctional assemblage after another. This is a great opportunity for me to do something that is on the positive side,” said Mr. Osgood. “I was given a tour of the medical center a couple of months ago, and it seems so patient-oriented. It is a great change for me to be associated with something that is entirely positive, and in which the people have demonstrated that they are the opposite of dysfunctional and are able to perform so well.”
“When I think about the heart campaign that is now starting, I think of my father,” said Ms. Higgins Clark. “He was 54 years old when he died of a heart attack in his sleep. I was 11 years old.”
She also said her first husband died at age 45 of his third heart attack 47 years ago. “He said, 'If only I could hang on, there will be an operation.' There are people today who are hanging on for the wonderful technology that you are offering. There are families who will continue to have a father or mother, a brother or a sister, and a husband or a wife because of the technology that is going to come to pass in this hospital,” she added.
“This is without a doubt a breakthrough development, and will be a huge success,” said Mr. Garrett. “With all of your help, we will be able to provide the best coordinated and seamless heart care in the world.”
Photo Caption:
HackensackUMC hosted a press conference to launch the $25 million “A Beat Beyond” fundraising campaign to benefit the new Heart & Vascular Hospital. Robert L. Torre, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the HackensackUMC Foundation, made the surprise announcement that $10 million had already been raised and presented the actual check. Pictured from left are: David B. Landers, M.D., interim co-chairman of the Heart & Vascular Hospital; Mr. Torre; Gregory Simonian, M.D., chairman of the Medical Executive Committee and chief of Endovascular Surgery at HackensackUMC; Charles Osgood, national honorary chairperson of “A Beat Beyond” campaign for the Heart & Vascular Hospital and anchor of “CBS News Sunday Morning;” Joseph M. Sanzari, chairman, HackensackUMC Board of Governors; Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of HackensackUMC; Joseph Simunovich, chairman of the HackensackUMC Foundation Board of Trustees; Mary Higgins Clark, national honorary chairperson of the John Theurer Cancer Center’s “Beyond Extraordinary” campaign, honorary member of HackensackUMC Board of Governors, and bestselling mystery novel writer; and Louis E. Teichholz, M.D., interim co-chairman of the Heart & Vascular Hospital and chief of Cardiology at HackensackUMC.