The new Medical/Surgical Pavilion will feature technology like this new iMRI suite. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2023.
Category: Children's Health, Health Magazine

Title:Coming soon: philanthropy brings state-of-the-art technology to new Medical/Surgical Pavilion

Author: Camille Scarborough and Lisa Clough
Date Published: November 8, 2021

Philanthropy brings state-of-the-art technology to new Medical/Surgical Pavilion

If you drive up Reservoir Road, you may hear the construction before it comes into view. Work is now in progress on one of the largest health care projects in the region: the new Medical/Surgical Pavilion at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Comprising 477,213 square feet, the pavilion will feature 156 private patient rooms, a rooftop helipad with direct access to 31 state-of- the-art operating rooms, and 32 exam rooms in a modernized emergency department.

In December 2020, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital received $10 million from Shelley and Allan Holt, its largest gift ever, to establish one of the first intraoperative MRI (iMRI) surgical suites in the region.

“I am indebted to the Holts for their visionary investment to support the iMRI suite in the new pavilion,” said Christopher Kalhorn, MD, professor of clinical neurosurgery at Georgetown’s School of Medicine, co-director of the Movement Disorders Program, director of epilepsy, pediatric, and functional Neurosurgery Program at MedStar Georgetown, and MedStar Health board member. “Intraoperative MRI allows for real-time brain imaging while the patient is in the operating room, which improves accuracy and shortens surgical time. This technology will greatly benefit our patients with Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, epilepsy, and more.”

The Holts reside in Georgetown and are devoted philanthropists to causes that focus on innovation, education, and advancing the community in which they live. They gave to the COVID-19 Response Fund and Shelley Holt serves on the hospital’s Board of Directors.

“Our commitment holds great significance for me because I started my career at Georgetown University Hospital and am honored now to serve on the MedStar Georgetown Board of Directors,” said Shelley Holt. “Allan and I have been impressed by their perpetual drive to advance the future of medicine, scholarly achievement, and access to care for all. We hope our gift for the new pavilion will encourage others to support it as they can.”

Another leadership gift came in summer 2021 from Claire and Tom Joyce. Their $5 million will bolster the pavilion campaign as well as the Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP) Necessity Fund, a fund that provides a robust, permanent source of microgrants for undergraduates with the greatest financial need—enabling them to focus on academic achievement and the college experience.

Tom Joyce has served on the MedStar Health Board of Directors since 2018 and Claire has been a member of Georgetown University’s Board of Regents since 2017. She previously served as the founding director of the GSP Alumni Mentor Program.

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