The Impact of Philanthropy

Cancer care

Cancer care at MedStar Health is a pivotal service line that profoundly impacts our community. We take immense pride in ensuring our communities receive exceptional cancer care from world-class clinicians through MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital serves as our central hub for oncology services, extending its expertise across the system.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have raised $4 million to support the renovation of the new John D. Maylath Oncology Pavilion at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. Scheduled to open in late 2024, this state-of-the-art facility will offer a comprehensive continuum of care. Features will include accessible patient parking, an elegant new building façade, and a welcoming lobby. The revamped oncology environment houses the Helen P. Denit Center for Radiation Therapy, Shirley A. Smith Infusion Center, and the Medical Oncology/Hematology Suite, all aimed at enhancing the overall quality of healthcare and comfort for patients with cancer.

Gastroenterology

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Department of Gastroenterology, led by Dr. Nadim Haddad, performs nearly 16,000 procedures annually, excelling in minimally invasive endoscopic techniques. With 62 providers at 26 locations and plans to expand, including the new Verstandig Pavilion, the department collaborates with the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center to achieve superior diagnostic and treatment success rates. We aim to enhance patient experience with a state-of-the-art gastroenterology suite featuring advanced technology and improved workflows, incorporating AI detection software and advanced data applications. Our focus on research, clinical trials, and training new fellows globally will drive innovation in gastroenterology, supported by our philanthropic partners to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Heart and Vascular

The MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, a prominent service line spanning the MedStar Health system, is anchored at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

This year, we are proud to announce the launch of the Heart and Vascular Outpatient Center at MedStar Union Memorial. With the generous support of our community, we have raised nearly $5 million to advance heart failure research, programs, and patient care. This cutting-edge facility offers a comprehensive range of cardiovascular services under one roof, including diagnostics, consultations, education, and counseling. It represents the first integrated cardiovascular care center within MedStar Health. Equipped with advanced technology and therapies, the center unites medical and surgical divisions, sub-specialty clinics, testing, rehabilitation, research, and education. Philanthropic support is crucial in enhancing convenience, providing accessibility to specialists, and fostering a focus on faster healing for patients and their families.

At MedStar Washington, we unveiled the MedStar Health Heart Rhythm Innovation Center, a philanthropically funded initiative known as the MedStar Health Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) “Lab of the Future.” This state-of-the-art, nationally-ranked facility advances heart rhythm care, teaching, and technology. The lab includes a hybrid procedure and operating room with next-generation image-guided services, an adjacent control room, and a dedicated Heart Rhythm Same-Day Care Suite for patient safety and comfort. Funded in part by the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, this project exemplifies their long-term support for MedStar Health's clinical programs.

Neurology

The MedStar Health neurosciences team consists of a dynamic and diverse group of neurology and neurosurgery specialists, serving the Baltimore-Washington corridor within an integrated network. Our physicians have extensive expertise and experience in managing a wide range of neurological disorders, from common conditions to the most complex cases.

Philanthropy has played a crucial role in establishing Baltimore's newest Comprehensive Stroke Center at MedStar Franklin Square. This center, designated by The Joint Commission and the Maryland Institute of EMS Systems (MIEMSS), has achieved the highest level of designation possible. As a result, our patient volumes have increased dramatically, with stroke patients coming to us from across the region. Since 2019, we have seen a sixfold increase in patients arriving via our helipad transport. Generous donations have supported the growth and advancement of our stroke center, enabling us to serve more patients in our community.

The MedStar Mobile Health Center and MedStar Harbor Hospital collaborate with providers and specialists to offer comprehensive health and wellness services, including emergency, behavioral health, patient education, and the FoodRx Program. The Mobile Health Center reaches 1,500-plus people annually, thanks to philanthropic support. We are excited about a second unit being added to the Baltimore region this year, also philanthropy funded through grants.

To address the crisis in maternal health disparities, MedStar Health partnered with Mamatoto Village and Community of Hope to launch D.C. Safe Babies Safe Moms, with philanthropic support from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. Since 2020, Safe Babies Safe Moms has served more than 30,000 patients in Washington, D.C., by identifying and addressing maternal and infant health inequities. This initiative is a collaboration between MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and MedStar Health Research Institute.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand this initiative nationwide by establishing a National Center on Maternal and Infant Health. This center will accelerate innovation, improve maternal and birth outcomes, and support community partners through clinical interventions, research, and funding.

Behavioral Health

In addition to the Safe Babies Safe Moms initiative, we opened the Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient Program to provide holistic, intensive mental health services for birthing people. This fully funded philanthropic initiative offers advanced care to mothers and pregnant individuals in crisis, helping them develop coping skills, confidence, and independence. Perinatal mental health conditions affect 1 in 5 women postpartum, with Black and Hispanic mothers facing higher risks. With ongoing support, we aim to expand this vital program to Maryland.

To help address the needs of patients experiencing behavioral health challenges, renovations to the Emergency Department (ED) at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital will focus on enhancing patient safety and security. Nearly $1 million in federal grant funding has been secured to renovate the ED to better serve patients who arrive for mental health support, including improved accommodations, new furniture, and other safety measures that reduce the opportunity for harm. As MedStar St. Mary’s serves the Naval Air Station Patuxent River community, military families depend on its services for mental health needs—and much more.

In addition, a philanthropy grant was received to support the renovation of the behavioral health unit at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, enhancing our ability to better serve patients and care for our community.

Rehabilitation

The Adding Life to Years^® campaign at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital focuses on enhancing patient-centered care through smart renovation. Designed by experienced architects, the renovation maximizes natural light, optimizes space, and features a flexible layout for growth. Key updates include 100% private patient rooms with family accommodations, a new entrance with an ADA-compliant walkway, and upgraded elevators. These improvements expand capacity, enhance accessibility and comfort, and create a more efficient workplace, supporting a better rehabilitation process for patients and their families.

The Adaptive Sports Program, supported through generous donors, provides children and adults who have physical disabilities with opportunities to pursue healthy, active lifestyles by participating in recreational and competitive sports. This program offers coaching, training, equipment, and travel assistance for nine different adaptive sports while also hosting competitive and recreational tournaments and special events throughout the year. Philanthropic support allows us to offer this program to anyone in the community with a disability at no charge to the individual.

We offer free sports and recreational activities for individuals with physical disabilities, welcoming athletes of all ages and their families, and providing comprehensive support through coaching, training, equipment, and travel assistance for eight weekly sports. Our program includes a new Division 3 basketball team for athletes of all skill levels and a Division 1 team ranked second nationally, with athletes representing us at the U.S. Paralympic Games. In addition, we host various successful sports events throughout the year. Thanks to generous donations, we can sustain and expand sports programs for our community and the patients we serve.

Taking care of our associates

At MedStar Health, we are dedicated to the education and support of all our associates, including nurses, clinicians, researchers, and non-clinical staff. Philanthropy plays a crucial role in sustaining a variety of programs and initiatives designed to benefit our associates. We celebrate and encourage excellence in nursing by fostering ongoing professional development and continuing education. Our support includes opportunities for attending educational conferences, participating in professional meetings, engaging in nursing grand rounds lectures, and receiving scholarship awards.

Generous donations play a vital role in advancing our Workforce Development programs for associates. This support enables us to provide peer recovery coaches, community health advocates, and patient navigators. Philanthropy funds salaries for many of these critical positions and supplies essential resources. We are acutely aware of patients’ social drivers of health and strategically allocate resources to address transportation, food insecurity, and other vital needs.

Our Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety is generously supported by philanthropy, educating the next generation of patient leaders. Since its founding in 2005, more than 1,500 residents, fellows, medical, nursing, and pharmacy students have been trained in core patient safety and quality concepts. Transformation occurs through immersive learning and interactive training. AELPS workshops are currently being held in Breckenridge, Colorado and Ellicott City, Maryland. Our mission to drive culture change by empowering healthcare professionals to become patient safety and quality leaders continues! 

Philanthropy also supports our researchers through the MedStar Health–Georgetown University Research & Education Symposium. This year, 1,400-plus members of our academic community attended the event on April 29, 2024. As our largest symposium to date, we raised more than $180,000 to support this important event. Highlights included a keynote address from Anthony Fauci, MD, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for 38 years until his retirement in 2022. We are committed to ensuring our researchers receive the recognition and support they deserve for their outstanding contributions to our patients and families.