Advancing Care at Member Hospitals
In the past year, hospitals across Dartmouth Health have received critical support to bolster the wellness of communities in northern New England. Here are a few examples of how philanthropy can help ensure our patients and their families receive the highest-quality care when and where they need it.
Vision 2020 Achievements and Milestones
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) advanced its Vision 2020 campaign by renovating its emergency department and made progress toward a new Hoyt-Hunter Cancer Center.
The campaign’s first phase is nearly complete with the opening of the new Kendall Emergency Department, the Richard and Pamela Ader Foundation lobby, the Marro Café, and updated lab and imaging waiting rooms. The emergency department’s capacity has now doubled to nearly 25,000 annual visits to support a growing patient population.
Support for a new cancer center has been fueled by both community contributions and support from the Hoyt and Hunter families. Nearly $9 million has been raised toward its $10 million goal, with plans to break ground next spring. The new facility will expand treatment and infusion spaces for patient comfort and family support.
“Vision 2020 is a decade of transformation, and we are proud of the community’s support that has brought us this far. Our goal is to elevate the level and quality of care available to the communities we serve by creating a healing environment that not only meets the medical needs of our patients but also supports their
families during challenging times,” says Leslie Keefe, vice president of corporate development at SVMC.
Revolutionizing Holistic Care and Provider Support
Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital
Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD) recently received a transformative $4 million investment from The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation. This landmark gift establishes an endowed fund dedicated to integrating medical, social, and behavioral health services for patients with complex needs.
This endowment enables APD to embed into primary care a comprehensive support system of social workers, recovery specialists, behavioral health providers and other specialists. By addressing the full spectrum of patients’ needs, APD can deliver more holistic, well-rounded care for its patients. This endowment will also address the pressing issue of provider burnout. A dedicated team of specialists will help to alleviate the pressure on primary care physicians, allowing them to focus on their core roles while ensuring comprehensive care for their patients. “This investment allows us to provide compassionate, integrated care to some of our most vulnerable patients, significantly enhancing both patient outcomes and provider support,” says Susan E. Mooney, MD, MS, FACOG, president and CEO of APD.
This initiative underscores APD’s commitment to addressing the unique challenges facing underserved populations and exemplifies their forward-thinking approach to healthcare that will serve the community for years to come.
A Matching Gift for Breast Cancer Care
New London Hospital
New London Hospital (NLH) celebrated its 98th Annual Hospital Days in August with a notable $100,000 fundraising milestone, amplified by a matching gift from the Burkehaven Family Foundation. This will fund crucial technology to perform in-house diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer.
Previously, NLH breast cancer patients with complex cases often had to be referred elsewhere or wait while biopsy samples were processed off-site. The acquisition of this new equipment—the Hologic Trident HD Specimen Radiography System—will enable timely and advanced care for patients. This system ensures that breast tissue markers are captured, margins are clear, and targeted calcifications are visible during breast-conserving surgeries or stereotactic breast biopsies. It provides high-quality images to make informed clinical decisions, enhancing patient care in the Kearsarge and Lake Sunapee regions. “This investment will provide access to compassionate, cutting-edge breast health care,” says Bonnie Smith, NLH director of diagnostic imaging. “We’re not just investing in equipment but in the community’s well-being.”
Irfan Alibhai, president of the Burkehaven Family Foundation, says, “So many of us either know or have known someone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. We hope this gift inspires others to give generously to support this initiative.”
To learn more about Dartmouth Health’s member hospitals, contact Hilary Davis at 603-646-5910 or Hilary.R.Davis@hitchcock.org