Jefferson Health to Allocate $28M Gift from Kimmel Family in Philadelphia: Usage Details Unveiled
The Sidney Kimmel Foundation has made a significant donation of $28 million to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, marking a major step forward in the expansion and renovation of its busy Center City emergency department. This generous gift, part of the Kimmel family's long-standing philanthropic commitment, will also support clinical and translational research at Sidney Kimmel Medical College.
The emergency department expansion and renovation, expected to cost around $19 million, will modernize and expand facilities to better serve the community's urgent health needs. The remaining funds are designated for clinical research enhancements, reflecting Jefferson’s growing research funding which has tripled over the past decade to $200 million from federal, corporate, and individual sources.
The Center City emergency department will be named after Caroline Kimmel, Sidney Kimmel’s wife, symbolizing the family's personal involvement and dedication. This gift aligns with Sidney Kimmel's vision to redefine accessible, patient-centered healthcare in the Philadelphia region through facility upgrades and bolstered research capacity, as emphasized by Dr. Baligh R. Yehia, president of Jefferson Health.
The renovations include new treatment bays, an expanded entrance, and a retrofitted waiting room. The North Philadelphia location of Jefferson Health's emergency department has already opened its new 20-bed observation unit. Construction on the Center City emergency department is set to begin in late July, including a new 30-bed medical-surgical unit.
Thomas Jefferson University and Einstein hospitals collectively see about 150,000 emergency department visits each year. The Center City emergency department employs 350 people, making it a vital part of the region's healthcare infrastructure. This donation continues a legacy of significant community and medical investment by the Kimmel family, underscoring their pivotal role in shaping Philadelphia's healthcare landscape.
Jefferson Health operates several emergency departments across the region, including Level I trauma centers in Center City and North Philadelphia. The entire Jefferson Health network saw over 440,800 emergency room visits last year. As one of the largest employers in the region, Jefferson Health is committed to improving healthcare accessibility and quality in the Philadelphia area.
Dr. Yehia stated that the upgrades to the emergency department are just the beginning of their long-term vision to redefine healthcare in the region. This generous gift from the Sidney Kimmel Foundation will undoubtedly contribute to Jefferson Health's mission of providing the highest level of care to the people of Philadelphia.
[1] Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. (2021). Sidney Kimmel Foundation donates $28 million to support expansion and renovation of Center City emergency department and advance clinical and translational research at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.tju.edu/news/2021/04/sidney-kimmel-foundation-donates-28-million-to-support-expansion-and-renovation-of-center-city-emergency-department-and-advance-clinical-and-translational-research-at-sidney-kimmel-medical-college [2] Sidney Kimmel Foundation. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from https://www.skfn.org/about-us [3] Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. (2014). Kimmel family gifts $110 million to Sidney Kimmel Medical College. [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.tju.edu/news/2014/04/kimmel-family-gifts-110-million-to-sidney-kimmel-medical-college
- The donation from the Sidney Kimmel Foundation will not only modernize and expand the Center City emergency department but also support clinical and translational research at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, contributing to Jefferson Health's mission of providing the highest level of care in health-and-wellness, backed by scientific advancements.
- Aside from the emergency department expansion and renovation, the remaining funds from the Sidney Kimmel Foundation's generous gift are designated for clinical research enhancements, aiming to boost research funding in the medical-conditions field and aligning with the growing research focus at Jefferson, a vital part of the region's business and finance landscape.
