Newswise — Washington, D.C., June 1, 2015 – Heart care in the nation’s capital took an important step toward the future with a leadership gift of $10 million from Nancy and Harold Zirkin – a gift that will support the creation of a world-class Heart Hospital on the campus of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Their contribution is the largest single gift in the history of the Hospital Center and MedStar Health overall.
Long known for its nationally recognized heart program, the Hospital Center is the founding member of MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute, which has cared for patients with highly complex cardiovascular disorders for 57 years. The new 164-bed Heart Hospital, scheduled for completion in the summer of 2016, will be the cornerstone of MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute and will advance cardiac care throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
A third-generation Washingtonian, Harold I. Zirkin, Jr., founded H. Zirkin Investments in 1973, and when a partner joined the firm, it became known as Zirkin-Cutler Investments, Inc. In 2010, the company was ultimately sold to United Capital, and Mr. Zirkin now serves as the managing director.
Nancy M. Zirkin has spent her entire career working on important issues of public interest, and since 2002, she has been the executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Both have a strong interest in giving back to the city they care for deeply. Supporting MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute carries particular significance for Mr. Zirkin, who was just 15 years old when he lost his father to a heart attack.
“Nancy and I share an abiding respect for this city and we have enjoyed success here in our careers,” said Mr. Zirkin. “We wanted to share this success in a way that would benefit the entire community. When we learned about the vision of MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute and its important alliance with Cleveland Clinic, we saw this as an ideal opportunity to bring together our strong interest in better health with the region’s need for world-class heart care.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Zirkins for stepping forward with this generous gift,” said MedStar Washington Hospital Center President John Sullivan. “The gift is about so much more than a building. It will make such a positive difference in the lives of the people in our region and beyond for many years to come.”
“The new Heart Hospital will enhance cardiovascular care for patients by giving them a seamless continuum of services,” said Stuart F. Seides, MD, physician executive director of MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute. “The plan for the hospital reflects the way medicine has evolved over the years. We’ve designed our model with all heart and vascular related services under one roof, so our dedicated care teams of cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, vascular surgeons, nurse practitioners and cardiac nurses can collaborate to achieve the best patient outcomes.”
About MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute:MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute, founded at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., is a national leader in the research, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, and has been consistently recognized by U.S.News & World Report and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons as one of the top cardiovascular programs in the nation. In January 2013, MedStar Heart formed a first-of-its-kind clinical and research alliance with world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute, the #1 heart program in the country. Together, MedStar Heart and Cleveland Clinic have forged a relationship of shared expertise that is transforming cardiovascular care, enhancing quality, improving safety and increasing access to advanced heart and vascular services. Medstar Heart comprises more than 140 cardiovascular physician specialists throughout the mid-Atlantic region as well as the nationally recognized heart care of all nine MedStar Health acute care hospitals and MedStar National Rehabilitation Network.
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