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HEALTHCARE

HEALTHCARE

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation Raises $ 5M for CDI

Event raises funds for the Center for Discovery and Innovation to advance scientific breakthroughs .
Compiled by John Joseph Parker Contributing Editor

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation raised $ 5 million to support the Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation ( CDI ) at its first ever Network-Wide Celebration on Saturday , May 21 at The Glasshouse in New York City .

The celebratory event recognized the extraordinary work of David S . Perlin , Ph . D ., chief scientific officer and senior vice president , and his team at the CDI for their scientific breakthroughs during the COVID-19 pandemic and honored the memory of admired physician and educator Dean Bonita Stanton , M . D ., the founding dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and president of Academic Enterprise at Hackensack Meridian Health . Music was provided by the New Jersey Symphony and five-time , 2022 Grammy Award winner Jon Batiste , also an Oscar and Golden Globe winner , bandleader and musical director for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert .
“ What a fantastic evening , coming together as a health network at our inaugural Network-Wide Celebration ,'' said Robert C . Garrett , FACHE , CEO , Hackensack Meridian Health . “ The event was long overdue because of the COVID-19 pandemic , and we were pleased to recognize Dr . Perlin and his team for the extraordinary scientific advances made throughout the COVID- 19 pandemic at the Center for Discovery and Innovation and remember our dearest friend , Dean Stanton . The proceeds from last night ’ s celebration will surely help us to fulfill our mission and transform healthcare in New Jersey .”
Under the leadership of Dr . Perlin , researchers at the CDI developed the first rapid commercial COVID-19 test , reducing wait times for results from days to hours ; a high-throughput test that can detect multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in two-and-a-half hours , a major advance in tracking the virus and treating patients ; and was a pioneer in the use of convalescent plasma therapy to treat infected patients .
Earlier this year , Hackensack Meridian Health lost a visionary educator , physician and friend when Dr . Stanton passed away . At her direction , Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine ’ s unique curriculum was created to foster teamwork and a humanistic focus on community wellness through its Human Dimension program . The program integrates biomedical , behavioral , social and population sciences and is
Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert C . Garrett , FACHE
placed in the context of the patients and communities , which touches underserved cities across New Jersey .
“ It was such a joyous evening to join our closest network of supporters , recognize Dr . Perlin and his team at the Center for Discovery and Innovation , raise crucial funds to advance scientific research and remember our dearest colleague , Dean Stanton , at our first Network- Wide Celebration ,” said Joyce P . Hendricks , president and chief development officer , Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation . “ For more than two years , we have seen the powers of community and philanthropy come together to make a positive difference in the fight against COVID-19 . We are so grateful to our leadership , trustees , sponsors , donors and guests for their continued support and generosity in helping us make last night one to remember .”
Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation was formed in February 2021 , bringing together fundraising operations from Hackensack Meridian Health entities across the state . Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation serves as the parent foundation , oversees all local hospital foundations and raises funds for several Hackensack Meridian Health priorities , including the CDI , Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine , children ’ s health , behavioral health and nursing .
" We had such a special evening celebrating Hackensack Meridian Health and raising much-needed funds to benefit the Center for Discovery and Innovation ," said Mark D . Schlesinger , M . D ., chair , Department
CDI Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President David S . Perlin , Ph . D .
of Anesthesiology , Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center and Network-Wide Celebration event chair . “ Science is at the heart of our patient care , and we are thrilled at the evening ’ s success .”
The Network-Wide Celebration was generously supported by Presenting Sponsors : Envision Healthcare , Jersey Mike ' s Franchise Systems , Inc . and Regional Cancer Care Associates ; Platinum Sponsors : Blanchard Turner , Emergent Medical Solutions , Hackensack Radiology Group , Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Foundation , Konica Minolta , Lumeris , PepsiCo , Ray Catena Motor Car , TeamHealth and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath , LLP ; and Gold Sponsors : Alfred Sanzari Enterprises , Inc ., Complete Care , David Kostinas and Associates , Inserra Supermarkets , Inc ., Joseph M . Sanzari , Inc ., Med-Metrix , New York Football Giants , Inc ., St . George ' s University School of Medicine , Synergy / EA Health , TD Bank , Quest Diagnostics and United Surgical Partners International .
To learn more about Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation , visit Hackensack- MeridianHealth . org / Donate . To donate to Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation , visit Give . HackensackMeridianHealth . org / GiveNow .
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading notfor-profit healthcare organization that is the largest , most comprehensive and truly integrated healthcare network in New Jersey , offering a complete range of medical services , innovative research and life-enhancing care .
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