Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals received a $14 million grant from The Marcus Foundation, Inc., which will establish Marcus Integrative Health at the Myrna Brind Center - Villanova.
"At Jefferson, we are committed to reimagining healthcare, education and discovery to create unparalleled value," said Stephen K. Klasko, M.D., MBA, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health System. "Thanks to the generosity and vision of Bernie Marcus and The Marcus Foundation, this new integrative health center will bring the best of all worlds—integrative, global and traditional health—to patients in the greater Philadelphia area and beyond."
"The Marcus Foundation chose Jefferson for this grant because of our shared vision for the future of medicine," said Bernie Marcus, Co-Founder of The Home Depot and Chairman of The Marcus Foundation. "Jefferson is at the forefront of innovating integrative medicine - a transformation I want to be part of."
Jefferson Integrative Medicine delivers multidisciplinary care that extends the boundaries of conventional modern medicine while validating the evolving model with rigorous research and exposing Thomas Jefferson University students and medical residents to wellness-focused care.
"More Americans than ever are seeking a broader, more holistic approach to their health and wellness," said Daniel Monti, M.D., Professor and Director of the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Jefferson. "Marcus Integrative Health at the Myrna Brind Center - Villanova, will take our highly successful integrative clinical and research models to a new level. In addition, the PET-MR imaging at the new site will be a major differentiator for Jefferson and a significant value for the patients we serve. We will be the first in the region to have this capability."
Marcus Integrative Health at the Myrna Brind Center - Villanova will be the first satellite location of the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Jefferson, currently located in Center City Philadelphia. The satellite will occupy 14,000+ square feet, accommodating an expanding number of clinical experts, laboratories with advanced diagnostic capabilities, a state-of-the-art infusion center and access to wellness programs and products. The location is anticipated to open in the fall of 2015.
Services will include holistic primary care, executive health, nutrient infusion programs, novel testing procedures, acupuncture and other complementary therapies that have the highest likelihood to make an impact. The center will leverage technology to deliver patient-centered, personalized care.
The Marcus Foundation grant also provides funding for the new Center to purchase a PET-MR (Positron Emission Tomography-Magnetic Resonance). This hybrid technology combines an MRI with molecular imaging to give a complete picture with precise alignment of anatomy and metabolic activity without radiation. Patients who need both tests will have the convenience of one exam instead of two. This technology will assess a wide range of diseases such as neurological disorders, guide innovative treatment protocols and enhance research at the Center and across the Jefferson campus.
"My late wife, Myrna, believed that healing is an art; the soul heals and science cures," said Ira Brind, Jefferson Trustee. "Integrative medicine is the intersection of these ideals, which is why I am excited to help Jefferson expand the innovative and empathetic care of the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine to our new site in Villanova."
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