The Marvin and Dee Ann Woodall Endowed Chair is the first of its kind at Doylestown Health
DOYLESTOWN, PA – A $1 million gift to Doylestown Health has established the Marvin and Dee Ann Woodall Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery, the first endowed chair in the health system’s nearly 100-year history.
The Woodalls have contributed generously to a broad spectrum of programs at Doylestown Health for more than 30 years, including the Emergency Department Campaign, Friends of the Heart Institute, the Woodall Chest Pain Center, and the Nursing Scholarship Program. Their early support of ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health established the Woodall Center for Heart and Vascular Care, which centralizes all cardiovascular services at Doylestown Hospital within a single, comprehensive program. Woodall Heart and Vascular was recognized in a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony in the new Cardiovascular and Critical Care Pavilion at Doylestown Hospital in December 2019.
“We are very proud to give our support to Doylestown Health and the excellent heart and vascular program that impacts so many lives,” says Marvin Woodall, who led the team responsible for pioneering the cardiovascular franchise at Johnson & Johnson in the 1990s. “We believe in the importance of high-quality care in our community, and Doylestown Health is providing care on a level of sophistication not usually seen outside of large cities.”
The establishment of the Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery marks a new milestone in Doylestown Health’s ongoing campaign of program enhancements. Doylestown Hospital has been recognized nationally for cardiovascular services, including a ranking by IBM Watson Health of the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals in 2020, and in multiple rankings of high performing hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 2021-22.
With the $1 million gift fully endowed, the proceeds will support further enhancements to the cardiothoracic surgery program. Establishing its first-ever Endowed Chair is another step in the health system’s commitment to investing more in training and teaching expert medical staff. Recently, Doylestown Health established its first teaching program with a residency in pharmacy, and plans are underway to launch a family medicine residency in the coming year.
“As we continue to expand and grow our physical footprint, we are also investing in program and service line development,” says Jim Brexler, President and Chief Executive Officer, Doylestown Health. “We are deeply grateful to our visionary partners, Marvin and Dee Ann Woodall, for this generous demonstration of their support and their commitment with us to fostering exceptional cardiovascular care in our community.”
Since the public launch of the One Vision Campaign in 2018, Doylestown Health has made significant strides in transformational growth, from opening new, state-of-the-art facilities, to investing in cutting-edge technology to keep Doylestown Hospital at the forefront of patient care and treatment options well into the future. The newly established Endowed Chair will create a new, sustainable source of funding to be used at the discretion of the physician surgeon holding the title, and accelerate improvements that might have been out of reach or delayed without philanthropic support.
The One Vision Campaign will conclude in 2023, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the founding of Doylestown Hospital by the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown. To date, the $100 million campaign has received nearly $85 million in contributions and pledges from thousands of community donors. Learn more about campaign priorities and progress at www.DoylestownHealthFoundation.org/YourImpact.
About ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health*
Doylestown Health is beginning a bold new chapter as we approach our second century of healthcare delivery. To honor our centennial, Doylestown Health launched a $100-million comprehensive campaign, ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health, to elevate the patient experience to new heights and unlock our full potential to deliver exceptional care.
Philanthropic support of the One Vision Campaign funds transformational renovation and expansion across the Doylestown Hospital and Pine Run campuses and will help chart the course for the next generation of patients, providers and technology. For more information, visit the Doylestown Health Foundation website or call 215-345-2009.
*First reference: ONE VISION: The Campaign for Doylestown Health
Subsequent references: One Vision; the One Vision Campaign
About Doylestown Health Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of Doylestown Health, Doylestown Health Foundation raises funds to support patient care excellence and improve quality of life for the patients and families we serve. Doylestown Health relies on each and every philanthropic gift, no matter the size, to deliver the highest level of patient care with the most advanced technologies and treatment options.
