Grateful Heart Patient Gives $1.5 Million Gift to Loyola Medicine Cardiology Division
May 29, 2019Categories: Heart & Vascular, Philanthropy
Tags: Heart Vascular, Philanthropy
MAYWOOD, IL – Grateful for the exceptional care he received from Loyola Medicine cardiologist David Wilber, MD, FAHA, FACC, heart patient Donald Scott and his wife Susan have made a $1.5 million gift to advance cardiology treatments, education and research.
The gift includes $1 million to purchase new software, technology and equipment and $500,000 to support five one-year research fellowships. Cardiologists chosen for the coveted fellowships will develop research skills, gain experience and conduct research in electrophysiology.
"Don and Susan's generous gift will have a tremendous impact both immediately and over the long term in our ability to treat complex arrhythmias and improve patient outcomes," Dr. Wilber said. Dr. Wilber, Loyola's medical director of clinical electrophysiology is a nationally known expert in the treatment of arrhythmias (heart rhythm disorders).
Susan Scott (left) and Donald Scott (right)
Mr. Scott noted that arrhythmias can run in families, including his own. His family made the gift to help current and future heart patients and to express its appreciation for the care Mr. Scott received from Dr. Wilber.
Dr. Wilber established Loyola's electrophysiology program in 1986, and became a national leader in clinical trials of new medications, procedures and technologies to treat arrhythmias. Dr. Wilber is an author of more than 500 studies and scientific publications and has repeatedly been named to Chicago magazine’s Top Doctors list.
Mr. Scott is the retired CEO of Old National Insurance, Indiana's largest independent insurance agency. He and Susan have four children and 11 grandchildren. They live in Naples, Florida and Terre Haute, Indiana.
"It is incredibly rewarding to see someone recognize the care they received and give back in such a meaningful way," said Verghese Mathew, MD, FACC, FSCAI, division director of Cardiology.
Mr. Scott said Dr. Wilber did far more than repair his heart. "He gave me my life back."
Loyola's multidisciplinary team of leading cardiac electrophysiologists, advanced practice nurses, technical staff, imaging experts and other clinicians provides an integrated approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a full range of heart rhythm disorders and underlying conditions. Loyola is ranked 27th in the nation in U.S. News and World Report's 2018-19 Best Hospitals ratings for cardiology and heart surgery.
About Loyola Medicine
Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from nearly 2,000 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, the John L. Keeley, MD, Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, the Nancy W. Knowles Orthopaedic Institute, a certified comprehensive stroke center, transplant center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter).
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).