Strengthening community and advancing medical education are key pillars of Cedars-Sinai’s work—and are also central to the mission of the Karsh Family Foundation. In recognition of a shared commitment to enhancing people’s lives, Martha and Bruce Karsh donated $35 million to establish both the Karsh Division of Interventional Cardiology and the Karsh Distinguished Chair in Interventional Cardiology.

Their gift will help transform possibilities for correcting heart problems, such as leaky valves, through minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures. Cedars-Sinai’s expert interventional cardiology team treats more than 10,000 patients each year, addressing conditions such as valvular defects, electrical rhythm disorders, heart muscle dysfunctions and congenital heart disease. U.S. News & World Report ranks Cedars-Sinai #1 in California (highest U.S. News ranking in the region) and #6 in the U.S. for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery.

An interventional cardiology procedure at Cedars-Sinai saved the life of Martha’s mother, Sybil Lubin, three years ago, when she experienced a catastrophic mitral valve rupture. Thanks to the expertise of Rajendra Makkar, MD, the Karsh Distinguished Chair in Interventional Cardiology and associate director of Interventional Technologies at the Smidt Heart Institute, Sybil is now a healthy and active 95-year-old. The Karshes made their contribution in her honor.

The couple’s visionary philanthropy builds on a legacy of remarkable generosity to the medical center: In 2020, they contributed $25 million to name the Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, which today is nationally ranked for outcomes and excellence.

Martha and Bruce said their latest investment in Cedars-Sinai represents their confidence in the power of partnership to spark global impact. "Cedars-Sinai has shown, time and again, its ability to move the needle on research and clinical care that reshapes the landscape of medical innovation," they said. "We believe our continued collaboration will have positive ramifications for patients and families around the world."