Jewish Journal: Guerin Family Gifts $100 Million to Create Guerin Children’s at Cedars-Sinai
The Jewish Journal recently featured Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, and Ophir Klein, MD, PhD, inaugural executive director of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, discussing the establishment of this ambitious new vision for children's healthcare funded by a $100 million gift from the Shapell Guerin Family Foundation.
Guerin Children’s will offer highly specialized medical care, including a variety of pediatric specialties, maternal-fetal medicine, surgery and transplants. Adding to current intensive care pediatric beds, a 26-bed inpatient space at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will open in spring 2022 featuring a game and movie room, a family lounge and convertible beds for parents. A primary goal of Guerin Children’s is to ease stress for parents coping with a child’s illness by providing laundry facilities, play areas for siblings and other family aids.
"We intend to establish Guerin Children’s as an international destination for children and their families and as a leader in pediatric care and research in the United States," Priselac said in the article.
The foundation’s gift is the largest in Cedars-Sinai’s history, and Vera Guerin, foundation president and board chair of Cedars-Sinai Health System, is a longtime supporter.
"Our family is passionate about Cedars-Sinai and about providing a continuum of care for patients from childhood to adulthood," Guerin said.
Klein, who assumes his position as executive director on March 1, is an internationally recognized innovator in pediatrics and genetics.
"Guerin Children’s will provide the highest-quality specialty treatments in the context of a superb healthcare delivery system," Klein said in the article, adding that he is focused on "top-notch clinical, research and educational efforts" to meet the lifetime needs of patients.
Klein also will hold the David and Meredith Kaplan Distinguished Chair in Children’s Health, endowed by a $5 million gift from the Kaplans.
Meredith Kaplan said in the article that she and David "look forward to the many innovations [Dr. Klein] will introduce in the years ahead."
Click here to read the complete article from the Jewish Journal.