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Newswise — CLEVELAND – University Hospitals announced a $3.225 million gift from community leaders Ernie and Patti Novak to Because of You: The Campaign for University Hospitals. The funds will support construction of the new Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center as well as the caregiver education, training and simulation programming that will occur there. The Patti and Ernie Novak Executive Board Room within the center will be named in recognition of their support.

“For generations, UH has held fast to its mission: To Heal. To Teach. To Discover. That unwavering commitment, in both good and challenging times, distinguishes UH from other health systems and is something Patti and I have long endorsed,” said Ernie, former Managing Partner, Cleveland Office of Ernst & Young LLP. “This new center will be a symbol of that focus, and we are honored to support its construction and programming.”

The 30,000-square-foot Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center will be a state-of-the-art education, conference and training facility at UH Cleveland Medical Center. In addition to conferences, lectures and events, the center will house a ballroom, classrooms, simulation labs, breakout space, and more to support caregiver education and training. Announced this summer alongside a $15 million lead gift from Iris S. Wolstein and the late Bert L. Wolstein, the center is estimated to cost $30 million. Ernie Novak is helping lead the campaign to fully philanthropically fund the project.

“More than once, University Hospitals has blessed us with life-saving care,” said Patti, reflecting on Ernie’s complex heart issues and her own breast cancer diagnosis. A portion of the new gift will benefit breast cancer patient care at UH Seidman Cancer Center. “UH caregivers are tremendously talented and care deeply about those they serve. As a patient, you feel that. This gift reflects our love and gratitude for them and their commitment to compassionate care.” 

Among UH’s most loyal patients and advocates, Ernie joined the UH Board of Directors in 1999 and was the inaugural chair of the UH Cleveland Medical Center Board of Directors while Patti, a passionate supporter of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s, was a founding member of the Naples Circle of Friends in Naples, Florida. Today, Ernie is an active executive cabinet member for Because of You, UH’s current $2 billion campaign.

The couple’s past support includes the creation of the Ernie and Patti Novak Distinguished Chair in Health Care Leadership, an endowed position held by Daniel I. Simon, MD, President, Academic & External Affairs and UH Chief Scientific Officer.

“Ernie and Patti are pillars of this community and are concerned about the health and well-being of everyone in it,” said Dr. Simon. “Everything they do is done with sincerity and conviction; their philanthropy is much more than a check – it’s a vote of confidence and a show of faith.”  

To learn more about the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center and the Because of You campaign, visit .

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About The Campaign for University Hospitals

Because of You: The Campaign for University Hospitals is a $2 billion comprehensive effort to support the health system’s service-oriented mission. It is the most ambitious fundraising campaign in UH’s 158-year history and led by dedicated volunteer leaders Shelly Adelman and Dee Haslam. The Because of You campaign will strive to make a profound and indelible impact in five key areas: Caring for our children; Transforming cancer care; Leading discovery and innovation; Investing in our community; and Embracing emerging priorities. Learn more about UH’s historic effort to advance the care of patients in every corner of our community at .

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About University Hospitals / Cleveland, Ohio Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of more than 20 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, NEOMED, Oxford University, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,400 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national and international ranking surveys, including “America’s Best Hospitals” from U.S. News & World Report and UK Brand Finance. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on , and . For more information, visit .