University Hospitals receives $15 million from Iris S. and the late Bert L. Wolstein to advance academic mission

Gift will catalyze construction of new education and conference center at UH Cleveland Medical Center

A $15 million gift from Iris S. and the late Bert L. Wolstein will advance the University Hospitals mission – To Heal. To Teach. To Discover. – and give rise to the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center, a state-of-the-art education and conference center at UH Cleveland Medical Center. Mrs. Wolstein’s visionary lead gift launches a campaign to fully philanthropically fund the new center, estimated to cost $30 million.

“Over decades of giving, the Wolsteins have made an indelible mark at UH and positively impacted countless lives, bringing hope to children facing cancer diagnoses, fueling ground-breaking medical research, and so much more,” said Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, University Hospitals CEO and Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair. “With their new gift, they are among the most significant donors in UH history and leave a legacy that will touch hearts and minds for generations.”

Teaching Future Caregivers

UH Cleveland Medical Center is one of the only major academic medical centers in the country without an education and conference center, but boasts one of the nation’s largest residency programs with nearly 1,200 residents and fellows. The new Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center will transform UH’s capacity to convene and train healthcare professionals, an increasingly important priority as the country navigates a critical shortage in medical staff.

The 30,000-square-foot facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual and remote learning technology and provide ample and flexible space to host national and international conferences; visiting lecturers, professors and speakers; Continuing Medical Education conferences; and more. Dedicated simulation and training labs, breakout space, a cafe and a publicly accessible art gallery will round out the building. Fundraising efforts for the project began this month.

“The Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center represents a deliberate investment in our caregivers,” said Daniel I. Simon, MD, President, Academic & External Affairs and UH Chief Scientific Officer, Ernie and Patti Novak Distinguished Chair in Health Care Leadership. “A mission-critical home for learning, it will allow us to deliver on our promise to teach and to discover in new, dynamic ways and in a stunning facility.”

The Enduring Wolstein Legacy

The Wolsteins’ past support helped launch UH’s historic $1.5 billion Discover the Difference campaign. Their new gift is now fueling UH’s $2 billion campaign – Because of You: The Campaign for University Hospitals. Announced in September 2023, the Because of You campaign has raised more than $1.4 billion.

“This gift is profoundly meaningful to me and something that I know Bart would have been thrilled to do,” said Iris S. Wolstein. “UH is a world-class healthcare system with unparalleled caregivers – they deserve a space to learn the best clinical practices available, refine and innovate new care models, and then export those ideas, training others across the world. It is an honor and privilege to support UH in such an enduring way.”

The new facility will be located at UH Cleveland Medical Center, situated along Euclid Avenue in front of the Center for Emergency Medicine. Dates for a groundbreaking and anticipated opening will be determined in coordination with fundraising, but as with past UH construction, the project will prioritize use of diverse and local suppliers, including small businesses, minority- and female-owned businesses.

For more information please contact Ryan Cross, Vice President, Development at Ryan.Cross@UHhospitals.org.