HACKENSACK, NJ – March 19, 2021 – The Department of Urology at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center recently received its largest single donation of $147,000 from grateful patient Dorothy “Dottie” Purcell. Since 2017, Dottie has given nearly $350,000 to the Department of Urology.
Her generous contributions have been used to support the Urology Fellowship Fund and important research that will shape tomorrow’s advancements in clinical care. Dottie’s most recent donation will advance urologic research and fund a newly named one-year fellowship, entitled The Dottie Purcell Endourology Fellowship, which combines clinical and research activities in endourology, laparoscopy and robotic surgery. It is the first accredited fellowship of its kind in New Jersey – and one of the first in the United States.
Under the leadership of Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, regional president, Northern Market, chief research officer, Hackensack Meridian Health, and Ravi Munver, M.D., FACS, professor and vice chair, director, Endourology Fellowship Program, Department of Urology, Hackensack University Medical Center, the Department of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center established the first endourology fellowship training program in New Jersey in 2004. The fellowship program, accredited by the Endourological Society Inc., has trained 12 outstanding endourologists that have become leaders in academic medical centers or community practice. Honors received by urologists in the department include listing in Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly New York Metro Area Top Doctors, Best Doctors in America, New York Magazine Best Doctors, New Jersey’s Top Doctors, America’s Top Urologists and numerous others. The Department of Urology’s achievements have resulted in its ranking of #1 in New Jersey and top 100 in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings for 2020-2021.
After Dottie’s initial treatment in 2015 and a few years of follow-up, she was so grateful for the care she received – and fascinated by the innovative technology and treatment approaches used – that she began looking for a way to give back. Inspired by the exceptional patient care she received from Michael Stifelman, M.D. and his team, she knew that making a gift to benefit research and education at the Department of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center was the best way to show her appreciation.
“I come from a philanthropic family that stressed giving back, and my giving responds to local needs and things I can relate to,” said Dottie. “I wholeheartedly continue to believe in Dr. Stifelman and his team, and I am greatly passionate about the work they do. I’ve seen what they’ve done for me, and what they continue to do for the field of urology, especially in research and education.”
“The Department of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center has a renowned reputation for elevating the standard of health care in New Jersey and beyond, and we are so moved by Dottie’s generosity,” said Michael Stifelman, M.D., chair, Department of Urology, director, Robotic Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center, professor and chairman of urology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “Her support will allow us to remain committed to the advancement of education and research in urology and endourology, so that we can train our urologists and push the boundaries of minimally invasive urologic surgery to reach new heights of research and innovation.”
“Educating the next generation of physicians is a major priority for the Department of Urology,” said Dr. Munver. “We are incredibly grateful for Dottie’s continuous show of support. It means the world to us that she believes in the life-changing care we provide to our patients and the clinical training we offer to our physicians.”
For more information about the Department of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center, please click here to read about its accomplishments in the Year in Review or contact Courtney Klein, director of development, Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation at 201-250-2986 or at Courtney.Klein@hmhn.org. To support the Department of Urology, please click here.
About Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center, a 781-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county’s first hospital, it is now part of the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care, which is comprised of 35,000 team members and more than 7,000 physicians. Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked #2 in New Jersey and #59 in the country in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-20 Best Hospital rankings and is ranked high-performing in the U.S. in colon cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, COPD, heart failure, heart bypass surgery, aortic valve surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, knee replacement and hip replacement. Out of 4,500 hospitals evaluated, Hackensack is one of only 57 that received a top rating in all nine procedures and conditions. Hackensack University Medical Center is one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more years in a row. Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Hackensack University Medical Center as one of the 100 Great Hospitals in America 2018. The medical center is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 26 Gold Seals of Approval™ by The Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its sixth consecutive designation in 2019. Hackensack University Medical Center has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: John Theurer Cancer Center, a consortium member of the NCI-designated Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women’s and Children’s Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women’s Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® and listed on the Green Guide’s list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. Hackensack University Medical Center is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is Official Medical Services Provider to THE NORTHERN TRUST PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events especially the Tackle Kids Cancer Campaign providing much needed research at the Children’s Cancer Institute housed at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital. To learn more, visit www.HackensackUMC.org.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.
Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children’s hospitals – Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals – Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital – Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals – JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.
Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 36,000 team members, and 7,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.
The network’s notable distinctions include having four of its hospitals among the top hospitals in New Jersey for 2020-21, according to U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the health system has more top-ranked hospitals than any system in New Jersey. Children’s Health is again ranked a top provider of pediatric health care in the United States and earned top 50 rankings in the annual U.S. News’ 2020-21 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker’s Healthcare’s “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2019” list.
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. The Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), housed in a fully renovated state-of-the-art facility, seeks to translate current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases and other life-threatening and disabling conditions.
Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it.
Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.
