This week’s Weekly Heartbeat is headlined by a monumental $750 million gift to the University of Texas at Austin to establish an AI-driven medical campus. Additionally, a staggering $125 million collective investment from philanthropist Tom Golisano to transform pediatric care across Dayton Children’s Hospital, Akron Children’s Hospital, and Avera Health. Rounding out the issue: a major gift to Hackensack University Medical Center for its Adolescent and Young Adult cancer program, and major advancements from Curve Biosciences for an AI-driven chronic disease blood test.
Record $50M to Akron Children’s Hospital to Expand Specialized Pediatric Care and Access
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Tom Golisano made a historic $50 million unrestricted gift to Akron Children’s, marking the largest donation in the hospital’s history. In recognition of this transformational commitment, the main facility will be named the Akron Children’s Golisano Campus. The funds will advance key strategic priorities, including expanding congenital heart and cancer care, improving behavioral health access, and developing clinical services in underserved communities across Ohio. Additionally, Akron Children’s will join the growing Golisano Children’s Alliance. Read more here.
$750M to UT Austin to Establish AI-Driven Medical Campus
Michael and Susan Dell have directed a monumental $750 million gift to the The University of Texas at Austin to fund a new medical center and research campus. Ranking among the largest contributions ever made to an American public university, the transformational investment will build the new Dell Medical Center from the ground up with artificial intelligence and advanced computing seamlessly integrated into patient care. Slated to open in 2030, the state-of-the-art campus will deliver earlier, more precise treatments for the rapidly growing Austin community while also supporting medical student scholarships and UT’s supercomputing center. Read more here.
Record $40M to Dayton Children’s Hospital to Redesign Pediatric Care and Expand Access
Tom Golisano also directed a $40 million gift to Dayton Children’s Hospital. In recognition of the historic donation, the main facility will be renamed the Dayton Children’s Golisano Comprehensive Care Campus. The investment will help the hospital reinvent the path to children’s health by expanding access to pediatric primary care, fully integrating behavioral and physical health services, and bringing vital care directly into local schools and communities. Additionally, the gift integrates Dayton Children’s into the growing Golisano Children’s Alliance, a national network of hospitals collaborating to improve pediatric care nationwide. Read more here.
Curve Biosciences Advances AI-Driven Blood Test for Chronic Disease Monitoring
Curve Biosciences has announced major computational and clinical advancements for its AI-powered “Whole-Body Intelligence” platform. Validated in a massive multi-center study of nearly 1,500 patients, the company’s Whole-Body Blood Test demonstrated strong performance in monitoring liver cirrhosis. By analyzing epigenetic patterns within circulating DNA, the innovative AI model filters confounding biological noise to detect chronic disease progression earlier and more accurately than current standards of care. Read more here.
Record $35M to Avera Health to Establish New Golisano Children’s Hospital
Thomas Golisano also made a historic $35 million gift to Avera Health, marking the largest single donation in the health system’s history. In recognition of this transformational investment, the new pediatric facility within Avera McKennan’s upcoming $165 million patient care tower will be named the Avera Golisano Children’s Hospital. Slated to open in early 2027, the six-story tower will expand critical behavioral health services and increase access to specialized care and telemedicine for rural families. Additionally, the gift integrates Avera as the westernmost member of the growing Golisano Children’s Alliance. Read more here.
$380K to Hackensack University Medical Center to Expand Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program
Teen Cancer America and First Citizens Bank have directed a nearly $380,000 gift to John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center to expand its Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer program. Representing the first partnership of its kind in New Jersey, the three-year commitment will allow the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and the John Theurer Cancer Center to hire a dedicated AYA program coordinator and social worker. By bridging the gap between pediatric and adult oncology, the funding will help address the unique emotional and social challenges of patients aged 15 to 39, keep them close to home for treatment, and improve their enrollment in life-saving clinical trials. Read more here.
