Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation (CMHF) received a remarkable boost to their fundraising efforts to acquire a new MRI at Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH). A generous $1 Million gift from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation’s Healthcare Grant has propelled the Hospital Foundation’s Spotlight MRI campaign to almost 90% ($4.4M) of their $5 Million goal.
The funds are needed to replace the Hospital’s current 12-year-old MRI machine with a new one and cover costs to prepare the unique space that will house the new MRI within the newly opened Diagnostic Imaging (DI) Department. This work is anticipated to be complete by mid-2025 with delivery and installation of a new MRI anticipated by that year’s end.
“We are most appreciative of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation’s investment and for recognizing the importance of having the best and most up-to-date technology to serve our community. The MRI is essential to patient assessments, diagnosis, and treatments,” said Dr. Winnie Lee, CMH’s Chief of Staff and Chief of Diagnostic Imaging. “Last year, we performed over 11,000 MRIs. You can imagine how excited we are knowing a new state-of-the-art MRI is arriving next year so we can continue to provide advanced diagnostic imaging to our community.”
Community dollars fund 100% of the equipment and technology at CMH for both new and replacement equipment. This was the case in 2012 when CMH’s first MRI was acquired from community fundraising, including major support from the Hallman Foundation at that time. The MRI acquisition was the catalyst for the expansion and maturation of CMH’s DI Program. Today, it has grown to 90 staff, including radiologists, technologists, and sonographers who provide expertise in multiple imaging modalities including radiology, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, mammography, bone mineral densitometry (BMD), nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that support outpatient, inpatient and emergency patient needs.
“We’re pleased to support Cambridge Memorial Hospital’s efforts to bring a new MRI to serve the needs of Cambridge residents,” said Rob Donelson, Interim Executive Director of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation. “It was clear to the Granting Committee members how important a new MRI is to allow them to continue to provide modern diagnostic services for patient care. Diagnostics are fundamental for delivering healthcare and from what we’ve seen, CMH should be proud of how their program and expertise has expanded over the years and how a new MRI will complement them.”
Patrick Gaskin, CMH President and CEO, shared the benefits that a new MRI will provide to the community. “We just opened a new, expanded Diagnostic Imaging Department last summer to help us meet the growing needs of our City and Townships. We sincerely appreciate the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation’s generous investment for keeping vital MRI services close to home while maintaining our strong diagnostic capabilities.”
It is the work of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation to raise funds for hospital equipment and seek support from donors, like the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, to help provide best-in-class care. “We are grateful for this remarkable investment toward CMH’s new MRI, and for our partnership with the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation. Our long-standing relationship strengthens local healthcare for all of us” said Lisa Short, Executive Director, Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation.