More than $13 million in private gifts and grants was raised during the 2005-06 fiscal year for a new hospital at UCI Medical Center. This amount exceeded the campus's 2005-06 goal by more than $5 million, bringing the hospital campaign total to $30 million. Two years remain to reach the $50 million fundraising target.
The increase in private support for the new hospital was a key factor in helping the University of California, Irvine raise more than $100 million in private gifts and grants for the 2005-06 fiscal year. This amount sets an all-time fundraising record in a single year, not only for the campus, but also for any organization or institution in Orange County.
"The generosity of the Orange County community continues to amaze us. This support and commitment to the New University Hospital is unparalleled," said Tom Mitchell, vice chancellor of university advancement and president of The University of California, Irvine Foundation, a volunteer organization composed of community and business leaders that secures and manages private support for the campus's priorities.
UCI began construction of the new, state-of-the-art facility on Feb. 7, 2005, with the demolition of the north parking structure and other nearby buildings. When completed in early 2009, the new hospital will house the latest medical technologies and strengthen UCI's ability to provide specialized medical and surgical treatments.
Longtime campus advocates and supporters Tom and Elizabeth Tierney serve as co-chairs of the fundraising campaign for the New University Hospital.
"We are passionate advocates for this campaign," said Tom Tierney. "This will be a world-class academic medical center that will make a profound difference in people's lives. Serving as co-chairs is more than exciting for us." The Tierneys also made a substantial lead gift in support of the project.
In addition to emphasizing patient care, the new hospital will facilitate the teaching and research missions of the UCI School of Medicine. The new hospital also will provide a modern environment for conducting the latest medical research, and training future and practicing physicians.
Planning for the new building began four years ago when the university was awarded $235 million in lease-revenue bonds from the state of California to build a new hospital. University reserves and financing will provide additional funds. The remaining funds needed for construction will be provided by private support.
The new hospital will strengthen UCI Medical Center's position as a leading academic medical center. Designed to create a patient-focused healing environment, it also will serve as an architectural landmark for Orange County. Patients will be cared for in spacious, private rooms that capture natural light and offer ample space for families to be part of the care team. Carefully planned intensive care units, treatment rooms, laboratories and surgical suites will further facilitate leading-edge care.
Throughout the hospital, design elements will reduce noise, increase patient comfort and support the latest medical technology. The new main hospital building will have 191 patient rooms as well as 13 state-of-the-art surgical suites. This is in addition to the existing 102 beds in the medical center's tower and the 84-bed Neuropsychiatric Center.
UCI Medical Center was recently named one of the nation's best hospitals for gynecology, cancer, urology and digestive disorders according to U.S. News & World Report's annual "America's Best Hospitals" issue. UCI Medical Center is the only Orange County hospital listed in the report, which hit newsstands July 10. This is the sixth consecutive year that UCI has been listed and the first time it has achieved national recognition for four distinct medical specialties.
The "Best Hospitals" issue is considered by many consumers and health care industry analysts as a leading indicator of quality care and performance. Of the 5,189 hospitals evaluated, only 176, or 3 percent, scored high enough this year in measures of quality, such as mortality and patient volume, to be ranked in any one specialty. For more information, please visit: http://today.uci.edu/news/release_detail.asp?key=1498.
Schedule a Tour: Each month, University Advancement will host tours of the mock-ups of an operating room, a neonatal intensive care area, an adult intensive care area and a private patient room. For a preview of the high-tech operating rooms and patient areas that will be among the highlights of UCI's New University Hospital, call 714-456-3768.
About UCI Medical Center: UCI Medical Center is the only university hospital in Orange County, offering acute- and general-care service. It has the county's only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center, and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Included in its University Children's Hospital is the county's most sophisticated neonatal unit, caring for more than 500 premature and at-risk infants a year.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.
Television: UCI has a broadcast studio available for live or taped interviews. For more information, visit www.today.uci.edu/broadcast.
News Radio: UCI maintains on campus an ISDN line for conducting interviews with its faculty and experts. The use of this line is available free-of-charge to radio news programs/stations who wish to interview UCI faculty and experts. Use of the ISDN line is subject to availability and approval by the university.