LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Good Samaritan Hospital received a $2.3 million grant from Attorney Henry Rossbacher to fund a Women's Health Initiative for research and treatment of heart disease and diabetes. The grant will address the increasing rate of heart disease and diabetes in the hospital's surrounding community.
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Rossbacher's generous grant is made possible through claims against Solvay Pharmaceuticals, a company that sold a hormone replacement drug that was not approved by the FDA. If all of the funds from a class-action suit cannot be distributed to the people who are affected, California law allows that these funds be given to charities that are in line with the interest of the plaintiffs.
"Heart disease and diabetes are two of the major medical issues facing the communities we serve," said Andrew B. Leeka, president and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital. "We are honored to have Henry's concern for the patients we serve, advocacy for the research we do, and support for future enhancements we're planning for our treatment and research labs. This gift will be instrumental in taking our programs to new heights of excellence."
The funds will support the hospital's comprehensive inpatient and community diabetes program that educates hospital patients, diabetics in the community and their families about the challenge of managing diabetes. Additional support is dedicated to Good Samaritan Hospital's Campaign for Cardiology, a bold plan to build new labs and purchase advanced equipment needed for the treatment and research of heart disease. The grant also provides funding for a community clinic for the underserved and heart health conferences geared to women.
"Given the community Good Sam serves, there's a crying need for a diabetes outreach program," Rossbacher said. "This disease gets overlooked. It's a silent killer. You can suffer from it and not even realize it. Good Sam is serving a community that doesn't have access to private doctors who can warn them of the risks of diabetes, allowing them to treat people who otherwise might not have received treatment. These funds will also help significantly expand the acclaimed heart program, as that is another priority for Good Sam."
About Good Samaritan Hospital
First opened in 1885, Good Samaritan Hospital is a 408-bed tertiary care facility offering some of the most comprehensive care in Los Angeles. Specializing in cardiac services, women's services, orthopedics, oncology, and ophthalmology, Good Samaritan Hospital offers Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Neurosciences program featuring the Gamma Knife radiosurgery, Oncology Program, Kidney Stone services, and Transfusion-Free Medicine and Surgery Center. For more information, visit www.goodsam.org.
SOURCE Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles
