Northwestern Medicine has announced a $45 million gift from Neil G. Bluhm and the Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation to expand its cardiac care capacity.

The gift will establish the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Heart Hospital at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and support the modernization of cardiovascular services on its Chicago campus as well as a 140-bed expansion. In addition, the gift will foster collaboration with community partners in underresourced Chicago communities to develop outreach and education efforts in support of heart health, address the social determinants of health, and fund novel research projects and therapies for heart and vascular conditions.

Bluhm is founder and president of JMB Realty Corporation and chair of Rush Street Gaming and Rush Street Interactive. An initial gift from Bluhm in 2005 created the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute and facilitated the recruitment of renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Patrick M. McCarthy.

"The success of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute has exceeded my dream of bringing a top-tier cardiovascular program to the city of Chicago, the city we all love," said Bluhm. "Watching Dr. Patrick McCarthy and team push the field of cardiovascular medicine to new heights has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. Expanding access to care and moving the needle on health equity in Chicago is critically needed. I am proud to continue my support of Northwestern Medicine and to help address inequity with the establishment of the Bluhm Heart Hospital, which will bring new discoveries and innovative treatments to more patients across Chicagoland and around the world.”

(Photo credit: Laura Brown, Northwestern Medicine)