Hospital Receives Historic Gift in Support of Master Facility Plan

February 11, 2016
11 February 2016, Lawrence, MA— Long time hospital trustee and civic leader Richard Santagati and his wife, Marilyn, have pledged $1.25 million in early support toward the construction of a new Surgical Center, renovation of inpatient units and the addition of 3-D tomosynthesis technology. The announcement was made at a news conference at Lawrence General on Thursday, February 11, 2016.

“This is a very important project for our community,” said Santagati. “Communities are measured in large part by their ability to take care of the residents who live there. Lawrence General has a major responsibility to provide care for the Merrimack Valley and the larger region. Our facilities must match the high quality care provided by the committed people who work here. We want the employees and physicians at Lawrence General Hospital to know how much we value and rely on their professionalism.”

The Santagati’s pledge is the largest single gift the hospital has ever received. “We are humbled by the Santagati’s generosity,” commented Dianne J. Anderson, RN, president and CEO of Lawrence General Hospital. “This Master Facility Plan is the biggest investment that Lawrence General has made in its history; it represents our commitment to be here to serve the health needs of this region and we are growing and evolving to do just that. It is the highest compliment I can imagine to have one of our trustees—one who has been with us for more than 20 years—express this deep confidence in our vision and direction.”

“Our family has chosen to make this area our home and we are honored to be giving back to an organization that provides exemplary and compassionate care to our neighbors, friends and family in need. We hope to encourage others who believe, as we do, that this project will shape the direction of our community in the years ahead,” commented Santagati.

The planned new high-tech surgical center will include larger, state of the art operating rooms designed to allow Lawrence General to offer a broader range of complex surgical procedures and additional clinical service lines locally and to house the specialized equipment required for today’s sophisticated surgeries.  Located adjacent to the Emergency Center, the new 42,450 square foot facility will include more than 35,000 square feet of new, high-tech surgical space constructed and outfitted with capabilities for future additional clinical expansion. In addition to the surgical center, Lawrence General’s Master Facility Plan includes phased renovations over several years of nearly all major inpatient units, resulting in more spacious, private patient rooms. The addition of four new 3-D tomosynthesis machines, two located at Women’s Health Imaging at Andover Medical Center and two at the South Pavilion at Lawrence General, is also included in the Master Facility Plan

“This organization is so fortunate to have had the careful guidance of someone like Dick for so many years,” said Matthew Caffrey, chair of the Lawrence General Board of Trustees. “We are overwhelmed with this demonstration of Dick and Marilyn’s commitment, not just to Lawrence General, but to the larger community. We are incredibly grateful.”

Santagati was recognized twice in 2015 for his leadership in health care, first, in March, for Distinguished Service by the New England Association for Healthcare Philanthropy. Then in July, Santagati was selected by the Massachusetts Hospital Association to receive the 2015 Trustee Excellence in Leadership Award.

Santagati has been involved as a board member at Lawrence General since 1988. In those years, he has been a member and chaired every board committee, chaired the Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2013 and now serves as the board chair, emeritus. He was president of Merrimack College from 1994 to 2008 and currently serves on the boards of several national corporations. Richard and Marilyn Santagati reside in Andover. 

Pictured from left to right: Matthew A. Caffrey, Esq., Lawrence General board chair; Dianne J. Anderson, RN, president and CEO; Marilyn Santagati, Richard Santagati