The Harold C. Schott Foundation has given $2 million to establish an Endowed Chair for Structural Heart in The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Program.

A nationally recognized leader in cardiovascular innovation, The Christ Hospital provides comprehensive structural heart programs that focus on heart valve disease and conditions that affect the heart muscle, congenital abnormalities of the heart, and the chambers of the heart.

The hospital has been the first to bring many of the newest, minimally-invasive treatments in structural heart care to the U.S. as well as to our region, such as catheter-based heart valve replacement and a surgical clip technique for mitral valve repair. For patients who cannot undergo open-heart surgery, treatments such as these are life-saving options.

“We are most grateful of The Harold C. Schott Foundation’s generous investment in our Heart and Vascular Program,” says Mike Keating, President and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “It is the patients who benefit from these wonderful gifts, as such gifts support innovation and research in heart care.”

L. Thomas Hiltz, Chairman and Trustee of the Harold C. Schott Foundation, is an attorney, and has an extensive history of service and leadership on corporate and nonprofit boards. His wife, Francie, Vice-Chairman of the Harold C. Schott Foundation, is a community volunteer who serves on numerous boards and committees at non-profit organizations throughout the city.

The gift was made in honor of Dr. Dean J. Kereiakes in establishing The Christ Hospital as one of the top heart hospitals in the country for evaluation and treatment of heart disease.

“A key philanthropic goal of our foundation is to support important healthcare programs that benefit the region. Dr. Kereiakes has helped build one of the most important heart programs in the country, one that not only benefits, but is vital to, the region. We are proud to support The Christ Hospital’s heart program, and hope that our gift motivates other donors to support it, too,” said Tom and Francie Hiltz.

Dr. Ian J. Sarembock, Medical Director of the Valve and Structural Heart Care Line, and previously Executive Medical Director of the Heart & Vascular Service Line, has been named as The Harold C. Schott Foundation Endowed Chair for Structural Heart. Dr. Sarembock is a nationally-recognized heart disease specialist who joined The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Program in 2007.The endowment gift will enable Dr. Sarembock to conduct structural heart research, including new clinical trials, as well as develop and enhance programs in valve and structural heart care.

“It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to be named the endowed chair for structural heart care. At The Christ Hospital, we are advancing heart care on a national level, and are a unique and crucial resource for patients in our community," says Dr. Sarembock. “I am grateful for this honor, and am proud to be part of the region’s best heart program.”

“Dr. Sarembock has played a significant role in building our heart valve programs. He is a terrific physician whose talent and dedication will continue to help us move the needle in heart care,” says Dr. Kereiakes.

About The Christ Hospital Health Network: The Christ Hospital Health Network is an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn with six ambulatory centers and dozens of offices conveniently located throughout the region. The Network is supported by more than 1200 talented physicians and 5800 dedicated employees. Its mission is to improve the health of the community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, the finest experiences all in an affordable way. They have been recognized by Forbes Magazine as the 24th best large employer in the nation in their America’s 500 Best Large Employers listing and by National Consumer Research as the region’s Most Preferred Hospital for 21 consecutive years. The Network is dedicated to transforming care by delivering integrated, personalized healthcare through its comprehensive, multi-specialty physician network. The Christ Hospital is among only 6% of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet recognition for nursing excellence and among the top 5% of hospitals in the country for patient satisfaction. For more than 125 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves.