National Jewish Medical and Research Center announced Thursday it is changing its name to reflect its expansion beyond its mainstay services.
Now National Jewish Health, the 109-year-old hospital at East Colfax Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Denver is known for its programs in respiratory and immunologic diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and allergies. It is adding lung-cancer treatment and cardiology to its list of principal services.
Dr. Michael Salem, chief executive and president of National Jewish, said the “Medical and Research Center” descriptor was limiting in light of what National Jewish does with care, education of the next generation of doctors and scientists, and the inclusion of programs to stop smoking and manage weight. The hospital also has a school for critically ill kindergartners through eighth-graders who are receiving treatment.
“If you look at all those things, we clearly have moved toward much more of a health organization,” Salem said.
The name change is part of a 10-year strategic plan enacted 18 months ago to expand National Jewish’s goals.
“This era of medicine is changing from being reactive — where you go to the doctor in response to something — to being much more preventative care and personalized medicine,” Salem said.
National Jewish’s personalized medicine will bring together research and clinical care, using genetic and other information to target more tailored and individualized treatments, Salem said.
The board of directors is investing $40 million over several years for the plan’s new infrastructure, including investment in advanced diagnostics, extended capabilities in genetics and therapeutics, and recruitment of new faculty, as well as investment in current faculty and staff, Salem added.
“These are not unique ideas; for us, this is just an evolution,” Salem said.
Alex McCarthy: 303-954-1381 or amccarthy@denverpost.com
