Rome Health holds groundbreaking ceremony for new operating rooms and ICU

The Kaplan Center for Surgical Services is named in honor of Charles and Florence Kaplan, who donated $5 million to the project. King and King Architects and the Hayner Hoyt Corporation are designing and constructing the facility, which will be completed in phases over the next 24 to 30 months.

“The $45.7 million capital project will enhance the experience for patients and their families while supporting the care team in delivering the best care out there here,” AnneMarie Czyz, president and CEO Rome Health, said in a press release.

The project is funded through a partnership of more than $29 million in public funding and private philanthropy including a $26 million New York State Transformation Grant and $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the city of Rome.

The Rome Health Foundation has already raised more than $14.2 million towards its $16.5 million goal. The groundbreaking kicked off the public phase of the capital campaign.

“Rome Health Foundation is humbled by the support of nearly 200 donors to date,” Chester DiBari III, executive director of the Rome Health Foundation, said. “We are pleased to announce that the Center for Surgical Services will be named in honor of the Kaplan family for their generous support. Their $5 million gift is the largest donation Rome Health has ever received and continues to inspire others to pledge their support.”

The foundation received leadership gifts from the Hinman family, the Griffin Charitable Foundation, and an anonymous donor. The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has pledged $250,000 toward the campaign when the foundation receives gifts from 100 new donors.

“The public funding and the diversity of the donors illustrate how much support there is for this project from new donors and long-time friends of the hospitals,” DiBari said.

Rome Health, a nonprofit health-care system, provides a range of services from primary to specialty care.