Inova’s Heart and Vascular Programs Receive $75 Million Gift from Dwight and Martha Schar

Institute will be renamed to Inova Schar Heart and Vascular; Schars offer challenge to Northern Virginia community

Falls Church, VA – Today Inova announced a transformational gift from long-time supporters of Inova, Dwight and Martha Schar, to support the hospital system’s heart and vascular programs. The Schars’ gift of $75 million – one of the largest to advance heart health in the country – will accelerate innovative cardiovascular care in Northern Virginia through the enhancement and expansion of what will become “Inova Schar Heart and Vascular.” The funds will be used to grow specialty services; focus on research, outreach, prevention and early diagnosis; recruit and retain top care team talent; and promote health equity across the Northern Virginia region.

“Countless lives will be transformed by this remarkable gift as it allows Inova to push the boundaries of medical research, innovation and patient care,” said J. Stephen Jones, MD, President and CEO, Inova Health System. “We are grateful for this generous donation by Dwight and Martha Schar. It will have a lasting impact on heart health and will accelerate the trajectory of our mission to provide world-class healthcare to everyone, in every community we have the privilege to serve – one heartbeat at a time.”

“Heart and vascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the U.S.,” said Christopher O’Connor, MD, President of Inova Schar Heart and Vascular.  “This gift will allow us to increase the use of novel state-of-the-art technology and innovative platforms to deliver personalized care and to prevent disease progression.  We will recruit the brightest minds and establish pioneering research initiatives to develop life-saving treatments and, most importantly, improve the lives of our patients.”

“The investment Martha and I made to support Inova’s vision for a world-class cancer center was one of the best investments of my life,” said Dwight Schar, Founder, NVR, Inc. “We truly believe Inova provides exceptional quality of care and an exceptional patient experience and we want everyone in our community to have access to this world-class care in their own backyard. Having the very best cancer care here in Northern Virginia has provided thousands of families facing a cancer diagnosis the ability to receive life-saving care close to home and now we’re hoping to do the same for heart health. Today we’re investing again in Inova’s vision and we know that Inova will exceed our expectations. We are also calling on the people of Northern Virginia to match our gift over the next year. We all need to invest in our community’s healthcare.” 

The gift from the Schars will transform Inova’s services and outreach efforts and support building innovative, highly effective, multidisciplinary team-based programs in:

• Advanced Heart Failure and Lung Disease Care to reduce the need for transplantation and improve outcomes
• Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and Interventions to reduce the length of stay, improve quality of life and significantly reduce recovery time
• Vascular Medicine and Surgery innovations to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, critical blockage of arteries in the lower limbs and limb amputations
• Women’s Heart Health to focus on the leading cause of death in women
• Wellness and Prevention, to address health equity and provide education and increased access

The Schars have given or pledged more than $126 million to Inova Health System since 1993, including a $50 million gift in 2015 to establish the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. Seeking to expand the impact of their latest gift, the Schars are also challenging the Northern Virginia community to match their pledge.

“We believe in the power of a single act of generosity to spark a wave of transformation,” said Sage Bolte, PhD, LCSW, CST, Chief Philanthropy Officer and President of the Inova Health Foundation. “Our hope is that with this gift, the Schars will be a catalyst for change, inspiring others to join in contributing to the advancement of healthcare and propelling medical innovation and world-class care.  Truly, every contribution counts and holds the potential to transform lives, alleviate suffering and pave the way for breakthroughs that will shape the course of healthcare for generations.”

About Inova

Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 20,000 team members care for patients through more than 2 million visits annually across an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services, and destination institutes.

Inova’s five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals, and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for excellence in healthcare.

Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds. More information about Inova can be found at inova.org.