The North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Children’s Hospital, formerly known as Schneider Children’s Hospital, will now be named the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York in honor of two recent donors.
The Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation made a $50 million gift to the children’s hospital. It will go towards funding its expansion project, which is expected to cost close to $120 million.
“Pediatric health care is an issue that is near and dear to our hearts, and one that we have supported for many years,” the Cohens said. “The hospital is one of America’s top children’s hospitals and impacts the lives of countless children and families. We hope that our gift will enable the hospital to continue its work.”
The New Hyde Park children’s hospital’s name had originally been changed at the request of the Schneider family. It has now been named after the Cohens “in recognition of one of the largest single gifts ever received by the North Shore-LIJ Healthy System,” according to a hospital press release.
The Cohen family has already had a 14-year relationship with the health system. Their foundation donated $7 million that was used to create an endowment and build an ambulatory pediatric chemotherapy unit.
“Earning the Cohens’ confidence and support is a testament to the progress we have made in advancing pediatric medicine and the reputation of our children’s hospital in the New York metropolitan area and nationally,” said health system president and CEO Michael J. Dowling. “We are extremely thankful for the Cohen’s extraordinary generosity.”
A new 100,000-square-foot pavilion will be created through the expansion project. The pavilion will have a pediatric emergency center, pediatric intensive care unit, medical-surgical unit and a state-of-the-art surgery center.
“We’re deeply touched and honored by Steve and Alex Cohen’s support of the hospital,” said Dr. Arthur Klein, the senior vice president of children’s services for the healthy system. “As someone who has known the Cohens for many years, I’ve seen first hand their deep love of children and family. The new construction made possible by this gift will enable us to develop what will truly be a world-class hospital unmatched in the New York area.”
