Danbury Hospital Receives $1 Million Gift to Establish Spine Surgery Endowment

Danbury Hospital Receives $1 Million Gift to Establish Spine Surgery Endowment

Donation creates Ervie and Carolyn Hawley Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery

 Danbury residents Ervie “Bud” Hawley and his wife Carolyn are known for their commitment to community, helping others, and charitable giving. Today, their philanthropic legacy continues with a $1 million gift to Danbury Hospital to establish the Ervie and Carolyn Hawley Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery.

The Hawley Endowed Chair, which supports educational and technological advancements in spine surgery, is the seventh endowed chair at Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN). Five of the Chairs are based at Danbury Hospital, a WCHN hospital.

“Carolyn and I are pleased to support Danbury Hospital,” said Bud Hawley. “Everyone is going to use the Hospital at some point, and we believe that if you can help, you should. It really benefits the entire community. It’s the right thing to do.”

David L. Kramer, M.D., the inaugural recipient of the Hawley Endowed Chair, is medical director of The Spine Center at Danbury Hospital and a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in degenerative conditions of the cervical and lumbar spine, spinal deformity correction, and complex revision spine surgery. He served for the past 10 years as a member of the WCHN board of directors.

“We are very grateful to Ervie and Carolyn Hawley for their philanthropic leadership in establishing the Hawley Endowed Chair,” said John Murphy, M.D., president and CEO of WCHN. “The Hawleys understand the meaningful opportunities this endowment creates and the value of an endowed chair in attracting the best and brightest talent to this community.”

Danbury Hospital ranks among Connecticut’s top hospitals for total number of spine surgeries per year. The Spine Program at Danbury Hospital is among the most comprehensive spine programs in the state, with top neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, anesthesiologists, pain management specialists, and a multi-disciplinary team working together to create a superior continuum of care. A Joint Commission Center of Excellence in spine surgery, Danbury Hospital recently earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval and certification renewal for its spine surgery program.

About Western Connecticut Health Network

Western Connecticut Health Network is the region's premier, patient-centered health care organization serving residents of Western Connecticut and adjacent New York. The organization, which is now anchored by three nationally recognized hospitals, Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital and Norwalk Hospital, as well as their affiliated organizations. In addition to the three hospitals, the continuum of care offered includes Western Connecticut Medical Group, an integrated physician practice offering primary and subspecialty care across the region, Western Connecticut Home Care, an agency for home health care services, the nationally renowned Western Connecticut Health Network Biomedical Research Institute, the Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation, the Norwalk Hospital Foundation, and other affiliates. For more information, visit TheNewWCHN.org. Share your comments with us at Facebook.com/DanburyHospital; Facebook.com/NewMilfordHospital and/or Facebook.com/NorwalkHospital.

About the Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation

The Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation mobilizes philanthropic support to benefit and advance the programs and services of WCHN hospitals and affiliated organizations. In partnership with a generous and involved community, the WCHN Foundation works to ensure responsive, compassionate, and cutting-edge care for generations to come. For more information, contact the Foundation at 203-739-7227 or foundation@wchn.org.

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Submitted by Redding, CT

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