State of the Heart: Lentsch family gifts $3 million to support Banner’s cardiovascular program

10/1/2024

Deeply rooted in the communities that shape their lives, Tom and Debbie Lentsch recently made a $3 million gift to support Banner Health’s premier cardiovascular program. Their philanthropic investment will renovate and enhance the Cardiac Care Unit at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix and endow a new leadership position: Director for the Advanced Structural Heart Center.

The upgraded Lentsch Family Cardiac Care Unit will provide intermediate-level care to those with critical heart issues. This is an essential space within large hospitals that perform a high volume of heart surgeries. Staffed by physicians, nurses, and other health care providers with extensive training in heart issues and systemic intensive care, the Cardiac Care Unit cares for patients with the most serious heart issues, who often also have other life-threatening complications.

“Visiting and learning about the cardiovascular program was of real interest to us,” Debbie explains. “The passion, vision, and dedication that we felt from the physicians we met in the Cardiac Care Unit were inspiring. Heart surgery is traumatic, so patients need state-of-the-art equipment and a good environment to heal.”

A portion of the Lentsch family’s gift will also endow a key leadership role, the Lentsch Family Endowed Director of the Advanced Structural Heart Center. Endowed leadership positions are a hallmark of great institutions and are one of the most prestigious honors bestowed on a physician. These positions help to attract and retain the most talented physician and research leaders and provide sustainable funding for them to advance their specialties.

“We chose to support the Endowed Director position because, with this funding, Banner Health will be able to attract top talent for the Advanced Structural Heart Center and grow the program,” says Debbie.

Debbie serves on the Board of WISH (Women Investing in Science and Health) and is a member of the Campaign Cabinet for Banner’s first comprehensive campaign – Be at the Heart of Health. She is also a grateful patient who credits Banner for saving her life when she underwent a liver transplant several years ago. She made a gift then to create a Transplant Assistance Fund that helps organ transplant patients with the cost of their medications. Later, she and Tom made a gift to support Banner Sports Medicine Scottsdale, where the Concussion Clinic now bears their family name.

“Banner Health, with its excellent physicians, nurses and staff, guided our family through a significant health crisis, and we are so grateful,” she says. “We realize there are many others who are struggling with illness or facing a serious health event and who worry about getting care.”

The Banner facilities and programs supported by Tom and Debbie Lentsch will stand as an enduring testament to their family’s generous commitment to helping others to live long, healthy lives through excellent medical care.

“We believe it is so important to support Banner Health, so that patients in need can receive first-class health care, no matter who they are or where they are from,” says Debbie.