Four years ago, Daniel D’Aniello underwent spine surgery with Jay Khanna, MD, a spine surgeon and physician executive director of MedStar Orthopaedic Institute and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Over the months and years following the surgery, the two men developed a relationship of mutual respect and found they shared an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic and spine care and research.
Mr. D’Aniello, co-founder and chairman emeritus of the board of the Carlyle Group, a global investment firm, saw how health care could be transformed through an increased focus on clinical excellence, field-changing research, and education of the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons. His faith in Dr. Khanna’s visionary leadership and clinical expertise inspired his $5 million philanthropic partnership to Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
Mr. D’Aniello’s generous gift includes $3 million to establish The D’Aniello Family Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine and $2 million to support clinical care in the new Medical/Surgical Pavilion, currently under construction. This world-class facility will transform the way personalized care is delivered to meet the needs of families across the region and beyond. Specializing in transplantation, orthopaedic surgery, spine surgery, neurosciences, and surgical services, the pavilion will feature 156 private patient rooms, a rooftop helipad with direct access to 31 state-of-the-art operating rooms, and a modernized emergency department with 32 private rooms.
“Philanthropic investments like Mr. D’Aniello’s accelerate the advancement of medicine, inspire our caregivers, and help ensure a future of promise and hope for our patients and their families,” says Mike Sachtleben, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Washington Region, MedStar Health, and president, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
“I have so much confidence in Dr. Khanna’s leadership and expertise—we are certain he will advance orthopaedic and spine research to find even better clinical approaches to care for patients. This is the main reason we are so proud to be philanthropic partners for the Medical/Surgical Pavilion and Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Medical Center,” says Mr. D’Aniello.
“MedStar Georgetown was founded as, and remains, a Catholic and Jesuit institute,” says Dr. Khanna. “And out of that tradition comes our commitment to cura personalis, or care for the whole person. I am humbled that Mr. D’Aniello would put his support behind the University, our department, our Institute, MedStar Health, and me. We all are looking forward to making him and his family proud of their investment and vote of confidence in us.
“The endowed chair will play a critical role in supporting continued excellence in orthopaedic surgery, spine surgery, and musculoskeletal health programs by expanding research and teaching resources for clinicians, residents, fellows, and medical students,” says Dr. Khanna.
Kenneth A. Samet, President and CEO of MedStar Health, says, “I am so grateful to Mr. D’Aniello for his very generous support of the Medical/Surgical Pavilion and of Dr. Khanna and our efforts to continue building out our world-class clinical research orthopaedic surgery platform across the nation’s capital region. All of us were deeply touched when we learned of his support to create The D’Aniello Family Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University Medical Center. With Dr. Khanna’s leadership, Mr. D’Aniello’s generosity will allow us to continue to teach the brightest minds for the future, and to find even better clinical approaches to care for our patients in need.”
“With this extraordinary gift, we are able to advance the research mission of the University and contribute important insights to medical care,” adds Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia. “We are profoundly grateful for the D’Aniello family’s generous support of our community.”
Through the generous support of people like Mr. D’Aniello, the community will benefit from an endowed chair of orthopaedic surgery and a world-class facility, enjoying an improved quality of health care for generations to come.