It was announced on Feb. 12 that the Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will be renamed the Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs.
Credit: Abhiram JuvvadiThe Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will be renamed the Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs following a $120 million donation to Penn Medicine from Catherine and Anthony Clifton.
This gift — one of the largest ever to name a United States inpatient hospital building according to the news release — is aimed towards accelerating innovation in patient care, research, and medical education. The Pavilion first saw patients in October 2021, cost $1.6 billion to build, and was the largest capital project in Penn’s history.
“Catherine and Anthony Clifton are revolutionizing the future of health care in profound ways. Their extraordinary generosity will leave an indelible mark on Penn Medicine, accelerating innovation in patient care, research, and medical education,” Interim Penn President Larry Jameson said in the release.
The Pavilion has cared for hundreds of thousands of patients and has played a crucial role in Penn Medicine’s clinical research, assisting over 350,000 patients in studies such as MRI techniques for predicting coma recovery and CAR T-cell therapy for glioblastoma. The hospital includes 47 operating rooms and 504 private patient rooms designed for patient and family comfort.
“We have long admired [Penn Medicine's] commitment to advancing medicine, pioneering new treatments, and ensuring that patients receive the highest quality care,” the Cliftons said in the announcement. “It is our deepest hope that The Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs will serve as a catalyst for discoveries that will shape the future of medicine for generations to come.”
The donation will be allocated to supporting Penn’s research efforts in translating scientific discoveries into human trials, according to Jonathan Epstein, dean of Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine.
The Cliftons are longtime supporters of Penn Medicine.
Catherine Clifton has served on the Penn Medicine Board since 2010 and is known for her leadership in public health, philanthropy, and urban planning. She continues her family’s legacy of making significant gifts to Penn Medicine; her brother, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, is a prominent donor. Ralph Roberts, Catherine’s father and founder of Comcast Corp., also served on the Penn Medicine Board.
Anthony Clifton is a business leader and philanthropist with experience in various industrial sectors. He is the owner and founder of AAC Holdings LLC, working as a mentor for small-business owners and senior managers. Previously, he served as CEO of Review Publishing, which operated several newspapers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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