Sullivan Family increases support for palliative care at Newton-Wellesley Hospital to $3 million

NEWTON, MA – Steve and Rebecca Sullivan of Wellesley have made a $1.6 million commitment to support palliative care at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, which, coupled with their gift of $1.5M in the spring of 2021 brings their sponsorship to more than $3 million for this vital service.

The most recent Sullivan gift will support the establishment of a palliative care nurse navigator position within the hospital. The addition of this new role benefits the entire hospital and be particularly impactful in our Emergency Department where a palliative care nurse navigator will significantly enhance our ability to provide efficient, high-quality care for some of our most seriously ill patients. Research shows that an ED-embedded Palliative Care Consult Program can improve the quality of care for patients and families, streamline patient flow, and provide vital support to our care teams.

A gift of $1.5 million in the spring of 2021 endowed the Sullivan Family Chief of Palliative Care position, currently held by Kosha Thakore, MD, a talented and compassionate physician who leads the NWH Palliative Care team.

Palliative care is provided by a team of health care providers, including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and myriad trained specialists. The team works with other hospital providers to provide comfort and improve quality of life for patients and their families. This form of care is offered alongside other treatments a person may be receiving and adds an extra layer of support and relief that complements ongoing care.

“We are deeply grateful to the Sullivans for their commitment and compassion,” says Ellen Moloney, president and chief operating officer of NWH.  Palliative care is essential to providing patients and families with comprehensive care and the Sullivans have enabled us to embrace this important aspect of patient and family support. We take great pride in the excellence of our Palliative Care Division and are deeply appreciative of the Sullivans for their leadership in this area. The nature of their gifts also ensures that our service will remain for years to come.”

A legacy of heartfelt support

Steve and Rebecca Sullivan have been committed to NWH for many years.  Steve served on the NWH Board of Trustees for nine years in addition to serving as co-chair of the Palliative Care Council. As the Sullivans became more engaged through events and volunteering, their appreciation for NWH grew.

Wishing to make NWH a focus of their generosity, they became early champions of community support for a budding program in Palliative Care. “As we learned more about the many benefits of palliative care, we sensed that expanding it could benefit so many families in our community,” says Rebecca, reflecting in part on the end-of-life care she experienced with her own mother.

“Looking ahead, we are excited to think about the impact this role can have on enhancing quality of care that Newton-Wellesley can provide to patients and their families during critical times,” she says.