NAPLES, FL, March 31, 2025 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) proudly announces a $10 million gift from Jay and Patty Baker toward the RM Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center, a $265 million facility on the NCH Downtown Baker Hospital campus that will transform cardiac, stroke and vascular care in Southwest Florida. Funded almost entirely through philanthropy, the state-of-the-art facility will integrate complex and specialized care under one roof, elevating quality and the patient experience for our community and beyond.
In recognition of the Bakers’ generous donation, NCH will name the catheterization labs and the boardroom of the future facility in their honor. While the boardroom will provide much needed meeting space for educational opportunities, the catheterization labs will be vital to the center’s mission, enabling a wide range of diagnostic and interventional procedures. Each year, the NCH catheterization team conducts over 4,000 procedures, including more than 1,000 angioplasties, providing patients with rapid, high-quality care that significantly improves survival rates and long-term heart health. Those numbers are projected to increase as our community grows.
As one of the most significant and impactful legacy supporters in NCH’s history, Jay and Patty Baker’s investment in NCH represents a defining moment in its journey to become an Advanced Community Healthcare System®. Their philanthropy is shaping the future of care in our region, creating milestones that will directly improve outcomes for thousands of patients for years to come.
“We are deeply honored by Jay and Patty Baker’s continued commitment to NCH,” said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH. “Their transformative gift is not just an investment in bricks and mortar—it is an investment in people, in lives saved and in the elevated quality of care we can provide. Thanks to their generosity, our patients will have access to the most advanced treatments available, delivered in a facility designed to support the very best outcomes.”
“NCH is on an incredible journey innovating and transforming healthcare in Southwest Florida,” said Jay and Patty Baker. “We are proud to champion this initiative by helping provide the most advanced treatments right here in Naples. Supporting this project is an investment in the health and well-being of our friends, neighbors, and future generations, and we hope our gift inspires others to join in making this vision a reality.”
The RM Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center is a $265 million initiative designed to integrate complex cardiac and stroke care under one roof, improving coordination and outcomes for the thousands of patients who rely on NCH each year. With the Bakers’ gift, NCH has now secured approximately $180 million in philanthropic funding—but the journey is not yet complete.
To finish this transformational project and bring its full vision to life, NCH needs to raise an additional $85 million. The continued support of our community will be the driving force in getting us across the finish line.
“Innovation, quality and patient-centered care are at the core of NCH’s transformation,” said Hiltz. “Philanthropy is what fuels our ability to turn that vision into reality. We invite our community to join us in shaping the future of healthcare in Southwest Florida—because together, we are building something truly extraordinary.”
NCH remains committed to delivering exceptional care, advancing medical innovation and ensuring that our community has access to the best healthcare possible. Thanks to philanthropy, we are well on our way—but there is still work to be done.
To help support the RM Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center, please visit https://nchmd.org/philanthropy/donate-today.
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