Founding group of 12 community leaders will build awareness, inspire engagement and advance philanthropic support for the Van Domelen Pavilion for Women & Children
Naples, Fla. September 14, 2026 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) today announced the launch of the Artemis Circle, a group founded by philanthropist Julia Van Domelen that brings together 12 community leaders committed to advancing the vision for the Van Domelen Pavilion for Women & Children and strengthening care for women, children and families throughout Southwest Florida.
Named for Artemis, the Greek goddess associated with the protection of women and children, the Circle reflects the power of women working together to improve the health and well-being of our community. Its founding members will use their collective voices, relationships and community involvement to build awareness, foster meaningful connections and inspire philanthropic support for the Pavilion.
“The Artemis Circle brings together an extraordinary group of community leaders who share our belief that women and children in Southwest Florida deserve greater access to advanced, highly specialized care,” said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH. “Their advocacy will help build the awareness and philanthropic momentum needed to make the Van Domelen Pavilion a reality and strengthen care for generations of families across our region.”
The need for expanded services continues to grow along with Southwest Florida’s population. Since 2019, maternal-fetal medicine visits at NCH have increased by nearly 500%, rising from 1,120 to 6,442 visits annually, or from approximately 93 to more than 500 visits per month. At the same time, NCH’s current Level II NICU has just 19 beds, underscoring the need for greater neonatal capacity. To meet current and future demand, NCH plans to expand to a Level III NICU with more than 35 beds, providing advanced care for our most vulnerable newborns closer to home.
Announced in January 2026, the planned Van Domelen Pavilion for Women & Children will bring advanced women’s, maternity, neonatal and pediatric services together in one dedicated environment. Developed in collaboration with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the Pavilion will expand access to specialized care for women, children and families here in Southwest Florida.
The Pavilion represents a projected investment of approximately $350 million. NCH must secure approximately $237 million in additional philanthropic commitments to reach the funding threshold required to begin construction. Achieving that milestone will help advance the project timeline and bring expanded services to the region sooner.
Van Domelen, whose transformational support helped launch the vision for the Pavilion, founded the Artemis Circle to engage other women in advancing the project and its potential impact on families across the region.
The founding members of the Artemis Circle are Julia Van Domelen, Patty Baker, Simone Lutgert, Heather Dockweiler, Ashley Gerry, Jerri Hoffmann, Shelia Smith Davis, Denise Cobb, Barbie Hills, Cindy Scalise, Julie Vanderboom and Anne McNulty.
Through outreach, advocacy and community engagement, the Artemis Circle will help broaden understanding of the Pavilion and encourage others to take part in advancing its mission. The founding members will serve as ambassadors for the initiative, sharing the need for expanded women’s and children’s services and the opportunity to help shape the future of health care in Southwest Florida.
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