Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital plan a major expansion of care for women and children in Southwest Florida, made possible by a visionary gift from Bill and Julia Van Domelen Foundation. This investment will establish the Van Domelen Institute for Women and Children and support construction of the Van Domelen Pavilion for Women and Children on the NCH North Hospital campus.
Since opening its doors in 1956 and welcoming its first baby just two days later, NCH has grown alongside Southwest Florida, caring for generations. Today, as our region has experienced unprecedented growth and complexity in healthcare needs, we are launching a bold initiative because families deserve the very best care close to home.
Collier County is home to more than 65,000 children, with the pediatric population projected to grow another four percent in five years. NCH delivers nearly 3,700 babies each year and operates the only pediatric emergency department in the county. With this expansion, women and children will benefit from shorter wait times, reduced travel, and coordinated care between hospital teams, specialists, and community providers.
“This gift is about families,” said Julia Van Domelen. “It represents the missing piece of our Foundation’s work in Southwest Florida and our commitment to ensuring that women and children have access to the highest level of care at every stage of life, close to home. It is about bringing together care, access, and support so families do not have to leave their community during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.”…