Lechleiters donate $6 million for cardiovascular care, research
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFormer Eli Lilly and Co. CEO John Lechleiter and his wife, Sarah, are donating $6 million to Indiana University Health and the IU School of Medicine to further spur innovation in cardiovascular care and research.
The donation will help establish a new faculty chair in cardiovascular innovation, support improvements to patient care and physician training, and fund research at the university’s Cardiovascular Institute. The amount is the largest single philanthropic gift ever shared by the health system and the medical school.
“Having personally experienced the exceptional care and expertise of the IU School of Medicine and IU Health, Sarah and I understand firsthand the profound impact their collaboration can have,” John Lechleiter said in a news release. “The strength of their partnership has been evident not only in my own journey but in the remarkable strides they continue to make in cardiovascular health. Our gift is a testament to our confidence in their shared mission to transform the status quo and improve lives.”
John Lechleiter retired in 2016 from Eli Lilly and Co. as its president and CEO. Sarah Lechleiter serves on the board of Newfields in Indianapolis and is a former board member of the Indiana Repertory Theatre and of United Way of Central Indiana’s Women United.
“We are grateful to John and Sarah for their visionary gift to address one of Indiana’s greatest challenges: cardiovascular health,” IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy said. “Their generosity will strengthen preventive and clinical care options, expand access so more Hoosiers can receive that care, and ensure that we have top clinicians in place to deliver it.”
The Lechleiter gift, the university said, further supports the partnership between Indiana University Health and the IU School of Medicine and their goal to elevate the Cardiovascular Institute into one of the top 10 cardiovascular centers in the country.
The gift comes five months after the Lechleiters donated $8 million to Riley Children’s Foundation in Indianapolis to make mental health and behavioral health services more available to children and adolescents.