Jean Blechman makes generous commitment to name Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Boca Raton Regional Hospital
BOCA RATON, FL – February 25, 2020 – Jean Blechman, co-founder of Twinlab Corporation, has made a significant financial commitment to Keeping the Promise… the Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital to name the Jean and David Blechman Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
“Jean’s commitment throughout the years has been remarkable and enhances vital care for all. We are very appreciative of her generosity,” said Lincoln Mendez, CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. The $250 million Keeping the Promise… The Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital is the largest in the hospital’s history. The campaign is supporting plans to reimagine the hospital campus, shaping the future of unprecedented, world-class medical sophistication that Boca Regional envisions. The project includes construction of the Gloria Drummond Patient Tower, the Toby and Leon Cooperman Medical Arts Pavilion, an expansion of the critically acclaimed Marcus Neuroscience Institute and Christine E. Lynn Cardiovascular Institute, new operating rooms, renovation of the existing facility to create an all private patient room environment, and the recently opened Schmidt Family Parking Facility.
Jean has been a longtime supporter of Boca Raton Regional Hospital and has given generously for many years. She has a special interest in supporting cardiology programs at the hospital. When she named the Jean & David Blechman Center for Preventive Cardiology, Jean felt for many years that cardiac care for women was badly neglected. Consequently, it became known that cardiac disease is the number one killer of women, which is still true today.
With this fact it mind, Jean felt it was very important to provide a service that would educate women on the prevention of cardiac disease. Jean has had an extended interest in supporting healthcare. As co-founder of Twinlab Corporation, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of nutritional supplements, she long believed in the importance of exercise, vitamins, eating well and taking responsibility for her own health. Jean and David founded Twinlab in 1966 with one product. Mr. Blechman was fond of saying, “Jean and I started Twinlab with one protein formula and a dream.” With their five sons, Twinlab eventually had three manufacturing facilities and 300 products sold in over 30 countries.
Jean has been a passionate committed philanthropist to Boca Regional. Her donations created the Jean and David Blechman Center for Women’s Specialty Care and Preventive Cardiology in the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute. The center offers clinical services, including risk assessments and screenings, and employs a team of clinical support practitioners with expertise and special interest in caring for women. Specialties for the program include breast health, cardiology, and general and robotic surgery. Jean also named the Jean & David Blechman Cardiac Intensive Care Unit in the main hospital; the Jean & David Blechman Cardiac Catheterization Unit in the main hospital; the Jean & David Blechman Waiting Area in the Women’s Institute; the Jean & David Blechman Conference Center in the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute; and the Jean & David Blechman Care Center in the Wold Family Center for Emergency Medicine.
Jean has also given generously to numerous health programs in New York, including New York University Langone Medical Center. At the Jean and David Blechman Cardiac and Vascular Center, cardiologists use the most advanced non-surgical techniques to improve blood flow to the heart. Also at New York University Langone, Jean funded the Jean and David Blechman Professorship in Cardiology. As with Boca Regional, she was especially interested in supporting cardiac programs. Today, Jean prefers to support causes that she feels a personal connection with, whether it is children’s health programs, hospice, cardiac care or women’s health. “Knowing that I’ve been able to improve people’s lives is my greatest pleasure in life,” explained Jean Blechman.
“Having a good hospital in our community is a necessity, and by supporting Boca Regional philanthropically, I’m also doing something for myself and my loved ones. People in the community stop and thank me, and I am so pleased and proud to hear that,” says Jean Blechman.
About Boca Raton Regional Hospital – Advancing the boundaries of medicine.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an advanced, tertiary medical center (BRRH.com) with 400 beds, 2,800 employees and more than 800 primary and specialty physicians on staff. The Hospital is a recognized leader in Oncology, Cardiovascular Disease and Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Orthopedics, Women’s Health, Emergency Medicine and the Neurosciences, all of which offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging capabilities. The Hospital is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). BRRH is recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 – 2020 Best Hospitals listing as a Top Ranked Regional Hospital, for the fourth consecutive year, and the highest ranked hospital in Palm Beach County. Boca Raton Regional Hospital is a part of Baptist Health South Florida.
###
