wealth & Fitness

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WELLNESS

'To Those Who
Came Before'

The Sinai Guild cements Jewish hospital's legacy.

Judith Doner Berne
Special to the Jewish News

The history of Sinai Hospital, which
opened in 1953 and was acquired by
the DMC in 1997, is displayed on story-
o matter that it was a bright, shiny boards along a first-floor corridor.
end of summer afternoon, the
The two-floor, 29,000-square-foot
smiles at the Sept. 2 dedica-
building, which connects to the hos-
tion of the Sinai Guild Medical Office
pital, is the initial step of a three-part
Building at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai
expansion plan to add additional private
Hospital in Commerce Township out-
rooms for hospital patients.
shone the sun.
The hospital space vacated by the
"Great day, isn't it?" Detroit Medical
doctors will be reconfigured into private
Center president and chief executive
rooms in the second phase.
officer Mike Duggan acknowledged to
Finally, existing double rooms will be
those gathered for the ribbon cutting.
converted to singles. Total cost of the
"With the generous help of the Sinai
conversion is estimated at $6.5 million.
Guild, this came to fruition."
"We had this dream of private rooms
The new $6.8 million
well before our competi-
building is named in
tion did:' said Huron
honor of the Sinai Guild,
Valley-Sinai board
founded as the Women's
chairman Merle Harris.
Auxiliary of Sinai Hospital
"That's the trend today.
of Detroit in 1952, for its
We want to be au cou-
major contributions to
rant.
Huron Valley-Sinai, one of
"I'm very proud:' said
nine hospitals and insti-
Harris, who also was
tutes in the DMC chain.
board chairman for the
Over the past five years,
original Sinai Hospital.
Guild grants made pos-
"We started out as a
sible the purchase of a dual source, 64-
tiny community hospital."
slice CT scanner; a stereotactic breast
"It's like our very own spot and it's a
biopsy system; and a radial digital con-
shorter walk for patients," said Dr. Jack
verter for mammography.
Belen, D.O., a pulmonary disease and
The group also funded specialized
critical care physician who has been in
equipment for cardiology, neonatology
practice at the hospital since it opened
and orthopedics.
in 1986.
Rusty Rosman, president of the Sinai
"Those were the days when the
Guild, dedicated the building "to those
only footsteps I heard were my owe
who came before and those who will
Belen, a Commerce Township resident,
come after.
recounted
"The Sinai Guild is strong and
"We have named our new campus
vibrant," Rosman, a Commerce
addition to express our appreciation for
Township resident, said. "To have our
the Guild's generosity to Huron Valley-
name on a building is to confirm the
Sinai Hospital and to honor the continu-
legacy of Sinai Hospital."
ing legacy of Sinai Hospital;' said Lynn
The new addition to the Huron Valley- Torossian, Huron Valley-Sinai president.
Sinai campus houses physician's offices, She began her career at the original
a sleep laboratory and a blood-draw sta- Sinai Hospital.
tion as well as an overnight facilities for
"Many of our physicians, staff and
doctors on call.
donors were affiliated with Sinai and we
A plaque dedicated to the Guild grac-
are grateful for their service and partici-
es the building lobby.
pation here Torossian said.

N

The medical
building was
named to honor
the Sinai Guild's
generosity.

❑

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September 7 2009

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"I can't praise the Sinai Guild enough,"

Huron Valley-Sinai board chairman Merle

Harris said. "It's only the beginning."

Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital president
Lynn Torossian and Dr. Jack Belen

stand in front of the plaque honoring
the Sinai Guild.

Sinai Guild president Rusty Rosman views the building's permanent display
depicting the history of the former Sinai Hospital in Detroit.