56 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019 

Jews in the D

Ernst Heart Center
New gift from Max and Debra Ernst 
consolidates Beaumont cardiac care.
T

he new Max and Debra 
Ernst Heart Center 
at Beaumont Hospital, 
Royal Oak, is dedicated to 
consolidating cardiac care, par-
ticularly for patients with heart 
failure, into a convenient and 
comprehensive area.
Through this 
$5 million gift, 
Orchard Lake 
residents Max 
and Debra Ernst 
increased their sup-
port to Beaumont 
heart and vascular care to $8 
million. In 2009, they also gave 
$3 million to open the Ernst 
Cardiovascular Center in 
memory of Ellen Ernst, Max’
s 
late wife.
The new center includes 
an advanced heart failure and 
cardiomyopathy clinic, an adult 
congenital heart disease clinic, 
an atrial fibrillation clinic, a 
cardiology genetic counseling 
clinic, non-invasive cardiovascu-
lar testing, adult and adolescent 
screening programs and dieti-
tian services
“Through their incredible 
support to Beaumont for 
more than a decade, Max and 
Debra have demonstrated a 
commitment and desire to 
help others in our commu-
nity,” said Dr. Marc Sakwa, 
chief, Cardiovascular Surgery, 
Beaumont, Royal Oak.
The 14,000-square-foot cen-
ter, which will open Sept. 30, 
is near the hospital’
s East Tower 
entrance, close to the Ernst 
Cardiovascular Center. The 
new $9 million center not only 
combines outpatient heart ser-
vices into one dedicated space, 
but also helps patients better 
manage their condition and 
reduce emergency center visits 
and hospital readmissions. 

In the U.S., more than 1 
million people are diagnosed 
with congestive heart failure 
annually, which may lead to 
poor quality of life and frequent 
hospitalizations for advanced 
care. Heart failure is also the 
leading cause of hospi-
talization for people 65 
and older.
“When we gave our 
gift in 2009, we told 
everyone if we saved 
one life, it would be 
worth it. We are con-
fident the Beaumont cardiovas-
cular team has provided excel-
lent care and saved many lives,” 
Max Ernst said. “My gratitude 
for the success the heart team 
has achieved led my wife and 
me to provide additional sup-
port for their vision.”
Max had an interesting 
journey to becoming a business 
leader and philanthropist. Born 
in Europe just before the onset 
of World War II, he was the 
youngest of three children. His 
mother risked everything to get 
Max and his siblings on the last 
ship to leave Nazi Germany for 
the U.S. Max and his family 
settled in Detroit and stayed.
Max went into the drugstore 
business in partnership with the 
late Eugene Applebaum; they 
built Arbor Drugs into a suc-
cessful company and eventually 
sold to CVS Corporation.
He also has a successful 
career in commercial real 
estate. His company, REM 
Management, owns and man-
ages millions of square feet of 
multi-tenant office, industrial 
and retail space.
He and Debra married 13 
years ago; they say they are 
proud members of the “strong 
Jewish community in Southeast 
Michigan.” 

BEAUMONT HOSPITAL

Ernst Heart Center

BEAUMONT HOSPITAL

Debra and Max Ernst

Teacher Institute

ACCELERATE

Project

Legacy Heritage

wishes a happy and 

healthy new year to all of 
our partners and fellows in 

your community

