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