Beam Signing Caps Structural Completion of Schuster Heart Hospital

Hospital officials were beaming with pride as they signed the last beam of structural steel before it was hoisted into place to complete the skeleton of the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Heart Hospital. About two dozen physicians and administrators were on hand for the auspicious occasion.

"When we first got involved in this and agreed to have our names used for the building, we were thrilled," said Benjamin Schuster, MD. "We believed this would bring a better quality of care to Dayton. Service, education and research will all be encompassed in this venture. My only regret is that my wife, Marian, was not here to experience this with me."

The six-story tower is projected to open in the spring of next year. It will have 90 beds, as well as the latest in cardiac diagnostics, cath lab technology and an electro-physiology lab to address anomalies in the electrical workings of the heart. Officials project that 6,000 catheterizations and 600 open heart surgeries will be performed in the first year of operations.

Kettering Medical Center leads the Dayton area with more than 23,500 open-heart surgeries. This new facility will ensure that KMC's pace-setting care continues.

"I am so proud of it, and it has been such a pleasure working with the Kettering Health Network," Dr. Schuster adds. "I still can't realize this poor boy from Wisconsin has come to this point to have an edifice named after him."

"This is a major milestone for us and we are excited to see the rough structure completed," said Walter Sackett, vice president for Clinical Services. "The Schuster Heart Hospital will allow us to continue as the pace-setter in greater Dayton heart care, as it will offer the latest in technology, cardiac diagnostics and clinical education. We are so pleased that the father of Dayton cardiology, Dr. Benjamin Schuster, is with us every step of the way as we watch his vision become reality right here on the Kettering Medical Center campus."

In addition to the cardiac care features, the $72 million project will feature a striking new main lobby, gift shop and an attractive modern canopy entrance for patient drop off and pickup. The 120,000-square-foot heart hospital extends from the middle of Kettering Medical Center and out to Southern Boulevard.

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