The Great Lakes Health System of Western New York was created to integrate Kaleida Health and ECMC and initiate a more efficient and collaborative design for WNY healthcare. The Professional Steering Committee of Great Lakes Health, comprising physicians and nursing leadership from both ECMC and Kaleida, was established in 2008 to make recommendations to the Great Lakes Health System Board in developing selected clinical services within the new health system. Among the committee’s recommendations was the need to consolidate the kidney and pancreas transplant programs and create a center of excellence allowing for future expansion.

In 2009, the New York State Department of Health awarded a $7.5 million HEAL grant toward the project. With the aid and guidance of the Professional Steering Committee, the new facility at ECMC will establish a center of transplant and kidney care excellence that will provide state-of-the-art transplant services to about 125 patients annually. ECMC Corporation is contributing $13.5 million to the project and the ECMC Lifeline Foundation is undertaking a $3 million capital campaign.

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