The University of Pennsylvania has announced that it has received a “tranformational gift” for Penn Medicine from Catherine and Anthony Clifton.
While the university did not specify the amount of the gift in its news release, the Philadelphia Business Journal described it as being worth more than $100 million. The Philadelphia Inquirer pegged it at $120 million. The University did say that the gift was one of the largest ever to name an inpatient hospital building.
In recognition of the gift, the Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will be renamed The Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs, according to the university.
“Catherine and Anthony Clifton are revolutionizing the future of health care in profound ways. Their extraordinary generosity will leave an indelible mark on Penn Medicine, accelerating innovation in patient care, research, and medical education,” said University of Pennsylvania Interim President J. Larry Jameson, in a news release.
University of Pennsylvania Health System CEO Kevin B. Mahoney said the Clifton Gift “strengthens our ability to push the boundaries of medicine, improving patient care, advancing research, and training the next generation of physicians.” The gift appears to have few, if any, strings attached so it’s expected to help support a number of initiatives, including innovative medical research, new clinical trials and translational medicine.
Catherine Clifton is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in city and regional planning. She also has a master’s degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The daughter of Ralph Roberts, who founded the Comcast Corporation, Ms. Clifton has served on numerous medical and community boards, including the Penn Medicine Board, the Kimmel Center Board of Directors, and the Philadelphia Orchestra Association Board of Directors.
Anthony Clifton is the principal owner and founder of AAC Holdings LLC, a consulting firm for managers of small businesses. He previously was chairman and CEO of Review Publishing, which operated several newspapers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the South Philly Review, the Philadelphia Weekly, and the Atlantic City Weekly. He has held leadership roles at Comcast Corporation, State Street Bank, First National Bank of Chicago, and the United Kingdom Treasury Department.
“Being part of Penn Medicine’s vision to transform health care is an incredible honor,” said the Cliftons in Penn Medicine’s announcement. “We have long admired its commitment to advancing medicine, pioneering new treatments, and ensuring that patients receive the highest quality care. It is our deepest hope that The Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs will serve as a catalyst for discoveries that will shape the future of medicine for generations to come.”