(Bethesda, MD, October 15, 2007) – Suburban Hospital has received a major gift from Ina and Edwin Tornberg in tribute to the expertise of two local physicians, Dr. Jay M. Grodin , MD and Dr. James A. Brown., MD. The Tornberg’s gift will establish two endowed funds: the Jay M. Grodin, MD Surgical Lecture Series and the James A. Brown, MD Award for Excellence in Oncology Patient Care.

Dr. Grodin began practicing at Suburban Hospital in 1973. Well known for compassionate care of his patients, Dr. Grodin has worked in gynecology and infertility. Dr. Brown, an oncologist, has always recognized the important partnership of nurses and technicians in the treatment and care of his patients. Dr. Grodin and Dr. Brown’s understanding of patient needs, when faced with any health crisis, is reflected in the devotion of their thankful patients, including the Tornbergs.

Dr. Grodin began practicing at Suburban Hospital focused on surgery. The first Grodin Lecture will be held February 22, 2008, and feature Patrick C. Walsh, MD, who is the University Distinguished Service Professor of Urology at the Brady Urological Institute of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.

 With the creation of the James A. Brown, MD Award for Excellence in Oncology Patient Care, Suburban Hospital will recognize those “front line” caregivers who provide exceptional care to cancer patients every day at Suburban Hospital. A staff committee at Suburban Hospital will select deserving nurses and/or technicians for their sensitive treatment and care in oncology. The first awards in 2008. 

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Suburban Hospital is a not-for-profit, community-owned hospital in Bethesda, Md., that has served Montgomery County and surrounding area for more than 60 years. The hospital is distinguished by a cutting-edge stroke program; level II trauma center; centers of excellence in cardiac care, orthopedics and joint replacement surgery, neurosciences and oncology; state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment tools; and affiliations with world-class institutions, including the neighboring National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins Medicine. 

Created in 1996, the Suburban Hospital Foundation serves as the fundraising arm for the Suburban Hospital Healthcare System.