A campaign has begun to raise additional funding to complete construction of the Brenda Fareri Pavilion at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. The Medical Center, flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network is building the new, state-of-the-art critical care tower that will offer 162,000 square feet of space for advanced critical-care medicine.
The $25 million capital campaign has been named “Possible Starts Here.” The overall cost of the new facility has been estimated at $220 million. Much of the required funding has been in place, including a substantial contribution from the Fareri family. In February, it was announced that John and Brenda Fareri, whose support for the WMCHealth has been instrumental in its growth, pledged a $5 million gift to support the construction of the new patient tower.
The “Possible Starts Here” campaign was highlighted with an event at the Medical Center during which a steel beam for the building was signed by donors, hospital leaders and staff, and invited guests. Construction is expected to be completed next year.
The new building will feature rooms designed to house one patient rather than multiple patients, the capability for rooms to handle intensive care, new operating rooms and facilities to support world-class patient care programs including advanced neurosurgery through the region’s most comprehensive Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit and the Hudson Valley’s only Comprehensive Stroke Center. The new building will allow space to be created in the main hospital so that all patients can have private rooms, advancing both care and comfort.
The Pavilion also will enhance the Medical Center’s nationally recognized Cardiac Surgery Program, ranked among the top 50 in the U. S. for patient outcomes.
“When seconds count, patients across our region rely on Westchester Medical Center,” said Dr. David Lubarsky, president and CEO of WMCHealth. “The Brenda Fareri Pavilion will provide our expert teams with the cutting-edge space, resources, and technology they need to deliver world-class outcomes in the most critical moments. This campaign ensures the future of advanced critical care is built right here, close to home.”
Westchester Medical Center Foundation Trustee, Julie Fareri, whose mother, a pioneering critical care nurse, is honored in the Pavilion’s name, said, “This project carries forward my mother’s lifelong dedication to patients and families. We invite our entire community to join us in building a future where every life saved is a future restored.”
According to Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, “Westchester Medical Center has long been a cornerstone of care for families throughout our county. The Westchester County LDC (Local Development Corporation) was proud to provide a $195 million bond in support of this project. The new Brenda Fareri Pavilion will ensure that when our residents face their most critical health challenges, they can receive outstanding treatment close to home. I want to commend Westchester Medical Center, its dedicated staff, and the many generous donors who helped to make this vision a reality.”
Together with Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, Westchester Medical Center operates the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma programs for both adults and children. In 2024 alone, Westchester Medical Center treated nearly 7,000 adult trauma patients, while Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital cared for more than 2,500 children, underscoring the urgent need for expanded critical care capacity.
The Medical Center notes that beyond health care, the Pavilion also will bring significant economic impact, generating millions of dollars for Westchester County through construction and permanent jobs.
Zubeen Shroff, Chair of the WMCHealth Foundation Board, said, “This campaign is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about delivering on our promise of innovation, access, and hope. Trustees, physicians, employees, and partners across the community have already stepped forward with transformational support. Together, we are ensuring that the most advanced medicine will always be available to the people of the Hudson Valley.”
The Medical Center is now inviting community members to “help close the campaign and bring the Brenda Fareri Pavilion to life.” Details on contributing are posted online at WMCHealth.org/CriticalCareTower or are available by phone at 914-493-2575.
