Published on January 22, 2009

News Release

Washington Adventist Hospital and FDA Collaborate to Drive Advancements in Public Health

Hospital offers FDA physicians and scientists access to "real world" medical technologies and environments

White Oak, MD - The Food and Drug Administration and Washington Adventist Hospital, which plans to relocate to White Oak/Calverton near the FDA campus, announced today that they have entered into an agreement to collaborate on medical and scientific issues.

By sharing resources and talents, the two organizations say they can open up new areas of discovery, funding and cooperation that are critically important for keeping both organizations on the leading edge and for protecting and promoting public health.

"The development of a modern hospital facility and affiliated medical services on Washington Adventist Hospital 's property is a perfect, once-in-a-lifetime complement to the research and medical programs at our FDA campus," said John Dyer, Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Chief Operating Officer for the Food and Drug Administration.

Washington Adventist Hospital , which received unanimous approval of its site plan in December 2008, will submit a Letter of Intent to the state in early February. A more comprehensive Certificate of Need, seeking permission to relocate to the White Oak/Calverton area of Montgomery County , will be filed with the state in April.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the hospital and FDA establishes the terms of collaboration to support medical and scientific progress affecting human health and medicine. Both organizations say they will begin working together now and expect areas of cooperation will be expanded over time when the hospital relocation is complete.

Some of the current opportunities include:

• Training and exchange of medical professionals and staff by the two organizations
• Collaborating on clinical research
• Sharing facilities and equipment for increased cost efficiencies for scientific research
• Identifying and eliminating health disparities

"There is a tremendous opportunity to improve access to health care, advance medical research, and enhance economic development opportunities for the entire region. We are pleased to partner with the FDA," said Jere Stocks, President of Washington Adventist Hospital.

With 500 medical officers employed by the FDA, the new Washington Adventist Hospital will allow for professional development opportunities including access to medical technologies and environments in clinical, emergency room and direct patient service areas.

"In addition to the relocation of the hospital and the health-care services developed as part of the Village of Health and Wellbeing at our Takoma Park Campus, we believe cooperation with the FDA will further our commitment to provide the best possible health-care access to the communities we serve," Stocks added.

Washington Adventist Hospital    is a 292-bed acute-care facility located in Takoma Park, Maryland. Washington Adventist Hospital is Montgomery County's first cardiac center, performing more than 500 open-heart surgeries and more than 6,000 heart catheterizations each year. Washington Adventist Hospital is part of Adventist HealthCare, an integrated health-care delivery system based in Rockville, Maryland, that is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland.