Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center Receives Transformative Gift from Local Grateful Couple
Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Laboratory to be Named for Laurence and Fern Bensignor
Rockville, MD - A family who benefited from life-saving heart care at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center has made a significant donation to the new cardiovascular treatment lab under construction at the hospital.
Laurence (Larry) and Fern Bensignor are so grateful for the exceptional care Larry received that they have given a substantial immediate contribution, as well as a generous deferred gift through Larry’s estate.
The funding will support the 150,352-square-foot patient tower currently under construction, to help complete its Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR) laboratory. The lab will house three advanced procedure rooms equipped for interventional cardiologists and neurointerventional specialists to treat emergency patients undergoing heart attacks and strokes. In recognition of their generosity and enduring commitment, the lab will be named in honor of the Bensignors.
Their connection to Shady Grove Medical Center runs deep. In 2016, Larry was rushed to the hospital’s Emergency Department by ambulance while suffering a widow-maker heart attack. Thanks to the swift and expert care of Dr. Rajeev Patel, an interventional cardiologist with Adventist HealthCare Cardiac Associates, and the Shady Grove medical team, he survived the life-threatening event.
That experience at a second chance in life sparked a profound desire by the Bensignors to give back to the community, both financially and through leadership and service. They have become steadfast supporters of their hospital, giving multiple substantial gifts. They also give of their time and talent. Larry is the past chair of the Shady Grove Medical Center Foundation and currently serves on the Governing Board of Shady Grove Medical Center, where he chairs its Philanthropy Committee.
"It’s a strange feeling to hear sirens in your neighborhood, and know they are for you," says Larry. “Every moment I spend with family, including my delightful 4-year-old grandson, laugh with friends or listen to my favorite music is a gift,” he adds. "Dr. Patel and Shady Grove Medical Center saved my life. Fern and I want other patients who need emergency intervention to receive the best care possible, and to have the same chance at continued life."
"We are incredibly grateful to Larry and Fern’s extraordinary generosity," says Daniel Cochran, president of Shady Grove Medical Center. "Their latest gift exemplifies the power of gratitude turned into meaningful action. It will help ensure that every heart or stroke patient who comes through our doors has access to world-class care, state-of-the-art technology, and the compassion that defines our mission. This naming honor reflects our deep appreciation for their trust in Shady Grove and partnership with Adventist HealthCare."
The hospital’s new tower will modernize and enhance Shady Grove Medical Center’s capabilities. Among the upgrades, emergency care spaces will move closer to advanced cardiovascular and radiology labs, meaning even faster times to diagnosis and treatment for patients who need care from the hospital’s nationally recognized heart attack and stroke care teams. The tower is projected to open in 2026.
"The Bensignors' legacy will continue to inspire innovative, compassionate care at Shady Grove Medical Center for years to come," adds Dan. "Larry and Fern Bensignor's gift exemplifies the powerful impact that personal experience and a commitment to philanthropy can have on advances in healthcare and bettering the community."
