Valhalla, N.Y., September 29, 2025 — Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), today announced the public launch of the $25 million “Possible Starts Here” capital campaign to complete construction of the Brenda Fareri Pavilion, a new, state-of-the-art critical care tower that will redefine life-saving care for the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Currently under construction on the Valhalla campus, the Brenda Fareri Pavilion will be a five-story, 162,000-square-foot hub of advanced critical care medicine.. Designed for the highest levels of complexity, the Pavilion will feature ICU-capable rooms and flexible, surge-ready spaces to respond to public health emergencies. It will also support world-class patient care programs, including advanced neurosurgery through the region’s most comprehensive Neuroscience ICU and the Hudson Valley’s only Comprehensive Stroke Center. In addition, the Pavilion will enhance our nationally recognized Cardiac Surgery Program, ranked among the top 50 in the United States for
patient outcomes, and our Medical-Surgical ICU, ensuring that patients requiring the most advanced care have access to the very best resources and expertise. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.To mark this milestone, dignitaries, donors, hospital leaders, and staff gathered at Westchester Medical Center for a ceremonial steel beam signing, symbolizing the strength of the community’s commitment to world-class care.
“When seconds count, patients across our region rely on Westchester Medical Center,” said David Lubarsky, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer 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, added: “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.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins underscored the regional importance of the project: “Westchester Medical Center has long been a cornerstone of care for families throughout our county. The Westchester County LDC was proud to provide a $195M 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.”
The Brenda Fareri Pavilion will cement Westchester Medical Center’s role as the epicenter of advanced medicine in the Hudson Valley. 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.
Beyond healthcare, the Pavilion will also bring significant economic impact, generating millions of dollars for Westchester County through construction and permanent jobs. Additionally, the project will provide free space in the main hospital to offer patients all private rooms, advancing both care and comfort.
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.”
Of the $25 million goal, WMCHealth celebrated several transformational commitments from philanthropists throughout the region. Strong support has also been received from trustees, physicians, and employees across the network.
Community members are now invited to help close the campaign and bring the Brenda Fareri Pavilion to life. To learn more or make a gift, visit WMCHealth.org/CriticalCareTower or call 914-493-2575.