Local philanthropist Laurie C. McGrath has gifted $10 million to Sharp HealthCare, propelling the organization toward its ambitious goal of rejuvenating a crucial segment of its medical campus in Serra Mesa.
In an announcement made last week, McGrath's contribution is going towards the construction of a state-of-the-art seven-story, 152-bed medical tower. This new facility is set to replace the original Sharp Memorial Hospital building, an institution that has dutifully served the community since its inception in 1955.
Scheduled to open its doors in 2030, the forthcoming medical tower represents a pivotal advancement in the comprehensive $900 million redevelopment strategy for Sharp HealthCare's expansive metro campus. The campus, located on state Route 163 at Genesee Avenue, faces logistical challenges due to its land-locked nature. This redevelopment initiative is a cornerstone of a broader $2 billion, 10-year reinvestment plan, seeking to elevate and modernize healthcare facilities across San Diego County.
The journey towards transformation commenced in 2022 with the groundbreaking ceremony for a two-story annex, augmenting Sharp Memorial's emergency and trauma department with 31 additional treatment rooms and other amenities. Further enhancements are on the horizon, with a six-story addition to Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, also on the same campus, scheduled to commence in 2026. This addition will be named McGrath Tower, with an expected debut approximately one year later.
As part of the extensive redevelopment plan, the original hospital building, now referred to as Memorial’s Central Tower, and the complex's south tower, are set for significant transformation. While most of these structures will be demolished, their initial stories will be retrofitted to align with evolving healthcare needs.
Bill Littlejohn, CEO of the Foundations of Sharp HealthCare, said, “We’re taking this campus that has been operationally upgraded for the last 70 years and pushing it forward for the next 30 to 40 years," according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Foundations of Sharp HealthCare launched a $250 million capital campaign last year to cover construction costs. Littlejohn reported substantial progress, with $141 million raised, including the recent McGrath gift.
Laurie McGrath, reflecting on her decision to contribute, shared that her experience helping her mother through health complications after a debilitating stroke and treatment for atrial fibrillation influenced her philanthropic decision. The seven-year medical journey prompted her to delve into healthcare intricacies and experience care delivery at Sharp and other medical providers.
McGrath emphasized her dedication to learning about Sharp's plans, driven by a state mandate requiring all inpatient facilities to meet more stringent earthquake safety standards by 2030. Her passionate support stems from a deep understanding acquired through comprehensive research.
The McGrath family's legacy of supporting local organizations, including a significant contribution to build the McGrath Family YMCA in Rancho San Diego, aligns with Laurie McGrath's commitment to Sharp HealthCare's groundbreaking project.
Beyond the metro campus, Sharp's development plans, detailed in its "Envision" plan, include a neurosciences center at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, emergency department and intensive care unit upgrades at Sharp Coronado Hospital, build-out of the sixth floor of the Ocean View Tower at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, and intensive care unit additions at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital.
