SALT LAKE CITY —The University of Utah announced Tuesday it plans to open its first off-campus hospital in West Valley City.
The plans became a reality thanks to a $75 million donation from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. University President Taylor Randall announced the donation and future hospital to a large group of university and community leaders at a press conference in the foyer of the John R. Park Building at the U.
“This gift will change lives for generations to come,” Randall said.
He said the new hospital will not only bring world-class health care to the community in West Valley City, but it will also allow residents of the city to receive job training and find employment. He said the university hopes to provide a system that removes barriers, citing conversations with people in West Valley City about their needs while planning the hospital.
“Today, with this announcement, we are truly defining history, and we’re thrilled to step forward into a future of more equitable health care and opportunity for all,” Randall said.
Spencer F. Eccles said this “landmark gift” is the largest in the foundation’s history and a donation focused on the future. He said it is hard to think that it took 175 years to get to this point — the years the university has been running — and he is overwhelmed by all of the people who came to the event.
“I am humbled for all of you to be with us to celebrate this,” he said.
West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang thanked the Eccles family for its commitment to health care in the city and said the new hospital represents hope. She said she is “thrilled” citizens in her city will have a place for moments of healing and opportunity.
She said West Valley City is the second largest city in Utah and has a growing demand for hospital services, which the new facility will address.
Lang said she looks forward to seeing young people in West Valley City become the next generation of doctors and medical staff, allowing them to give back to the community that raised them.
“We can’t wait to see the positive impact this new facility will have on our city for generations to come,” she said, before gifting a puzzle with artwork inspired by the city to the Eccles family.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said about seven years ago he became “obsessed” with medical disparities throughout Utah, saying those who live in Salt Lake City have a 10-year-longer life expectancy than those living just 15 or 20 minutes away in West Valley City.
“I couldn’t believe that that was happening here, and there had to be some things that we can do to change that,” he said, citing the One Utah Health Collaborative he started to address health care issues in the state.
Cox said when he got a call about plans to build the new West Valley City medical campus a few years ago, he knew this was the way to change that. He said Tuesday would go down in history as the plan to expand has never been done in Utah.
No other family has done more for Utah than the Eccles family, Cox said, adding that carrying forward a tradition of giving through multiple generations as they have done is rare.
“Of all their gifts … I believe that this one, in particular, could have the largest impact of anything else they have done in the past century,” he said.
Lisa Eccles, Spencer Eccles’ daughter, said they are excited to be partners on this project. She said the community has not had access to the health care it deserves and this will bring the university’s finest doctors from over 200 specialties to West Valley City.
“Together we will. We will and can save lives. Together, we’ll create a health, education and economic hub that will benefit the people of West Valley, the university and the entire state of Utah for decades to come. And I can tell you, our family cannot wait to get started,” she said.
This story will be updated.
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