A $2.5 million philanthropic gift from supermodel and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss and her husband, Joshua Kushner, has helped establish a newly renovated maternal health center at The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
The Karlie Kloss Center for Maternal Health was celebrated last week at the hospital. The renovated space includes an Obstetric Emergency Room and is designed to provide pregnant patients across South Florida with timely, specialized obstetrical care in a modern and supportive environment.
Kloss, who delivered all three of her children at The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial, supported the renovation as a way to give back to the health system that cared for her family.
“Jackson Memorial will forever be woven into the story of our family. It’s where Josh and I welcomed all three of our children, and where we experienced firsthand the extraordinary compassion, expertise, and care of this remarkable team,” Kloss said. “We are deeply honored to give back to a place that has given our family so much, and to help create a space where mothers and families across South Florida can feel safe, seen, supported, and cared for during some of life’s most meaningful and vulnerable moments.”
The reimagined center features updated patient rooms, enhanced clinical spaces and an improved clinical environment intended to provide greater comfort, privacy and dignity. The center supports more than 4,300 babies and families each year, according to the hospital.
The opening is the latest investment in The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial’s maternity program, which provides services including maternal-fetal medicine, neonatal intensive care and prenatal care.
“This remarkable gift represents more than a renovation or a beautiful new space – it’s an investment in every mother who walks through their doors, every baby welcomed into the world, and every caregiver dedicated to providing high-quality care at Jackson,” said Flavia Llizo, CEO of the Jackson Health Foundation. “We’re deeply grateful to Karlie, Joshua, and their entire family for their generosity, and for believing in Jackson’s mission.”
The hospital said its maternity program includes Florida’s leading academic program for maternal-fetal medicine, fetal surgery and advanced neonatal care, as well as precision medicine services ranging from prenatal diagnosis and fetal intervention to whole genome sequencing for rare diseases.
The hospital also treats two to three times more complex obstetrical cases than any other hospital in South Florida, according to the release.
The Women’s Hospital’s facilities include a fully renovated labor and delivery unit with 20 private rooms, an obstetric recovery area with 10 bays and an OB ER with 11 private patient exam rooms, including a dedicated ultrasound room.
“Every day, our obstetric emergency team cares for women during some of the most urgent and vulnerable moments of pregnancy,” said Joanne Ruggiero, senior vice president and CEO of Jackson Memorial Medical Center. “This renovation creates a new and improved environment that better reflects the extraordinary care our doctors, nurses, and staff provide every day, while enhancing the experience for the families who entrust us with their care. We’re extremely grateful to Karlie, Joshua, and their entire family for this gift that will positively impact thousands of South Florida families, and Jackson babies, for generations to come.”
Beyond her work in fashion and business, Kloss has focused her philanthropy on expanding opportunities for women and young people and improving access to education and healthcare. In 2015, she launched Kode with Klossy, a nonprofit that has helped thousands of young people pursue education and careers in science, technology, education and mathematics.
She also launched the Gateway Coalition, which directs funding and resources to organizations working to preserve access to essential healthcare for women and families. Most recently, Kloss joined the Board of Directors of the Lotus Endowment Fund, the supporting foundation of Lotus House.
The Joshua Kushner and Karlie Kloss Foundation’s gift was made in partnership with the Jackson Health Foundation to support the renovation and opening of the maternal health center.