One of Iowa’s largest hospitals has received a big donation to create a first of its kind facility in the state. Shannon Duval president of the Mercy Foundation made the announcement today during a news conference at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
“We are absolutely thrilled to announce an 8.5 million dollar gift from the Comfort Family Foundation creating the Mercy Comfort Women’s Center,” Duval said. Frank Comfort was a lawyer in Des Moines. He died in 2012 at the age of 88.
“As the late Frank Comfort shared with us, he believed everything good in his life was the result of being surrounded by strong women,” Duval said. “The Comfort family was inspired to commit this amazing gift to an initiative that will impact the health of women for decades to come.”
Leisha Barcus will serve as director of the Mercy Comfort Women’s Center and said it’ll focus on the health care needs of middle-aged women, including mammography and other imaging, breast health care, dermatology and plastic surgery services.
“Internal medicine will also be offered, which provides primary care for women after their post-childbearing years. This care will include endocrinology and mental health services, among others,” Barcus said. The Mercy Comfort Women’s Center will be housed on the first floor of the Mercy Medical West Clinic in Clive. It is expected to open in early 2017.