Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute opens with gift from Fleming Foundation

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has launched the Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute to expand its neurology and neurosurgery research, training and care in the region.  

The institute’s creation was made possible by a gift from the Fleming Foundation, established by the late businessman and philanthropist Richard Fleming, a long-time chairman of LVHN’s Board of Trustees. The gift is the largest single endowment in the Fleming Foundation’s 32-year history.  

The amount of the gift was not disclosed.  

“This will help ensure that already leading-edge neurological and neurosurgical care becomes even better,” said Dr. Steven Lewis, Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute physician-in-chief and head of neurology at LVHN. “When people anywhere in the country think of outstanding places for clinical neurological and neurosurgical care, LVHN will be on that list.”  

LVHN President and CEO Brian Nester, said establishing an institute is not a superficial naming exercise. “It’s real progress,” he said. “Institutes are hubs of innovation, research and clinical education, with the singular aim to enhance and improve patient care, all close to home.”   

Clinical research currently plays a significant, and increasing role within neuroscience at LVHN, now with 15-20 active neurologic clinical trials in progress at any one time, he said.  

LVHN serves about 32,000 neurology patients and about 18,000 neurosurgery patients annually, a number that has grown significantly in recent years, LVHN said. Establishing the Neuroscience Institute will allow LVHN to significantly expand its neuroscience team over the next several years as patient demand continues to grow.   

Dr. Walter Jean, the LVHN endowed chair of Neurosurgery and chief of the Neurosurgery Section of Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute, said the establishment of a neuroscience institute is a seminal moment for the network. “This is something many other health systems in the country can only dream about. But here in the Lehigh Valley, special things are happening in health care because of the bold vision of LVHN leaders and amazing benefactors such as the Fleming Foundation.”  

The Zionsville-based Fleming Foundation was founded in 1990 by Fleming, a World War II veteran and chemical engineer who rose to prominence at companies such as Air Products and GAF Corp. He died in 2015.