Clay Reporter

Entrepreneur Dave Cummings and his wife, Jamie, have awarded an $8 million grant to NKC Health to support advancements in heart care. The funding is intended for facility expansion, the acquisition of advanced diagnostic technology, and the development of new treatment programs. These efforts aim to strengthen NKC Health’s role as a leader in cardiac services in the region.

Dave Cummings commented on the significance of the initiative: "Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in America," he said. "Jamie and I are committed to ensuring that people in our community have access to world-class care right here at home."

The grant will be used for several key initiatives. NKC Health plans to enhance its diagnostic capabilities by implementing AI-powered systems designed for faster and more accurate evaluations. The hospital will also acquire a new cardiac PET/CT scanner, updated EKG technology, and other advanced equipment.

To address growing demand across Kansas City, part of the funding will go toward expanding patient access by recruiting additional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.

NKC Health also intends to deepen its collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Care Network by accelerating integration of best practices from Mayo Clinic. This builds on a recently announced agreement between the two organizations.

Stephen Reintjes Sr., MD, president and CEO of NKC Health, expressed appreciation for the donation: "This extraordinary gift from Dave and Jamie will have an immediate and lasting impact on the quality of cardiac care in our community," he said. "It will save lives for decades to come."