On June 1, Community welcomed its first patients to the Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute, located on the Community Regional Medical Center campus in Downtown Fresno.
From research and clinic visits to patient navigation and support groups, the 60,000-square-foot space is designed to care for patients at every step of their journey. By bringing specialized services to the heart of downtown, we’re providing advanced neurological care to our community — so patients don’t have to leave the Central Valley to find the help they need.
“Having the Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute open and accepting patients means so much to myself and my colleagues,” said Dr. Ian Johnson, Medical Director of Neurosciences. “We really are grateful to everyone who helped make this a reality.”
Institute made possible thanks to $30 million in donations
The institute is named for the late Bob Smittcamp, whose generosity helped make the facility a reality. Donations were made by others in the community as well, including Brent Smittcamp and the Smittcamp family, Matty Matoian, Melissa Der Manouel, Craig Saladino, philanthropy group Founders Club, our own Community team members, and countless others who saw the need for specialized neuro care here in the Valley and contributed more than $30 million to make it happen.
“The Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute would absolutely not be possible without philanthropic support, without donors who had a vision and the capacity to help us in this incredibly special way,” said Christa Short-Atchley, Chief Development Officer. “The institute is a perfect example of The Cause in action: we’re providing the very best care, at the right time, in the right place.”
Community offers award-winning neurosciences care
The Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute is a centralized location for outpatient neurological conditions, including:
- Epilepsy
- Stroke
- Spine conditions
- Movement disorders
- Neurovascular disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Neuro-oncology
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neuropsychology
The Institute furthers Community’s ongoing mission to be one of the top neuro programs in the country. Some of our recent awards and distinctions include:
- Community Regional Medical Center is one of just seven neuroscience intensive care units in the United States — and the only one in California — to earn a Beacon Gold Award of Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
- Community Regional is recognized by The Joint Commission as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center — the only hospital in Fresno to be recognized for this advanced level of stroke care, and the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in the five county region (Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kings and Tulare counties).
- Clovis Community Medical Center is recognized by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center — one of six centers in the Central Valley, and one of just three in the Fresno area.