The Endeavor Health Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) pavilion at Glenbrook Hospital — a 170,000-square-foot facility in Glenview, Illinois, that provides comprehensive heart care in a single landing place, from diagnosis to treatment — celebrated its one-year anniversary on May 13, 2025.
Since opening its doors to patient care, the CVI has performed nearly 8,000 cardiovascular patient cases ranging from cardiac catheterizations, to electrophysiology cases, to vascular and cardiac surgeries.
Most importantly, the CVI has become a hub for collaboration, bringing together cardiovascular experts, researchers and patient care teams to the benefit of the community.
“We have proven that when we come together with a shared purpose and vision, there’s no challenge too great,” said Jennifer Wolinski, DNP, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, Associate Vice President of Perioperative Services. “The level of commitment and unity displayed by everyone involved is nothing short of inspiring.”
“This is a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and to be excited for the amazing things we’ll continue to accomplish together,” Wolinski continued.
Blazing the trail
In addition to the considerable volume of patient cases, the CVI also is home to ongoing clinical research trials, educational symposiums and some of the first cardiovascular surgical innovations.
Mark Ricciardi, MD — the Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Chair of Cardiology and Chief of Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Disease at Endeavor Health — and his team performed the first commercial TriClip implant in the Midwest in the CVI’s Bergstrom Interventional and Surgical Center. The TriClip implant is a safe and minimally invasive treatment option for patients needing tricuspid valve repair who hope to avoid open-heart surgery.
Dr. Ricciardi’s team also successfully performed two of the first bicaval valve implants in the region as part of the TRICAV-1 clinical trial, a multicenter study evaluating the TricValve® Transcatheter Bicaval Valve System for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation.
“The CVI device research where we investigate new device therapies for valvular heart disease is an incredible accomplishment for Endeavor Health,” said Dr. Ricciardi.
“Such research requires a considerable amount of collaboration and communication — both of which are made possible within the CVI,” he continued. “Our research coordinators are housed on-site so they can easily ‘drop down’ to the labs on a different floor to coordinate with research subjects and other physicians.”
Fueled by philanthropy
Since the CVI groundbreaking in July 2022, the NorthShore Hospitals Foundation, part of Endeavor Health, has been raising funds to support the health system’s commitment to improving cardiovascular care in the region.
This includes a fundraising campaign to support ongoing cardiovascular research, education and training of fellows and physicians, and programs to ensure personalized patient experiences at the CVI pavilion.
The campaign was propelled by a transformative philanthropic gift from the Bergstrom Foundation and its president, Kelley Bergstrom. To honor this generous lead gift in the campaign, the CVI’s surgical suite was named The Bergstrom Interventional and Surgical Center.
Other generous benefactors have joined the Bergstrom Foundation in making a commitment to Endeavor Health’s vision for comprehensive cardiovascular care, including the Pepper Family Foundation and several Endeavor Health executive leaders.
“Many of the innovations in cardiovascular care would not be possible without philanthropic support,” said Dr. Ricciardi. “Having our research co-investigators and their research teams all housed together in one location is a huge benefit, and it’s showing in the successful patient cases we’ve accomplished.”
These inspirational stories would not be possible without philanthropic support. We are powered by the generosity of donors who directly impact our ability to deliver on our commitment to providing community-connected care for every person, every time.
