Virtua Health commemorated the 75th anniversary of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden and unveiled plans for a $500 million renovation and expansion, including a new, six-story patient care pavilion named in honor of philanthropist Marvin Samson.
In addition, the Marvin Samson Foundation has pledged $5 million — the largest gift in Virtua’s history — in support of education and workforce development programs at the health system, which is the largest in South Jersey.
To mark the occasion, Bishop Joseph Andrew Williams, the newly appointed head of the Diocese of Camden, led a ground-blessing prayer alongside local spiritual leaders representing a spectrum of faith communities. About 200 people attended the ceremony, including past hospital leaders, patients, community members and philanthropic supporters of the not-for-profit, academic health system.
The nearly 200,000-square-foot addition will increase the hospital’s size by 35%, noted Virtua President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE.
“The creation of the Marvin Samson Pavilion is a key element of Virtua’s ongoing investment in the well-being of this community,” said Pullin. “And equally important, the new pavilion affirms our commitment to providing advanced, accessible care to the region and beyond.”
Samson, a Virtua board member and longtime supporter, is also the namesake of the Virtua Samson Cancer Center in Moorestown.
“I was raised to believe that each of us has an obligation to make the world a better place,” said Samson, the son of immigrants who faced financial hardships while growing up. “I am excited that we are expanding Virtua’s ability to impact the quality of life for members of this community.”
Attached to the existing hospital at Haddon and Euclid avenues, the new building will support the complex services that Virtua has centralized within Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, drawing patients from across New Jersey and other states. These specialties include advanced cardiovascular care, organ transplantation and a neurosciences program in partnership with Penn Medicine.
“This state-of-the-art addition will be transformative,” said Lisa Ferraro, senior vice president of Virtua Health and president of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. “It will provide all private rooms, advanced surgical facilities, dedicated spaces for specialized care and areas for reflection and remembrance. It will also create the hospital’s new front door and a stunning, welcoming lobby.”
The addition will include:
- 78 private patient rooms
- 10 operating rooms, including 2 dynamic, hybrid operating suites
- 4 cardiac catheterization labs
- 3 electrophysiology labs (for treatment of heart rhythm problems)
- 2 GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy rooms
- 40 surgical prep and recovery rooms
- A neuro-surgical stroke intervention suite
- a centralized post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) that includes 40 private, adaptable patient bays
Additionally, renovations and updates of the hospital’s existing facilities are underway.
The Samson Pavilion is expected to welcome patients at the end of 2027. It is part of Virtua Health’s organization-wide strategy to enhance the region’s well-being, called Advancing Well into the Future.
“I can’t think of a better way to honor the Hebrew teaching of tikkun olam — which means ‘repairing the world’ — than working with Virtua to achieve its mission to help individuals be well, get well and stay well, by providing the highest quality care and serving as a partner in good health for the South Jersey community,” said Samson.
