Hospital named in honor of benefactor
OC businessman M.A. Douglas made posthumous donation of $21 million
October 21, 2010
UC Irvine officials, community leaders, physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers will gather at Orange County’s only university hospital to honor M.A. Douglas, whose estate donated $21 million to the new medical facility after his death in 2008 at age 97.
The hospital will officially be renamed UC Irvine Douglas Hospital, and a tribute to Douglas will be unveiled in the lobby, featuring videos, artifacts from his life and a sculpted bust.
The transformative gift from the Douglas estate enabled UC Irvine to reach its $50 million fundraising goal for the new hospital.
Friends remember Douglas, a successful Orange County real estate developer, as a man of integrity, compassion and decency – qualities mirrored by his namesake hospital. His gift, the largest single cash donation in UC Irvine history, represents a fitting legacy for someone who always aspired to make a difference.
“He was all about commitment and responsibility,” said Michael Hayde, trustee of the Douglas estate and a friend and former business partner. “I can’t think of a better way to honor him than by naming this wonderful facility UC Irvine Douglas Hospital.”
Hayde added: “The gift from the Douglas estate benefits thousands of families who use this hospital. Given that his business was founded in this county, it’s an appropriate connection with his life here.”
At UC Irvine Douglas Hospital—the centerpiece of UC Irvine Medical Center—world-renowned physicians make lifesaving discoveries; doctors teach residents and medical students to diagnose and treat complex conditions; and teams of physicians, nurses, specialists and others provide expert, compassionate care.
UC Irvine doctors have access to the world’s most advanced medical technologies. For instance, one of the facility’s 19 operating rooms houses the area’s only intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging scanner, which greatly improves outcomes for patients with brain tumors by producing highly detailed, three-dimensional pictures of the brain during all phases of an operation.
Bathed in natural light to create a calming, therapeutic environment, UC Irvine Douglas Hospital was among the first in Southern California to earn Joint Commission certification for top-quality stroke and cardiac care and has twice received Magnet designation for nursing excellence. The building—which opened in March 2009, replacing a nearly 50-year-old structure—features the county’s only American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and top-level trauma center. For 10 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has included UC Irvine Medical Center on its list of America’s Best Hospitals.
“We have always had great doctors, outstanding nurses, and a wonderful staff,” said UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake. “Now, their excellence and commitment to patient care is supported by this incredible, state-of-the-art facility, made possible by the incredible generosity of the M.A. Douglas estate and other supporters.”
A Colorado native, Douglas worked for more than three decades at B.F. Goodrich before becoming a real estate developer. In 1963, the former resident of Anaheim Hills founded IPS, which built and managed more than 10,000 housing units, mainly in Orange County. Douglas retired in 1981.
About UC Irvine Medical Center: Orange County’s only university hospital, UC Irvine Medical Center offers acute- and general-care services at its new 482,000-square-foot UC Irvine Douglas Hospital and is home to the county’s only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. U.S. News & World Report has included UC Irvine for 10 consecutive years on its list of America’s Best Hospitals, giving special recognition to its urology, gynecology, and ear, nose & throat programs.
