Bahnik Foundation Advances Cardiology Innovation and Research at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center

St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center honored the Bahnik Family at its Gala on October 25, following the announcement of a $3 million commitment by the Bahnik Foundation to the Cardiology Innovation Research Fund at the St. Francis Hospital Foundation. This fund serves as a catalyst for activities related to cardiovascular clinical education and research at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center.

“This generous commitment to our Cardiology Innovation Research Fund allows us to do what we do best, provide world-class care to our patients,” said Richard Shlofmitz, MD, system chair of cardiology at Catholic Health and chairman of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center. “Through research, training and innovation, we are able to consistently raise the bar for patient care in our region and beyond.”

In 2023, St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center established the Cardiology Innovation Research Fund to guarantee perpetual resources for investment in high-level cardiac training and research.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Bahnik Family for their generosity,” said Charles Lucore, MD, MBA, president of St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center. “Investments like this allow us to stay at the forefront of innovation in care delivery for our patients. Recently, we opened a new state-of-the-art cardiovascular center just minutes from St. Francis Hospital, a shining example of our dedication to ensuring our patients and their families always receive the best in clinical care.”

At the Gala, the Bahnik Family was celebrated as the Event Honoree. St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center’s Department of Cardiology was recognized as the Clinical Honoree.

“We believe this fund will provide critical resources for ongoing innovation that will benefit countless patients, now and in the future,” said Michèle Bahnik Mercier, president of the Bahnik Foundation. “We are excited to be part of this important work and look forward to seeing the continued breakthroughs that will emerge from St. Francis Hospital's cardiovascular research program.”

“What particularly excites us is supporting the continuation of efforts that are shaping the field as a whole. For example, the team at St. Francis is performing world-first TAVR procedures that transform major open-heart surgery into minimally invasive procedures, leading the way with a globally recognized OPCI (Optimizing Peripheral and Cardiac Interventions) educational program that trains cardiologists worldwide, and advanced imaging technologies that enable precision treatment decisions for patients in their 80s, 90s and beyond,” added Claude Bahnik, vice president and treasurer of the Bahnik Foundation.

St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center consistently receives top clinical accolades. In 2025, the Roslyn hospital received its third consecutive HeartCARE Center™ designation from The American College of Cardiology, maintaining its status as one of only two New York facilities to hold the designation. It is also the only hospital on Long Island to be nationally ranked for heart & vascular surgery 18 times by U.S. News & World Report, which also rated the facility among the top 10 hospitals in both New York State and the New York Metropolitan Area.