JOLIET, Ill. — Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center has named its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory to honor a local couple for their efforts to improve cardiac care.
The LaVerne and Dorothy Brown Catheterization Lab was dedicated in gratitude for a $500,000 donation the couple pledged to St. Joe’s in Joliet.
LaVerne (“Bitz”) and Dorothy (“Dottie”) are well-respected leaders in the Joliet and Will County communities. Both were born in Joliet and have devoted their lives to civic involvement and philanthropic endeavors, particularly in the area of health care.
In 1947, LaVerne co-founded Brown and Lambrecht Earthmovers, and today is president of Land-Trends, Inc.
Long-standing supporters of Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, the Browns are also Excellence Society of Giving benefactors of the Medical Center’s Foundation. In 1999, the couple received St. Joe’s highest honor — the Founders Award — which recognizes those who exemplify unselfish service and commitment to its mission, vision and values. LaVerne Brown has also served on the Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center Foundation Board.
“The Brown family knows first hand the life-saving importance of the cardiac interventions that our staff provides in the catheterization lab,” said Dennis Killian, MD, FACC, president of the medical staff at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. “We are fortunate to share the benefits of their generosity with the hundreds of patients who receive care at the Medical Center each year.”
Dr. Killian also serves on the executive committee of Heartland Cardiovascular Center.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
The state-of-the-art digital LaVerne and Dorothy Brown Catheterization Lab is used to perform noninvasive diagnostic and interventional cardiovascular procedures.
Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center recently received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Bronze Receiving Quality Achievement Award for its commitment and success in implementing a high standard of care for heart attack patients.
“The funding received from Mr. and Mrs. Brown will be used to further advance the already extraordinary level of care that our patients receive from our nationally recognized cardiac care program,” said Beth Hughes, president and CEO, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. “It is with deep appreciation that St. Joe’s dedicates the catheterization laboratory in their honor.”
A Legacy of Service
In addition to their service to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, the Browns have been active in several charitable functions throughout the community.
LaVerne Brown has served as chairman and as one of the longest serving members of the Board of Trustees of the University of St. Francis, and in 1996, the Browns were awarded honorary degrees of Doctor of Human Letters from the university. LaVerne also serves on the President’s Advisory Council at Lewis University.
Dorothy Brown has been an active member of the Joliet Area Hospice and provides leadership for the Women of Rotary Club in Joliet.
She is a long-time volunteer for Childerguild at Silver Cross Hospital and serves on the hospital’s foundation board.
LaVerne has been active in the Joliet Rotary Club, Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce, Union League of Chicago, the Arbitration and Conciliation Board of the Joliet Diocese, Area 3 Boy Scouts of America and the Board of the St. Patrick’s Retirement Home.
