SALISBURY TWP., Pa. - Lehigh Valley Health Network is expanding its neurosurgery research, training and care.
The network announced the creation of a new institute Thursday -- the Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute.
Physician-in-Chief Dr. Steven Lewis said establishing an institute ensures that the people of the Lehigh Valley won’t have to travel outside the area for quality care.
“It's to accomplish really taking what we've developed here over the last many years to really the next level to become a nationally recognized leader, really in neurological and neurosurgical care," he said. "We have outstanding talent here already and building on that in the form of an institute will really take us to the next level.”
LVHN says it will now be able to conduct 15 to 20 active neurologic clinical trials at one time.
The department serves about 32,000 neurology patients and about 18,000 neurosurgery patients each year.
LVHN officials said the new institute was made possible through a significant gift from the Fleming Foundation, founded by late philanthropist Richard Fleming. He was a longtime chairman of the LVHN board of trustees.
