Historic $15 Million Gift Fuels Breakthrough Cancer Care at St. Vincent's Medical Center

Hartford HealthCare's St. Vincent's Medical Center is proud to announce a landmark $15 million philanthropic commitment from the estate of Neil Mellen to significantly enhance and expand its inpatient oncology unit.

Honoring the Legacy of Neil Mellen

At the heart of this historic gift is the legacy of Neil Mellen, a compassionate and humble man whose quiet strength and deep empathy inspired his commitment to helping others and paying it forward. Neil believed profoundly in improving the hospital experience for patients and families, ensuring that care was delivered with dignity, comfort, and hope. This gift reflects his enduring desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This transformative investment represents one of the most substantial gifts in Hartford HealthCare's history and underscores Neil's extraordinary dedication to elevating patient care for the Greater Bridgeport community.

The generous donation will fund sweeping renovations and modernization efforts within the oncology unit, including state-of-the-art treatment spaces, enhanced patient comfort features and advanced technology to support world-class cancer care at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at St. Vincent's Medical Center, which is the first care partner of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

This latest pledge builds upon a longstanding legacy of generosity by Neil Mellen, whose support has deeply shaped care at St. Vincent's for more than 15 years.

Elevating Cancer Care for the Future

This $15-million investment marks a pivotal milestone in Hartford HealthCare's mission to deliver comprehensive, compassionate and cutting-edge cancer services. Once completed, the upgraded oncology unit will offer an improved healing environment and enhanced capabilities for both patients and clinical teams. >> Read more