Cardiac Program and Family Birth Center to be Named Following Transformational Multi-Million Dollar Gift to the Friends of Mercy Foundation

Generosity of local families, Dr. Brijesh Bhambi and Family and Mr. Ajay Anand and Family, will advance health care at the Thomas M. Hardt Tower

BAKERSFIELD, CA, MAY 15, 2025 – The Friends of Mercy Foundation is proud to announce two significant philanthropic investments that will transform care at the Thomas M. Hardt Tower at Mercy Hospital Southwest.

Dr. Brijesh Bhambi, the Bhambi Family, and the Bhambi Heart Foundation have pledged $1.5 million to establish the Bhambi Heart and Brain Center at the Thomas M. Hardt Tower. This generous gift will bring advanced cardiac and neurological services, including three new cardiac catheterization labs and advanced imaging, to the west side of Bakersfield.

"It has been a profound honor to serve the people of the Central Valley for over 30 years," said Dr. Bhambi. "Our support of Mercy Hospital reflects a shared mission: to care for those in need with compassion, excellence, and innovation. The Bhambi Heart and Brain Center is a testament to that commitment, dedicated to advancing healthcare and uplifting this community for generations to come.”

Mr. Ajay Anand and Family, and the Anand Family Foundation, have pledged $1.2 million to advance maternity and obstetrics care services at Mercy hospital. The Birth Center will be named Anand Family Birth Center. Family Waiting Rooms in the Thomas Hardt Tower will be named Anand Family Waiting Rooms.

"Mercy Southwest holds a sacred place in our hearts. It is where our journey as parents began" said Mr. Anand. "The exceptional care, warmth, and compassion we experienced left a lasting impact on our family. With deep gratitude for God’s blessings, our family embraces the privilege of giving back to the communities that have profoundly shaped our lives. It is an honor to support the hospital’s expansion and help extend world-class healthcare throughout Kern County and beyond.”

According to Toni Harper, Vice President of Philanthropy, Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, "It's truly wonderful to have Dr. Bhambi, Mr. Anand, and their families join the incredible group of donors supporting the Thomas M. Hardt Tower. Their contribution is important to ensuring Mercy Hospital can continue the Sisters of Mercy's legacy of providing compassionate, excellent, and state-of-the-art care. We're so grateful for their partnership. We thank them on behalf of the thousands of patients who will be impacted because of the generosity of their gifts."

The Thomas M. Hardt Tower at Mercy Hospital Southwest is set to open in the Fall 2025, significantly expanding the hospital's capabilities and services. The new 142,000-square-foot tower will house a total of 106 beds, including 24 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and 18 private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) suites. Six new operating rooms and state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization suites for emergent heart interventions will be added. The tower also features a redesigned campus with 370 additional parking spaces and improved hospital flow to reduce Emergency Room overcrowding. The existing hospital has undergone renovations to accommodate the increased patient volume and expanded healthcare services, including cardiology.

Key areas within Mercy Hospital Southwest are named in honor of significant donors:

• The David and Catherine Gay Family Intensive Care Unit
• The Drs. Ravi and Naina Patel Oncology Floor
• The Wright Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in honor of Bill Wright Sr., and Stephan Downs
• The Pandol Main Lobby in honor of Donald and Izetta Camp and Jack and Winifred Pandol
• The Leonard Anton Bidart and Family Surgery Waiting Area
• The Beverly Camp Endowment
• Bhambi Heart and Brain Center
• Anand Family Birth Center and Anand Family Waiting Rooms

###

About Dignity Health California

Dignity Health California is a nonprofit network of over 9000 physicians, more than 35,000 employees, 29 acute care hospitals, and 200-plus care-centers, including community hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Dignity Health California provides award-winning care to communities in five primary markets across the state: North State, Sacramento, Central Valley, Central Coast, and Southern California.

Dignity Health is a member of CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. Learn more at DignityHealth.org and CommonSpirit.org.