WASHINGTON  – Howard University Hospital (HUH) and Adventist HealthCare today announced they have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore partnership opportunities. The agreement outlines that the two organizations will enter into exclusive conversations to determine how they could best collaborate to serve the D.C. region. 

This collaboration would include the development of a management agreement between Adventist HealthCare and Howard University where Adventist HealthCare would bring in a senior leadership team to operate Howard University Hospital, starting in 2020.

“Adventist HealthCare and Howard University Hospital share long traditions of caring for our communities,” said Terry Forde, President & CEO of Adventist HealthCare, one of the longest-serving providers in the D.C. region. “We hope by working together, we can expand access to care for a growing part of our region.” 

The partnership between these two institutions will go a long way to addressing the challenges that face teaching hospitals in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. In addition, it could increase medical opportunities and provide access for the talented Howard University Hospital medical trainees (medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and allied health), residents, medical students, and graduates to Adventist HealthCare’s network of hospitals in the region. This is vitally important given the national shortage of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. 

“Stand-alone teaching hospitals in the U.S. continue to face a multitude of unique challenges,” said Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick. “The opportunity to partner with Adventist HealthCare demonstrates our shared commitment to find solutions that serve the healthcare needs ofthis community and also forwards Howard’s 150-year mission of training diverse healthcare providers that share the common goal of servicing underserved populations.”

Howard University Hospital is a private, nonprofit institution that has served the community for more than 150 years. It is one of the most comprehensive health systems in the District of Columbia, with a Level 1 Trauma Center and an emergency department that sees approximately 50,000 patients annually. It is recognized as a national leader in training future doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Adventist HealthCare, founded in 1907, serves patients throughout the region. Based in Gaithersburg, MD, it employs close to 6,000 people, has more than 1,700 physicians and cares for more than 800,000 community members each year. It includes three acute-care hospitals: Shady Grove Medical Center, Washington Adventist Hospital, and Fort Washington Medical Center, which is joining the system later this year. It also features: a 97-bed rehabilitation hospital and outpatient clinics; mental health services; physician practices and outpatient locations. On Aug. 25, it will open White Oak Medical Center in Montgomery County to replace Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park.

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For media inquiries contact: Tony Blue, ablue@huhosp.org; Tom Grant, tgrant@AdventistHealthCare.com