Margaret Clark, a patient of Arkansas Neuroscience Institute (ANI) program director and surgeon Dr. Ali Krisht, is making a $500,000 gift to support the construction of the new CHI St. Vincent Education and Research Center. Dr. Krisht saved her life nearly 12 years ago after she was diagnosed with a serious neurological condition. Her generous donation to the CHI St. Vincent Foundation helps support the institute’s mission to improve treatment outcomes and discover ground breaking advancements in the field of neuroscience. It also helps make ANI a destination where a new generation of surgeons will continue to visit to learn the skills necessary to tackle the most complex cases.

“The innovative work that Dr. Ali Krisht and his team at the Arkansas Neuroscience Institute are leading means so much for our city, the state and the field as a whole,” said Clark, who describes the donation as a gift from a grateful patient. “It’s been a true honor to partner with CHI St. Vincent on building the new education and research center and now to help support the incredible and life-saving work that takes place there.”

Clark is the Vice President of Clark Contractors, LLC, which has partnered with CHI St. Vincent to build the new Education and Research Center in Sherwood, AR. She and her late-husband William Clark, who served on the CHI St. Vincent Board of Directors, have had a long-standing relationship with the hospital as major gifts donors. This generous donation brings the Education and Research Center project closer to its ultimate fundraising goal.

“This donation will help ensure our ministry’s vision for ANI and that its leading role in the field of neuroscience becomes a reality,” said Chad Aduddell, CHI St. Vincent’s Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to opening the doors of the institute’s new home this Spring and moving the field of neuroscience forward for Arkansas and the world.”

In 2016, CHI St. Vincent announced plans to build the new Education and Research Center along with significant renovations to CHI St. Vincent North to support the institute’s mission and provide state-of-the-art facilities to ANI’s neurosurgery team.