Manahawkin: Southern Ocean Medical Center Earns $1M Donation

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — The Southern Ocean Medical Center received a $1 million donation from Michael Armellino for expansion of the Cardiac Catheterization/Interventional Radiology Lab.

The Armellino family previously gave $1 million to name the Telemetry unit in memory of their daughter, Tracy. They have also donated to the medical center's emergency and cancer centers.

Upgrades will enable more patients to receive care through Southern Ocean Medical Center's diagnostic equipment. More than 1,000,000 cardiac catheterizations occur annually in the U.S. to diagnose the presence of heart, artery, or valve disease.

Catheterizations also evaluate the functionality of heart muscle and determine whether there is a need for further treatment.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to give back,” Armellino said in a statement. “Southern Ocean Medical Center is my local hospital and I want to support the medical center’s efforts to offer the most advanced cardiac care to help our community when they are in need. I could not be happier to contribute to this great project.”

The donation brings the Meridian Health Foundation one step closer to its fundraising goal of $150 million as part of the organization's Giving Heals Campaign. The Southern Ocean Medical Center Foundation belongs to the organization.

More than $95 million has been raised so far to benefit eight Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals, including Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Bayshore Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Riverview Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center.

To learn about how you can make a gift to Southern Ocean Medical Center or to the Giving Heals campaign, please call Jim Young, executive director, Southern Ocean Medical Center Foundation at 609-978-3040 or visit www.Hackensackmeridianhealth.org/givingheals.

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