$30 million medical education center becomes a reality with gift from Iris Wolstein and family
The Wolstein family is once again making headlines in Cleveland philanthropy, providing a transformative $15 million lead gift to University Hospitals (UH) that will fund half the cost of a new $30 million education and conference center at UH Cleveland Medical Center.
The facility, to be named the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center, marks the latest chapter in the family’s decades-long legacy of supporting medical innovation, research, and community advancement in Northeast Ohio.
The Wolstein family’s donation launches a campaign to fully fund the center through philanthropy.
The three-story, 40,000-square-foot facility will fill a longstanding gap at UH, which, despite hosting one of the nation’s largest residency programs, has lacked a dedicated education and conference hub.
The new center will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, a grand ballroom, simulation and training labs, breakout spaces, a café, and public art galleries, all designed to foster learning, collaboration, and community engagement.
Over the years, Iris S. and the late Bert L. Wolstein have become some of the most significant donors in UH history.
Their philanthropic impact is evident in prior support for pediatric cancer care, groundbreaking research, and major fundraising campaigns such as UH’s $1.5 billion “Discover the Difference” and the ongoing $2 billion “Because of You” campaign.
“This gift is profoundly meaningful to me and something that I know Bert would have been thrilled to do,” said Iris S. Wolstein, emphasizing the family’s commitment to empowering caregivers and advancing medical education for generations to come.
The project has received enthusiastic preliminary approval from the Cleveland City Planning Commission, with final approval expected soon. UH officials remain confident that the remaining funds will be raised quickly, with a target groundbreaking in early 2026. The Wolstein Center is being hailed as a “beacon of healing, learning and exploration”-a testament to the enduring influence of the Wolstein family on the region’s healthcare landscape.
The Wolstein family’s leadership is inspiring other community leaders to join the effort, with additional major gifts already pledged to support the center’s construction and programming. As the campaign continues, the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center stands as a powerful symbol of the family’s vision and generosity, set to shape the future of medical education and care in Cleveland and beyond.