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NIH Opens Safra Family Lodge

Brief Description:
The newly dedicated Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge at NIH offers the families of NIH patients a warm and friendly place to stay.

Transcript:
Thornton: Patients from all over the world travel to the National Institutes Of Health to participate as partners in medical discovery. Now, their families have a warm, friendly place to stay on the NIH campus. After several days of gloomy weather on the east coast, the sun broke through to shine on the dedication ceremony at the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge, on May 26th. Built in the style of an English "arts and crafts" manor, the Safra Family Lodge provides a home-like retreat, by offering a place for solitude, family meetings, and supportive fellowship. NIH Director Doctor Elias Zerhouni talked about those attributes during the dedication ceremony.

Zerhouni: I think when you need solitude, you'll find it here at the Safra Lodge. If you want space to cook a meal of your own liking, you'll be able to do it at the Safra Lodge. And, I think the caring staff that we have here is legendary.

Thornton: The lodge is a tribute to the memory of Edmond J. Safra, who founded the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation with the goal of brining dignity and encouragement to people whose lives are marked by challenge. Doctor John Gallin-Director of the NIH Clinical Center — took a moment during the ceremony to thank the Safra family.

Gallin: The most-special gift came from Mrs. Safra and her families — whose empathy and generosity made the Edmond J. Safra Lodge at NIH a reality. Mrs. Safra, thank you — thank you for understanding our need, and for making the Clinical Center's dream of 10 years ago come true. Thank you for helping the NIH make a powerful statement and a renewed commitment to all patients who come here every day as partners in our clinical research — partners in making tomorrow's discoveries possible.

Thornton: Located mere steps away from the NIH Clinical Center, the lodge features 34 guest rooms, a library, business and telecommuting center, fitness center, home-style kitchen, and comfortable social and sitting areas. The surrounding gardens include a patio, walking paths, and seating areas. There'll be no charge to patient families staying at the Safra Lodge You can learn more by logging on to http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/familylodge/index.shtml. This is Matt Thornton, at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

This page was last reviewed on November 2, 2005 .

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