Priscilla Chan and her husband, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, have donated $1.48 million to Wilcox Medical Center in Līhuʻe, Hawaii, to expand advanced imaging services for patients on Kauaʻi. Wilcox performs more than 4,000 MRI scans each year and conducted more than 8,500 mammograms in the previous year. The donation adds to the couple’s previous support for the Kauaʻi hospital, where their earlier gifts have funded medical equipment, telemedicine, COVID-19 relief and emergency-care improvements.
Dr. The donation will fund a mobile MRI unit and a new 3D mammography machine, as well as renovations needed to install the mammography equipment. The mobile MRI will allow the hospital to continue providing scans while its existing MRI suite undergoes an expected eight-month renovation.
The couple have contributed more than $4 million to Wilcox through five separate donations supporting equipment, programmes and services, according to the hospital. Their earlier contributions included funding for telemedicine initiatives, COVID-19 relief efforts and renovations to the hospital’s emergency department and trauma centre. The hospital’s location makes access to specialised medical technology particularly significant for island residents. Wilcox describes its role as providing healthcare close to home, while its imaging services allow patients to receive diagnostic scans without routinely having to travel elsewhere for care.
New 3D mammography machine will be installed
The $1.48 million gift is intended to keep MRI services available while Wilcox Medical Center renovates its existing MRI suite. The hospital performs more than 4,000 MRI scans annually, making continued access particularly important for patients who rely on the facility for diagnostic imaging. The hospital conducted more than 8,500 mammograms in the previous year, according to Wilcox officials. Wilcox was also the first medical centre on Kauaʻi to offer 3D mammography, beginning in 2010.
The hospital said the renovation is expected to take at least eight months, creating a need for an alternative location for patients who require MRI examinations during the construction period. The donation comes as Wilcox expands its imaging capabilities on Kauaʻi. The hospital’s broader imaging programme includes MRI, mammography, X-ray, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and interventional radiology services. The hospital has highlighted the importance of advanced breast-imaging technology for women in Hawaii, where dense breast tissue can make cancer detection more difficult. Wilcox’s Women’s Center currently provides mammography, breast imaging, biopsies and other specialised women’s health services.