Former heart patient Donald Scott gifted Loyola Medicine $1.5 million last week as a thank-you for the care he received there when he suffered an arrhythmia, Loyola announced May 31.

According to the university’s statement, Scott, the former CEO of Old National Insurance, and his wife Susan pledged the money to further care for other arrhythmia patients like himself, as well as to express gratitude for the care he received from David Wilber, MD, who pioneered Loyola’s electrophysiology program back in 1986.

"Don and Susan’s generous gift will have a tremendous impact both immediately and over the long-term in our ability to treat complex arrhythmias and improve patient outcomes,” Wilber said in the release.

Around $1 million of Scott’s donation will be used to purchase new software, technology and equipment for the cardiology department at Loyola, while the remaining $500,000 will be funneled into five one-year research fellowships.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see someone recognize the care they received and give back in such a meaningful way,” Verghese Matthew, MD, division director of cardiology at Loyola, said.