Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Donates $47.5M for New Rehab Hospital

The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation will donate $47.5 million for a new, state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital as part of the redevelopment and modernization of the University of Utah’s health sciences campus. The 75-bed hospital, to be named the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, will be one of the most advanced rehabilitation facilities in the nation and will serve as a catalyst for the further development of the university’s rehabilitation programs.

“This remarkable donation will allow the university to dramatically expand and advance our rehabilitation capabilities,” said David W. Pershing, U president. “We are proud to partner with the Neilsen Foundation to create an innovative design for an accessible, patient-centered rehabilitation hospital, inspired by the visionary spirit of Craig Neilsen’s exemplary life.”

“For nearly 50 years, University of Utah Health’s Rehabilitation Center has been a recognized leader in rehabilitation medicine and education,” said A. Lorris Betz, interim senior vice president for University of Utah Health Sciences and CEO of University of Utah Health. “Thanks to the Neilsen Foundation’s gift, we now commence the construction of a free-standing hospital, integrated with the redevelopment of the health sciences campus. This will ensure that we continue to provide leading-edge rehabilitative care for generations to come.”