Transformation

Renovating a Safe Haven for NIH Patients and Families

A few of the renovated rooms at the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge.

“My wife, Nachama, and I enjoy staying at the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge when I am treated at the NIH Clinical Center. Especially after a long day of tests and appointments, it is great to come back to a place that is familiar and welcoming, instead of having to leave campus and travel to a hotel.”
— David Haas

Participating in medical research is often the last chance for patients to find a new, potentially life-saving therapy to fight their disease. Patients and their families travel far from home to access clinical trials, leaving work behind to live in hotels for months — a reality that can be draining, stressful and costly.

During this difficult time, the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge provides a haven for these brave families on the NIH campus. Adult patients participating in medical research at the NIH Clinical Center and their families can stay at the Family Lodge at no cost to them. In 2018, the FNIH and NIH, with support from FNIH Board Member Lily Safra and the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, partnered to renovate the Family Lodge, which was showing signs of wear after 12 years of continuous use. The team delicately balanced minimizing disruption to the daily operations while making enhancements, such as new lighting, paint, carpet and drapery, for the 34 guest rooms and common areas.

“They did a great job with renovating the Family Lodge," said David Haas. "It has been an important part of my family's journey at the NIH. From talking with other guests, I hear different stories about how NIH's cutting-edge research is helping people from all over the world. It's vitally important that they continue that work, and that families have a place to stay nearby.”