On Wednesday evening, Community Health System announced a major milestone in its fundraising campaign to create the Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute. 

“With the support of generous donors, local businesses and our campaign committee, I am thrilled to announce we have hit our $30 million construction goal and work has started on the institute,” said Katie Zenovich, senior vice president for development and external affairs at Community Health System. 

The news was shared at a celebratory event with local philanthropists and physicians. 

“The Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute will be a part of the Community Regional Medical Center campus and bring new and much-needed services to downtown Fresno. We’re incredibly grateful to the late Bob Smittcamp and his son, Brent, for helping expand access to neuroscience care for thousands of patients in need,” said Craig Wagoner, incoming president and CEO of Community Health System.  

When completed, the five-story building on the corner of Fresno Street and Illinois Avenue will dedicate more than 60,000 square-feet for state-of-the-art neurological services, including spaces for exam and treatments, infusion, diagnostics, research and neuro rehabilitation. Additional conference and peer-support group spaces are also included.

“For too long, patients felt they needed to travel to Los Angeles or the Bay Area for top-tier neuroscience care. With a community of our size, we should have accessible, high-quality neurological care available to all residents — and now we will. I’m very touched we could come together to complete this project and honor my dad’s vision,” said Brent Smittcamp. 

“We understand that the campaign is not an endpoint,” said Katie Zenovich. “There will be ongoing needs, continued program expansion and exciting opportunities to grow our clinical trials and research. This building is just the first step in Community’s commitment to providing the very best neuroscience care to Valley patients.”

The Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute is anticipated to open in the summer of 2026.