LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Norton Healthcare announced it has received a gift of $20 million to the "Just Imagine" campaign. The initiative aims to improve the health and quality of life of every person in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. 

The gift comes from the estate of Elizabeth Pahk Cressman and will expand research in Parkinson's disease at Norton Neuroscience Institute, ensuring more options for patients.

“During her lifetime, Dr. Cressman’s vision has helped elevate the care for Parkinson’s patients, helping to create a nationally known program through Norton Neuroscience Institute,” said Lynnie Meyer, senior vice president and chief development officer, Norton Healthcare. “She also was the catalyst behind funding Parkinson’s disease research that already has helped transform the lives of many patients and families through access to more groundbreaking treatments.”

Cressman was an anesthesiologist at what is now Norton Women's and Children's Hospital. Her husband, the late Frederick K. Cressman, was a pathologist at CPA Lab, a part of Norton Healthcare, until he died in Jan. 2010 after a seven-year battle with Parkinson's disease. 

Until her death in June 2021, Elizabeth provided $8 million to establish the Cressman Critical Care Center at Norton Women's and Children's Hospital and Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center on the Norton Brownsboro Hospital campus. The latest gift brings Cressman's total support of initiatives at Norton Neuroscience Institute and Norton Healthcare to $28 million.

The $20 million gift will expand programs within Cressman Parkinson's Movement and Disorders Center and Cressman Parkinson's Research, Norton Healthcare said. 

“Parkinson’s disease can be extremely debilitating and, unfortunately, there currently is no cure,” said Justin T. Phillips, movement disorders neurologist with Cressman Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center. “With Dr. Cressman’s generosity, we are able to build upon the work we already do and offer even more options for patients. She has already had a great impact on people with Parkinson’s in our community, and that will continue for years to come.”

Norton Healthcare said the vision for the "Just Imagine" campaign is to ensure greater access to medical expertise, expand innovative clinical research and recruit, train and attract more best-in-class specialists. It aims to raise $200 million by the end of 2026 to support investments in health care.