The Tsao Family Foundation’s visionary gift establishes an endowed chair dedicated to maternal mental health, expanding access to care, advancing research, and supporting mothers before, during, and after pregnancy.
Hoag is proud to announce the establishment of the Tsao Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Maternal Mental Health, a milestone that reflects the Tsao family’s visionary philanthropy and continued commitment to comprehensive care for mothers and babies. The new chair provides sustainable support for research and increased access to psychotherapy, including PTSD screening and treatment for traumatic childbirth.
“This gift reflects our belief that maternal mental health should be integrated into every aspect of family care. By investing in long-term solutions at Hoag, we hope to expand access, advance innovation, and help set a new standard for how mothers are supported before, during, and after childbirth,” said Janie Tsao.
The Tsao family’s legacy of giving has already enhanced the birth experience for thousands of families at Hoag. From environments designed to reduce stress and promote healing to expanded support for mothers during labor and postpartum recovery, their generosity has helped redefine family-centered care.
Hoag’s Maternal Mental Health Program, one of the largest in the region, provides individual and group psychotherapy and medication management for moms exhibiting a range of symptoms. Studies show that 25% of women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders but less than half receive treatment. Moved by this critical need in our community, the Tsao family saw an opportunity to elevate awareness and patient education, propel innovations in care, and position Hoag as a national leader in mental health support for new and expectant mothers.
Mercedes Szpunar, MD, PhD, a fellowship-trained reproductive psychiatrist recruited from Harvard in 2023, has been named the inaugural chairholder. Under her leadership, Hoag is advancing a bold, patient-centered vision, including plans to establish a centralized women’s mental health center at Hoag.
Endowed chairs are a powerful example of how philanthropy fuels Hoag’s privademic model, which combines the personalized care of a leading private health system with the research, innovation, and academic rigor of a top academic medical center. Through investments like these, Hoag continues to elevate care, attract exceptional clinical leaders, and shape the future of healthcare with both scientific excellence and compassion.
