For Andrew Levine and his family, the Brigham’s legacy in cardiac care is closely intertwined with their own. Andrew’s grandfather, the late Samuel A. Levine, MD, was a renowned cardiologist at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, one of the Brigham’s predecessor institutions.

Dr. Levine’s long history includes his work with coronary thrombosis patients. As the second American physician to diagnose and the first to write a comprehensive book about the disease, he was also an innovator in its treatment. Dr. Levine emphasized to his students the importance of bedside manner and was an advocate for learning a patient’s case history to treat the whole person.

Decades later, Dr. Levine’s work lives on, thanks to the groundbreaking treatment approaches he pioneered and the generosity of the Levine family. This includes a bequest from Andrew, which continues the family’s multigenerational partnership with the Brigham. To honor Andrew’s bequest, the Brigham welcomed him into The Brigham Legacy Society, which celebrates supporters who include the hospital in their estate plans.

“My grandfather would do anything for his patients, and nothing got in the way of putting their lives first,” Andrew says. “When you have a grandfather whose accomplishments you are proud of, why wouldn’t you do something to continue medical progress to honor him?”

Andrew’s bequest builds on the Levine family’s legacy of giving. In 1965, the family and some close friends made a gift in honor of Dr. Levine to establish the Levine Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, one of the nation’s first units dedicated to caring for heart attack patients. The LCU, as it is referred to, has been moved and enlarged, and continues to be one of the world’s top coronary intensive care units. Andrew’s bequest will continue the family’s tradition of philanthropy and support this specialized cardiac care long into the future.

“I thought about what I could do to make a difference,” Andrew says of his decision to include the Brigham in his estate plans. “And one thing everyone feels good about is coming together to advance medicine.”

He notes that the Brigham, particularly the gift planning team in the Brigham Development Office, has been an ideal partner in this journey, working closely with him and his family to continue their legacy with the hospital while honoring his grandfather.

“At the Brigham there is an ongoing commitment to putting quality care above all else,” Andrew says. “The Brigham has always been a leader and innovator and continues to be one of the finest teaching hospitals in the world. My family and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to be a part of the journey.”

To learn more about including the Brigham in your estate plans, please contact Kathleen Duffy, assistant vice president of gift planning, at giftplanning@bwh.harvard.edu or 617 424 4326.