Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne have followed through on a 2001 pledge and donated $2.7 million to the School of Medicine and Health Science for the creation of a cardiovascular institute in their names, the Medical Faculty Associates announced last week.

The institute’s mission will be “the advancement of research, education, and the clinical care of cardiovascular diseases,” the MFA said in a news release. It will draw on the work of clinicians and scientists from across the different medical fields.

The Hatchet originally reported in 2001 that Cheney had pledged to give the MFA $3.12 million.

“Lynne and I have been grateful for the first-rate care provided by the doctors at The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates and we are pleased to support their efforts to advance the treatment of cardiac disease,” the vice president said in the statement.

Cheney has suffered four heart attacks since the mid-1970s, and he has received treatment as GW Hospital for various ailments for nearly 30 years. Cheney most recently visited GW Hospital in January, when he suffered shortness of breath believed to be associated with medicine he took for a foot problem.

Stephen L. Badger, CEO of the MFA, said in the statement that he is honored that the vice president trusts doctors at his facility. The MFA building, located on the corner of 22nd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, houses doctors in dozens of specialties.

Identifying the significance of genomics and proteonomics – the study of proteins and their functions – in cardiovascular disease will be one of the institute’s first initiatives, the release said.

“The MFA is deeply appreciative of this generous gift from the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney as their charitable contribution will enable us to do advanced research in cardiovascular disease,” Alan G. Wasserman, chairman of the Department of Medicine and MFA president, said in the statement.

-Ryan Holeywell