Hospital ambulatory campus named for Manalapan couple

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - CentraState Healthcare System has named its new outpatient services building the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus for a family with close ties to CentraState.

The new three-story building is connected to the west side of CentraState Medical Center, West Main Street.

"The Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus expands the community's access to programs and facilities for healthy living," said John T. Gribbin, president and CEO, CentraState Healthcare System. "By offering people more tools to take charge of their own health and well-being, CentraState is redefining the role of a community health system. Our role is no longer just treating illness, but providing people with more choices so they can take accountability for their own health and prevent or properly manage chronic illness."

CentraState officials announced a community open house at the Ambulatory Campus on Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a Family Fun Day on Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services for patients and clients are scheduled to begin in phases starting Oct. 22.

At 171,000 square feet, the new outpatient building is the largest construction project in CentraState's 36-year history. The Ambulatory Campus is anchored by the Health Awareness Center and a new Fitness and Wellness Center, a comprehensive medical fitness facility offering exercise programs, a junior Olympic-size lap pool, therapy pool, whirlpool and a specialized hydrotherapy pool for advanced rehabilitation.

The campus also houses physical therapy and rehabilitation, including the Central Jersey Wound Treatment Center and new hyperbaric oxygenation therapy equipment, Multiple Sclerosis Center, sports medicine, and speech and swallowing disorder services; Novo Nordisk Diabetes Center; Cardiac rehabilitation and diagnostics; pulmonary rehabilitation, including the Center for Sleep Disorders; dialysis; private physician offices; a conference and education center; and a healthy foods café.

According to a press release, the facility cost $48 million to develop, build and equip. Officials with The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, New York City, made a total grant of $2.125 million; $1 million of which was an outright gift.

The remaining amount is a challenge grant that matches the first $25,000 of any pledge in that amount or greater. This is the largest donation to CentraState from a single donor.

In recognition, the Ambulatory Campus is named for Star and Barry Tobias of Manalapan. Barry Tobias is treasurer and chief financial officer of The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation and was the chief executive officer of Peter Sharp & Co. Inc., a real estate development and property management firm, until it was dissolved in 2006.

According to Tobias, an important focus of the Sharp Foundation is promoting educational opportunities and the general well-being of children.

"Star and I are equally committed to that cause. We find the Ambulatory Campus, with its emphasis on health and wellness through innovative services such as the Student Health Awareness Center, a perfect fit," he said.

During fundraising for the Ambulatory Campus, CentraState also received a $1.5 million donation from Robert and Donna O'Donnell, Millstone Township, and $1.5 million from a group of anonymous donors in memory of Thomas Blanchet and William Phillis, two honored New Jersey military veterans.

OceanFirst Foundation donated $300,000, representing the largest gift from a New Jersey corporation or corporate foundation.

Total donations to date are $9.8 million toward a campaign goal of $10 million, according to the press release.

CentraState Healthcare System is a nonprofit community health organization consisting of an acute-care hospital, an ambulatory campus, three senior living centers, a Family Medicine Residency Program, and a charitable foundation.

It is a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Health Network and a clinical research affiliate of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, a National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Cen