When patients visit NYU Langone Hospital—Suffolk in Patchogue, they are entering a health system named after Kenneth G. Langone, a billionaire businessman, investor and philanthropist whose contributions have left a lasting mark on medicine and higher education.
Langone, now in his late 80s, is best known as a co-founder of Home Depot, the home improvement giant that grew from a startup into one of America’s largest retailers. Raised in Roslyn Heights on Long Island, he worked his way through college and began a successful career on Wall Street before becoming one of the country’s most influential business leaders.
Despite his business success, Langone is perhaps best known for his philanthropic work. Along with his wife, Elaine, he became one of New York University’s most generous benefactors, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to support medical research, patient care, education and scholarships.
In recognition of those contributions, New York University renamed its medical center NYU Langone Medical Center in 2008. The institution later became known as NYU Langone Health as the system expanded into a network of hospitals, outpatient centers and physician practices serving millions of patients each year.
One of the most significant achievements associated with Langone’s philanthropy came in 2018 when NYU announced that all students accepted to its School of Medicine would receive full-tuition scholarships regardless of financial need. The groundbreaking initiative helped reduce student debt and attracted top medical students from across the nation.
Today, NYU Langone is consistently ranked among the country’s leading health systems and continues expanding its footprint on Long Island. With major investments planned in Patchogue and elsewhere in Suffolk County, the Langone name has become synonymous with a growing commitment to providing advanced medical care closer to home.