A new training and conference center will be built at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria thanks to the largest donation in OSF Healthcare history.

OSF Saint Francis and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria are the joint recipients of a $25 million gift from Jump Trading, a Chicago-based high frequency proprietary trading firm. The donation, announced at a reception Saturday evening in downtown Peoria, will fund construction of the Jump Trading Simulation and Conference Center.

“It will be a place that promotes training and education and that ultimately improves safety by caregivers at all levels of the medical center,” said Keith Steffen, CEO of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The facility will be built on the current Milestone Construction Project construction site off Berkley Avenue, with construction expected to begin this summer.

“The brightest and best physicians will be attracted by the opportunity to learn in a modern setting using the latest in technology and simulation equipment,” added Dr. Sara Rusch, regional dean at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. “Jump Trading’s remarkable gift will have a lasting impact on medical education and on our community.”

Representing Jump Trading — which was founded in 1999 and has more than 200 employees — was Bill DiSomma, a managing partner. He said the company was “honored” to be teaming up with the two
organizations “to educate the next generation of medical professionals.”

The daughter of a company managing partner received extensive care at OSF Saint Francis following an accident in 2004.