The Erie County Medical Center has a new front door, named after a well-known local philanthropist.

Hospital officials cut the ribbon on the Russell J. Salvatore atrium, a new main entrance for the entire hospital.

ECMC said the name is a way to recognize Salvatore's generosity, three years to the day after he made a $1 million donation to the hospital's capital campaign.

In 2014, Salvatore donated $500,000 to open the Russell J Salvatore Orthopedic Unit and in 2012 he donated $250,000 to upgrade the televisions in patient rooms.

"This atrium today is one more step in our journey to change the perception of ECMC in the community,” said Thomas Quatroche, the hospital’s president and CEO. But I emphasize perception of ECMC. “The reality that ECMC has always had top quality caregivers for years."

"It makes me feel so good that you can make people feel good that are not feeling good,” Salvatore said. “From the bottom of my heart I am just so thankful for the respect that has given me."

The capital campaign Salvatore donated to also helped fund a new emergency department and trauma center set to open this spring.