A special day dedicated to learning, sharing, supporting, and communicating with those in our community whose lives have been touched by cancer, this year’s “Celebrating Strength” Cancer Survivor Conference acknowledged critical resources that empower patients on their journey and recovery.
The program, sponsored by Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS) Foundation, was held at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (UMCPP) on September 23. It offered cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers the opportunity to get an in-depth view of the latest advances in diagnostic and treatment technologies that are being used at the Edward & Marie Matthews Center for Cancer Care at UMCPP. They also heard about fascinating developments in cancer research and participated in wellness demonstrations, including a Reiki session and a presentation on the healing effects of Tibetan singing bowls. Event participants also shared inspirational stories of courage and determination in the fight against cancer.
The occasion celebrated the visionary philanthropy of Edward and Marie Matthews, JoAnn Heffernan Heisen, and other donors to the Center for Cancer Care, as well as the creative collaboration of its community partners. This philanthropy and collaboration have resulted in a new landscape for cancer care at UMCPP, one where we are increasingly able to provide an array of supportive services and resources for each individual patient such as a specialized gift shop adjacent to the center, designed specifically to meet the needs of patients with cancer.
Excellent care for patients with cancer means not only a state-of-the-art facility with advanced technology and outstanding physicians and staff; it also means access to services that provide emotional support and education for each patient throughout his or her experience. With this focus in mind, grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Catholic Human Services received earlier this year provided funding for the Center’s new Clinical Navigation program. The program facilitates access to high-quality education, psycho-social support, and resources for patients newly diagnosed with cancer and their families to help guide them from pre-diagnosis through all phases of treatment.
Community partners, including the American Cancer Society, the Cancer Support Community of New Jersey, and CancerCare, have also been brought on-site to further enhance the Center’s patient navigation capabilities and wellness education offerings. In the coming months, with the help of additional funding from individuals and organizations, the Center seeks to expand resources in this area to build a community task force of nonprofit cancer support service providers.“We’ve consolidated all of our cancer initiatives—radiation, infusion therapy, rehabilitation, counseling—into one specially designed space, which allows us to build on and expand our good work in cancer care,” said Judy Neumann, Director of the Center for Cancer Care. “The Center is somewhere that patients with cancer have convenient ‘one-stop’ access to world-class medical care and comprehensive support services close to home.”
Partial List of Available
Naming Opportunities
Infusion Waiting Area $ 200,000
Radiation Oncology Nursing Station $100,000
Patient Exam Rooms $ 75,000
Radiation Oncology Physicians’ Office $ 35,000
Oncology Patient Room $ 25,000
Infusion Treatment Station $ 15,000
A New Era of Cancer Care
Recently honored by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer’s Outstanding Achievement Award, the Edward & Marie Matthews Center for Cancer Care at UMCPP sets a new standard for cancer care and embodies what makes PHCS special: an unwavering commitment to innovative and coordinated treatment while providing an exceptional level of compassionate care for patients. UMCPP is also a Clinical Research Affiliate of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and its breast health services have earned accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.
Make a gift that forever links your name—or that of a loved one—with the Edward & Marie Matthews Center for Cancer Care at UMCPP. To learn more about available naming opportunities in the Center that will fund specialized clinical services, rehabilitative care, and the support that patients need during treatment and recovery from cancer, contact Beth Brown at 609.252.8701, or email ebrown@princetonhcs.org.
PHCS Foundation is grateful for the outstanding work of the Conference Host Committee in making the September 23 event a success.
Edward Matthews, Chair
Kelly Annarella
Meredith Asplundh
Subha Barry
Bonnie Brenner
Sam deTuro
Terri Epstein
Frances Ertel
Rachel Gray
JoAnn Heffernan Heisen
Judson Henderson
Catherine Knight
Judy Rowe Michaels
Joe Mollica
Amy Rabner
Inez Scribner
Bob Walsh
Denise Wood
Pictured above:
Edward Matthews (left) and Arnold J. Levine, PhD (right), a leading authority on the molecular basis of cancer, who served as keynote speaker at the “Celebrating Strength” conference. Dr. Levine is a professor at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, and the Institute for Advanced Study.
Article as seen in Foundation News Winter 2012.