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Philanthropic Gift Names The Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes
This gift also establishes the Velma Eisenson Chair for Clinical and Translational Research at Dana-Farber The Mellen and Eisenson Families have made an extraordinary gift in support of BRCA cancer research and clinical care, adding to a legacy of support. In 2021, Trustee Michael Eisenson and his cousin Neil Mellen, who passed away earlier this year, along with their families, provided foundational support for Dana-Farber’s newly formed BRCA center, one of the few centers in the world dedicated to the care for, prevention of, and research into BRCA-related cancers. In recognition of their magnificent contributions, The Mellen and Eisenson Family...
This gift also establishes the Velma Eisenson Chair for Clinical and Translational Research at Dana-Farber
The Mellen and Eisenson Families have made an extraordinary gift in support of BRCA cancer research and clinical care, adding to a legacy of support. In 2021, Trustee Michael Eisenson and his cousin Neil Mellen, who passed away earlier this year, along with their families, provided foundational support for Dana-Farber’s newly formed BRCA center, one of the few centers in the world dedicated to the care for, prevention of, and research into BRCA-related cancers. In recognition of their magnificent contributions, The Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes will now bear the families’ names. The Mellen and Eisenson Families’ gift honors Michael’s late mother, Velma Eisenson; the late Neil Mellen; and Neil’s late daughter, Nancy Ann Mellen.
The Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes is dedicated to reducing and eventually eliminating the devastating impact of cancer-promoting BRCA mutations and related heritable genetic anomalies in patients and families at Dana-Farber and across the globe. It is New England’s first academically affiliated BRCA center and one of the very few dedicated BRCA centers in the world. The center is directed by Dipanjan Chowdhury, PhD, Chief of the Division of Radiation and Genome Stability and the Svanberg Family Chair at Dana-Farber; Judy Garber, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division for Cancer Genetics and Prevention and the Susan F. Smith Chair at Dana-Farber; and Panagiotis (Panos) Konstantinopoulos, MD, PhD.
The Mellen and Eisenson Families’ latest gift provides support for the center’s research priorities, the establishment of an endowed chair, and institutional support. Additionally, the gift endows the David Livingston Early Career Investigator Awards, ensuring perpetual support for emerging leaders in BRCA research. The gift will also establish the Velma Eisenson Chair for Clinical and Translational Research at Dana-Farber, with Konstantinopoulos serving as the inaugural incumbent. The funding to establish the chair was a personal contribution from Eisenson and his spouse Barbara.
Eisenson, a member of the Board of Trustees since 1991, serves as the chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, the most ambitious fundraising effort in the Institute’s history. Supporting Dana-Farber’s mission is personally meaningful to Eisenson. He lost his mother to cancer when she was only 45 years old, an experience that shaped his priorities. “I made a commitment to do what I could to help avoid this kind of loss for other families,” said Eisenson. “Every family has a story, and everyone can help. This is the way I chose to help.”
You can read more about this gift, and Michael’s leadership of The Dana-Farber Campaign, in the fall issue of Impact.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Raises More Than $2 Billion in Record-Breaking Fundraising Campaign to Defy Cancer
BOSTON – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today announced the completion of one of the largest fundraising campaigns focused entirely on cancer, raising a record $2.5 billion. The Dana-Farber Campaign a seven-year initiative, has accelerated the Institute’s strategic priorities supporting revolutionary science and extraordinary care. It has funded clinical trials, addressed increased patient volume and cancer diagnoses, and is supporting prevention, early detection, and interception among other groundbreaking initiatives to further its mission. Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, who steps down from her position as President and CEO of Dana-Farber today, led The Dana-Farber Campaign and identified key priorities for philanthropic investment early in...
BOSTON – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today announced the completion of one of the largest fundraising campaigns focused entirely on cancer, raising a record $2.5 billion. The Dana-Farber Campaign a seven-year initiative, has accelerated the Institute’s strategic priorities supporting revolutionary science and extraordinary care. It has funded clinical trials, addressed increased patient volume and cancer diagnoses, and is supporting prevention, early detection, and interception among other groundbreaking initiatives to further its mission.
Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, who steps down from her position as President and CEO of Dana-Farber today, led The Dana-Farber Campaign and identified key priorities for philanthropic investment early in her tenure.
“It has been an honor to lead this historic campaign that has allowed Dana-Farber to make great strides in cancer research and patient care,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD. “I am grateful to the many benefactors whose generosity and dedication have enabled remarkable progress in the ambitious effort to find cures for cancer.”
“We are grateful for Dr. Glimcher’s leadership in helping us accomplish an extraordinary achievement during her time as CEO at Dana-Farber,” said Josh Bekenstein, chair of the Dana-Farber board of trustees. “The campaign supports Dana-Farber’s world-class leadership at the forefront of cancer care and clinical breakthroughs.”
With a broad base of support from all 50 states and 117 countries, The Dana-Farber Campaign inspired more than 2.2 million gifts from more than 900,000 donors including Jimmy Fund supporters and fundraisers (with 1.5 million gifts under $100) over the course of the seven-year campaign. The Pan-Mass Challenge was the largest single contributor to the campaign and contributed $425 million over the seven years of the campaign made up of over two million individual gifts.
Funds from the campaign have already helped Dana-Farber make progress on many initiatives including:
Clinical Trials: Since the start of The Dana-Farber Campaign, the clinical trial program has increased by more than 22%. Today, Dana-Farber offers one of the largest cancer clinical trials programs in the nation with more than 1,100 active trials. While some trials are supported by federal funding, many are only possible because of our philanthropic supporters.
Patient Navigation and Cancer Care Equity: Dana-Farber more than doubled the size of its Cancer Care Equity Program, allowing support for more patients from medically underserved communities. Dana-Farber also currently has more than 90 active clinical research studies and pilot programs which relate to the understanding and/or elimination of disparities in cancer.
New Medical Facilities and Patient Volume: Dana-Farber opened three new, world-class patient care facilities in the past five years in Merrimack Valley, Chestnut Hill, and Foxborough — bringing the total number of Dana-Faber facilities to seven and allowing for care, closer to home for more patients and families. In the past year alone, Dana-Farber served over 96,000 patients—a 26% increase since 2019.
Prevention, Early Detection, and Interception: In 2023, Dana-Farber launched a first-of-its-kind, integrated clinic to increase early detection of precancerous conditions and to prevent cancer from arising in individuals at increased risk for the disease. The Centers for Early Detection and Interception at Dana-Farber brings together clinicians and researchers across many cancer types with a shared focus on precursor and hereditary conditions that can be early indicators of blood cancers and solid tumors. The Centers for Early Detection are developing novel technologies and methods for earlier cancer detection, as well as innovative ways to intervene before a cancer fully develops.
For a complete look at how funds raised are making an impact please visit DefyCancer.org.
“I am thankful to Dr. Glimcher for her extraordinary leadership, and I look forward to continuing momentum in this next chapter for Dana-Farber,” said Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD, newly appointed President and CEO of Dana-Farber. “The vast community of support during this campaign helped exceed our lofty goals, enabling breakthroughs in the laboratory and the development of life-saving therapies for cancer patients. While the incidence of cancer is rising in the U.S., I am hopeful for the future and inspired by the new treatments that are transforming cancer care.”
The Dana-Farber Campaign started in October 2017 and was announced to the public in May 2021. Throughout The Dana-Farber Campaign, Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund community has expanded throughout the country and around the world.
“It has been an incredible honor to work alongside Dr. Glimcher and Dana-Farber innovators, leaders, and supporters,” said Michael Eisenson, chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, Institute trustee, and Founding Partner of Charlesbank Capital Partners. “Funds raised during the campaign have already helped Dana-Farber make progress for our patients and families.”
Eisenson worked closely with Vice Chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, Monica Chandra, an Institute trustee and President of 3EDGE Asset Management. Their incredible stewardship of the campaign is featured in the current issue of Dana-Farber's IMPACT Magazine.
Their visionary leadership together with that of The Dana-Farber Campaign Cabinet inspired philanthropic support for priorities critical to all types of cancer. A celebration of the campaign’s donor community and collective impact on the future of cancer care will take place next spring.
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. We provide the latest treatments in cancer for adults through Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care. As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,100 clinical trials.
This July, the Pan-Mass Challenge announced that it had surpassed one billion dollars in total fundraising since its founding in 1980—all of which has benefited Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Watch the video from CBS News.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute receives $10 million gift from the Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation
Gift establishes the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Family Initiative in Nursing to advance the field of oncology nursing BOSTON - The Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation has made an extraordinary gift of $10 million to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the largest single gift in support of nursing in the Institute’s history. The gift will establish the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Family Initiative in Nursing, which will support oncology nursing career paths and will help build a pipeline of highly trained oncology nurses to maintain Dana-Farber’s position as a global leader in oncology nursing. The initiative will help...
Gift establishes the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Family Initiative in Nursing to advance the field of oncology nursing
BOSTON - The Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation has made an extraordinary gift of $10 million to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the largest single gift in support of nursing in the Institute’s history. The gift will establish the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Family Initiative in Nursing, which will support oncology nursing career paths and will help build a pipeline of highly trained oncology nurses to maintain Dana-Farber’s position as a global leader in oncology nursing. The initiative will help ensure Dana-Farber's model is sustained, address future needs, and can be replicated across the country and globally to raise the standard of care for patients.
The gift is inspired by the personal experience of Dr. Ge Li and his late wife, Dr. Ning Zhao. Dr. Zhao, co-founder, executive director of the board and corporate senior vice president of WuXi AppTec, passed away in May 2023 after a 20-year battle with cancer. She was an extraordinary scientist, business leader, and philanthropist with an unwavering commitment to improving human health, including supporting cancer research and fostering future leaders to create new treatments and cures to benefit patients around the world.
“Dana-Farber continues to lead the way in the field of oncology nursing,” said Dr. Ge Li, President of the Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation. “With this gift, we seek to honor Ning’s legacy by supporting Dana-Farber’s key initiatives in oncology nursing education and training, while also ensuring the field of oncology nursing continues to grow to provide greater care for future cancer patients across the globe.”
As hospitals in the United States do not receive federal funding to train registered nurses, this gift will help reduce barriers to entering a career in oncology nursing and strengthen preparation and training, as well as support career advancement, retention, and the professional development of nurses. By preparing the next generation of nurses to enter the field and make a difference for individuals with a cancer diagnosis, Dana-Farber maintains the highest quality of care for these patients while also contributing to the field more widely. Nursing has been an integral part of Dana-Farber’s excellence for its 75 years, as part of Sidney Farber, MD’s core philosophy of “Total Patient Care,” in which all patient services are cared for by a team of interdisciplinary professionals to meet all of their needs throughout the cancer care continuum.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has awarded Magnet® status to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recognizing excellence in nursing practice and patient care. Looking ahead, Dana-Farber is expanding its career development initiatives and ensuring that the field of oncology nursing continues to grow to care for the next generation of cancer patients, establishing a model in nursing excellence to benefit patients at Dana-Farber and beyond.
“This gift will provide critical resources that bolster Dana-Farber’s training and nursing career development, widen and diversify the workforce of nurses, and ensure nurses are well-equipped for the distinct challenges of caring for patients with cancer. With the help of the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Family Initiative in Nursing, Dana-Farber will continue to engage the brightest, most talented, and most compassionate experts to care for patients,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and CEO of Dana-Farber and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine.
One component of the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Family Initiative in Nursing is the establishment of the Ning Zhao Chair of Nursing, the first endowed nursing position of its kind at Dana-Farber. The first incumbent is Chief Nursing Officer Anne Gross, PhD, RN, FAAN, who first joined Dana-Farber in 2002 and became Dana-Farber’s senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer in 2016. This named chair will provide Gross with critical resources needed to continually innovate in the area of patient care and advance the field of oncology nursing.
“I am honored to be named the first Ning Zhao Chair of Nursing,” said Gross. “This transformational gift will enable us to build the pipeline of registered nurses for the future, through training programs that will support us to achieve our goal of providing the highest quality care while maximizing each patient’s quality of life throughout treatment.”
The gift will also establish the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Endowed Scholarship Fund for Clinical Assistants, which will provide support for clinical assistants employed by the Institute who are currently in nursing school. The goal of this fund is to ensure individuals can pursue their education with less of a financial burden, helping to clear a direct path for them to enter the field as nurses after graduation, expanding a diverse pipeline of nurses and strengthening the Dana-Farber nursing community.
The third component of the gift will help build the Ning Zhao & Ge Li Simulation Center located at 10 Brookline Place and scheduled to open in Spring 2025, as well as support the initial years of its operation. The center’s goal is to provide a state-of-the art clinical environment to train nurses on key technical nursing skills, including starting IVs, administering chemotherapy and preparing for emergency scenarios. It will also serve as a lab for skill building and practice navigating challenging and complex patient scenarios. This center will help ensure that the nursing needs of patients and their families are met today and in the years ahead through world-class, compassionate oncology care.
The Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation gift is part of The Dana-Farber Campaign, the multi-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer by accelerating revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities.
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,100 clinical trials.
About Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation
The Ge Li & Ning Zhao Family Foundation is dedicated to advancing education, scientific research, and healthcare innovations to achieve meaningful improvements in the well-being of humanity. The Family Foundation was created in 2020 through the generosity of Dr. Ge Li and the late Dr. Ning Zhao, co-founders of leading global service platforms for drug research, development and manufacturing that enable innovators to advance breakthroughs for patients worldwide. The creation of the Family Foundation was inspired by that mission. Through philanthropic efforts and collaborative partnerships, it seeks to make tangible impacts and foster transformative change to improve the lives of all.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute earns fifth consecutive Magnet® designation recognizing excellence in nursing practice and patient care
Fewer than 10% of hospitals have achieved Magnet designation and under 1% have attained five consecutive designations For the fifth straight time, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has awarded Magnet® status to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recognizing excellence in nursing practice and patient care. "Our fifth consecutive Magnet designation is a moment of great pride for all of us at Dana-Farber, recognizing our exemplary care, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to patients and their loved ones," said Anne H. Gross, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dana-Farber's senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. To maintain the prestigious designation, ANCC Magnet-recognized organizations...
Fewer than 10% of hospitals have achieved Magnet designation and under 1% have attained five consecutive designations
For the fifth straight time, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has awarded Magnet® status to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recognizing excellence in nursing practice and patient care.
"Our fifth consecutive Magnet designation is a moment of great pride for all of us at Dana-Farber, recognizing our exemplary care, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to patients and their loved ones," said Anne H. Gross, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dana-Farber's senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer.
To maintain the prestigious designation, ANCC Magnet-recognized organizations must reapply and demonstrate adherence to the standards every four years. This process showcases an ongoing commitment to advancement in nursing practice and exemplary patient care. Of an estimated 6,200 hospitals and health systems nationwide, fewer than 1% have achieved five Magnet designations.
This fifth consecutive designation includes 11 exemplars representing a highly educated nursing workforce, outstanding patient outcomes and experience, and commitment to excellence in evidence and innovation. Magnet exemplars demonstrate scores at the highest level for these standards.
Magnet designation gives consumers the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality care, with the rigorous application process including documentation of compliance with 94 standards, a site visit, and final review by the National Commission on Magnet Recognition. According to the ANCC, research indicates that Magnet-recognized organizations provide higher quality, patient-centered care; a safer environment with better patient satisfaction and outcomes; and greater job satisfaction through interdisciplinary collaboration and resulting innovations.
"I'm incredibly proud of our team for earning Dana-Farber's fifth consecutive Magnet designation. This distinguished recognition is a testament to our nurses' steadfast dedication to the highest quality, compassionate care," said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and chief executive officer of Dana-Farber. "Together, with our world-class faculty and staff, we continue to raise the bar of clinical expertise, leadership, and scientific discovery."
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Founded in Boston in 1947, Dana-Farber is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center that develops and disseminates innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. About Our Patient Stories: Dana-Farber shares patient stories which may include descriptions of actual medical results. Dana-Farber provides personalized care for each patient based on their unique needs; their experiences and results will vary.
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