Oncology center wing dedicated at hospital

Members of the Friends of Saint Anne’s Hospital talk in front the linear accelerator during a dedication of the Hudner Oncology Center’s new wing. Pictured, from left, are Carol Verrochi, Helinette Souza, Janis Karam and Joseph Ciccolo.

By John Moss
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted May 06, 2009 @ 11:09 PM
Fall River —

Saint Anne’s Hospital dedicated its Hudner Oncology Center radiation oncology wing in honor of the Friends of Saint Anne’s Hospital on Wednesday, recognizing the Friends’ more than 50 years of financial support of cancer care.

Gifts included three pledges, totaling $1.5 million in the past decade. The facility includes a new $4.8 million expansion with advanced treatment options.

Joseph E. Ciccolo Jr., hospital president, commended the work of the Friends.  

“We cannot understate the importance of the contributions of the Friends of Saint Anne’s,” he said. “For more than 50 years, this vibrant organization of caring and involved residents has prided itself on having an impact on the wellbeing of our patients and community.”

The Friends is comprised of community members, business leaders, employees, medical staff, patients and those who support the hospital’s mission of providing quality health care to the Fall River area, hospital officials said.

Ciccolo said the Friends’ work has resulted in thousands of cancer patients entrusting their care to the Hudner Oncology Center annually.

“They do so because they are confident that they will receive expert care and have access to equipment that is second to none,” he said.

Because of what he called the Friends’ “tireless efforts to help provide a healing and supportive environment,” he said, “We are proud to name this wing in their honor so that their efforts will be recognized in perpetuity.”  

Karl Hetzler, vice chairman of the hospital’s board of trustees, pointed out what he called the tangible and intangible efforts of the Friends.

The tangible, he said, is the financial support provided over the years. Since 1999, they have pledged $1.5 million in support of Saint Anne’s cancer care program, including a recent $500,000 pledge to the current capital campaign that also will support construction of Saint Anne’s all-new radiation therapy facility in Dartmouth.

Hetzler called that latest pledge a “good kickoff to our goal.”

Scheduled to open in July, the $21 million center is the newest service provided by Saint Anne’s Regional Cancer Care.

As for the intangible, Hetzler said members of Friends can be found volunteering throughout the hospital and community.

“They have hosted a lot of events for the hospital and that way the general public hears about Saint Anne’s Hospital, sees what is going on here and hopefully will make it their first choice for treatment,” he said.

The Friends’ efforts, including operation of the hospital gift shop and various fundraising events, have played a central role in the success of many hospital projects, including the advancement of Saint Anne’s cancer program.

The new wing houses the area’s most comprehensive radiation therapy program for cancer treatment, according to hospital officials. The array of technologies offers patients advanced therapy for lung, head and neck, pelvic, prostate, breast, uterine and other gynecological cancers.

E-mail John Moss at  jmoss@heraldnews.com