The Dr. Peter W. Blumencranz Chair
Ensuring a Legacy of Breast Health Excellence at Morton Plant Mease Health Care
To overcome the rising statistics of women diagnosed with breast cancer, Morton Plant Mease Foundation established the Dr. Peter W. Blumencranz Chair to promote ongoing funds for clinical research. Dr. Blumencranz is currently the Medical Director of Comprehensive Breast Health and Cancer Services for Morton Plant Mease Health Care.
Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated cancer campaign chair, Ruthy duPont, the Foundation surpassed the $1 million mark in just over one year’s time. However, an additional $1 million dollar matching gift is still required to support Dr. Blumencranz’s ongoing breast cancer research.
Morton Plant Mease will soon have state-of-the-art facilities to compliment Dr. Blumencranz’s nationally renowned research. The only barrier left is dollars. Your gift would allow Morton Plant Mease to advance superior health care through your support of Dr. Blumencranz’s nationally renowned clinical breast cancer research.
"My vision is to establish a nationally recognized Breast Center of Excellence at Morton Plant combining comprehensive diagnostic and clinical services under one roof. This will be combined with increased efforts in research needing more staff support. We will also establish a high risk clinic to identify and counsel those most susceptible to this disease.
All of this will need financial support through generous philanthropists like you. I have been amazed at the interest already expressed in these efforts. Clearly, our accomplishments so far have had a tremendous beneficial impact on our community, but we are on a long journey.
The need is great. The cause is good. With your gift, you will be leaving a legacy of academic level of care with the community touch - THE MORTON PLANT WAY!"
~Dr. Peter Blumencranz on the importance of the Chair named in his honor
Your contribution to this Chair will allow Dr. Blumencranz to focus additional resources and time on lymph node research and clinical excellence. This honor will also attract and retain physicians with nationally recognized experience to Morton Plant Mease Health Care. Dr. Blumencranz will direct this effort through his own clinical research, develop suitable linkages with other institutions, and champion the effort to designate Morton Plant Breast Health Program a nationally recognized Center of Excellence.
In 2007, Dr. Blumencranz led the national clinical trial for GeneSearch – the first gene-based test to detect the spread of breast cancer into lymph nodes. Morton Plant Hospital became the first hospital in the United States to use GeneSearch which can determine in just minutes - while a patient is in surgery - if cancer has spread to the patient’s lymph nodes. If the cancer has spread, the lymph nodes can be removed immediately, avoiding the risk, stress and emotional trauma of a second surgery.
"Too often, women who have had breast cancer surgery are forced to return for a second operation to remove lymph nodes. This test has the potential to change that by more accurately guiding decisions during surgery, thereby reducing the risks, stress, emotional trauma and costs of second surgeries."
~Dr. Blumencranz on GeneSearch
The Morton Plant Breast Health Program is currently one of the most comprehensive programs in the Tampa Bay Area. Today, the program is a combined effort of several Morton Plant Mease Facilities, including the Powell Cancer Center, the Susan Cheek Needler Breast Center, Lykes Radiation Pavilion, as well as the Moffitt Morton Plant Mease Cancer Care Program.
For more information on how you can support the Dr. Peter W. Blumencranz Chair, please contact Morton Plant Mease Foundation at (727) 462-7036.
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