Michigan Medicine will launch a new era in comprehensive breast cancer care, thanks to a $25 million donation from the Weiser Charitable Foundation.
The gift will help establish the Weiser Family Center for Breast Cancer at University of Michigan Health’s Rogel Cancer Center to help improve treatment experiences by creating programs to support patients and their families, as well as expanding breast cancer education and research opportunities.
The gift, which was announced at the Sept. 19 Board of Regents meeting, includes $5 million in matching funds to encourage additional gifts to the center.
“The Weiser Charitable Foundation is proud to make this transformational gift to improve outcomes in all aspects of breast cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship, and offer hope to those who need it most,” said Regent Ron Weiser, president of the foundation.
“We are honored to assist in establishing a center that will provide expanded care throughout patients’ breast cancer journeys by building new programs, testing innovative ideas and transforming the patient experience for breast cancer patients.”
“The expert medical professionals at Michigan Medicine work daily to improve outcomes for every patient,” said Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, dean of the Medical School and executive vice president for medical affairs. “We are grateful for the support of the Weiser Charitable Foundation as we further establish ourselves as a home for high-level and compassionate care.”
“We are so grateful for this transformational gift from the Weiser Charitable Foundation,” said President Santa J. Ono. “This extraordinary gift will speed new discoveries, open new insights, and strengthen Michigan Medicine’s place as one of the nation’s leading medical centers.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. More than 310,000 Americans are diagnosed with breast cancer each year — almost 9,000 of them in Michigan.
“The Rogel Cancer Center is a national leader in breast cancer research and care, but our providers care for about 4.5% of breast cancer patients in our state. This generous gift will allow us to significantly increase our impact,” said Eric R. Fearon, director of the Rogel Cancer Center and associate dean for cancer programs at Michigan Medicine.
“Not only will we bring world-class cancer care to more Michiganders, but the knowledge our teams uncover will improve how breast cancer is diagnosed and treated worldwide.”
The foundation’s $25 million gift will support various elements at the Weiser Family Center for Breast Cancer, including:
- Staff, including care navigators, clinical research coordinators and faculty leadership support.
- Technology, including contrast-enhanced mammography machines and microsurgery equipment.
- Infrastructure, marketing and other operational requirements for excellent patient experiences.
- Research and education, providing support for clinical research and access to breast cancer trials; establishing endowment for annual provider and community educational programs.
The new center will be co-led by Melissa Pilewskie, clinical associate professor of surgery, and Monika Burness, assistant professor of internal medicine, ensuring multidisciplinary care for all patients.
“This impactful gift will have a tremendous influence on the care we provide, supporting our current plans for this center and beyond,” said Justin Dimick, the Frederick A. Coller Distinguished Professor of Surgery, professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, and professor of health management and policy in the School of Public Health.
“Investing in innovative programs advances our ability to deliver exceptional clinical care and expand our services to meet the evolving needs of our patients.”
The gift will help expand services for patients at all stages of breast cancer, from early disease to metastatic disease. Specialty programs will address those at high risk for developing cancer or with aggressive disease.
Resources also will assist patients seeking plastic surgery or breast reconstruction, and prevention of lymphedema through state-of-the-art microsurgical procedures. The center plans to launch a comprehensive breast cancer survivorship plan to support patients as they navigate care and follow-up after completing their treatment.
The center will create a dedicated healing environment where patients have timely access to diagnostic testing and treatments.
It plans to purchase several individual pieces of breast cancer care equipment, including breast imaging technology like contrast-enhanced mammography and expanding cold capping options to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. It also plans to upgrade communication channels and marketing efforts, including increasing virtual options for some appointments.
The new breast cancer center will focus on collaboration with researchers so clinical research is integrated into patient care settings. The gift will support additional clinical research coordinators who will continue to pave new paths in breast cancer treatment. In addition to the plans currently in place, the Weiser Charitable Foundation’s gift will provide opportunities for future expansions to the center as needed.
Weiser and his family have committed more than $200 million to U-M to date. He has served on the Board of Regents since 2016 and was a vice chair of the Victors for Michigan campaign.
His gifts have helped establish centers and institutes including the Ronald Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer, Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute, Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center and the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at Michigan Medicine.
Other centers that have benefited from his gifts are the Weiser Center for Real Estate, Weiser Diplomacy Center, Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies, and Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia on the main campus.
The Weiser Charitable Foundation also established the Eileen Lappin Weiser Center for the Learning Sciences in the Marsal Family School of Education in 2022.
Michigan Medicine is U-M’s academic medical center. It includes the Medical School and U-M Health, the system’s clinical care enterprise encompassing the university’s hospitals and health centers in southeast Michigan as well as UM Health-West and UM Health-Sparrow.
