Annual Meeting Recap
UPMC Hamot leadership gathered on Oct. 24, at the Ambassador Center for its Annual Dinner Meeting.
The event included a special session of the Hamot Health Foundation Board of Corporators. Boo Hagerty, HHF president, addressed the corporator meeting and welcomed 29 new corporators to the group. Laura Figura, MD, and Margaret Joy, Esq., were installed as new Hamot Health Foundation Board members.
Abby Lechner, campaign chair for the Board of Corporators, unveiled the Hillman Cancer Fund as the 2019 annual corporator project.
The fund will act as a versatile resource for cancer care that is holistic in its perspective and yet customized to meet the needs of individuals. Both practical and compassionate, this fund will be available to assist with a myriad of needs and opportunities experienced by cancer patients such as:
- Survivorship and wellness programming for patients and families
- Financial assistance for patients in treatment
- Cancer-related research activities
- Special assistance for patients undergoing highly specialized care
- Other purposes related to cancer care
The corporator meeting was followed by the UPMC Hamot Annual Dinner Meeting at which attendees were provided important updates about the spectrum of projects and happenings at Hamot Health Foundation, UPMC Hamot, and its affiliates.
Mark Raimy, UPMC Hamot board chairman; Lynn Rupp, UPMC Hamot vice president of operations; and David Gibbons, UPMC Hamot president, all took turns at the podium. The evening was filled with reflections on the past year’s accomplishments and exciting projections of what is to come. David Gibbons spoke of “unparalled care” as a characterization of UPMC Hamot — a repeated point of pride throughout the night. In a program highlight, Boo Hagerty was pleased to distinguish Robert Ferraro, MD, as an honorary life corporator.
Stanley Marks, MD, chairman of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, was the keynote speaker during a special presentation on cancer care in Erie. The Regional Cancer Center will fully transition into the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in early November and will deploy new resources to offer second to none cancer care to our region.
World-class comprehensive cancer care is now accessible in the comfort of our own community. In this new era of regional cancer care, Hamot Health Foundation is poised to carry on the philanthropic legacy of the RCC Foundation.