PROMISE WINTER 2018 a PUBLICATION for FRIENDS of MD ANDERSON Harry Longwell ADOLFO CHAVEZ III ADOLFO CHAVEZ
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A PUBLICATION FOR FRIENDS OF MD ANDERSON WINTER 2018 Giving cancer the BOOT2nd annual Boot Walk to End Cancer raises more than $1 million CONTENTS UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY IN THIS ISSUE 22: Palm Beach, Florida Making Cancer History® Seminar 3 A new leader 30: Houston Peter Pisters, M.D., takes the helm Donor Appreciation Reception FEBRUARY 6 Let’s talk 21: Houston A Conversation With a Living ® Legend events raise more than 2017 Boot Walk to End Cancer VIP Party $2.5 million. MARCH 17: Houston 7 Craig’s Court Bunny Hops and Photo Opps Pediatric space dedicated to memory of beloved sports APRIL reporter. 10: Midland Making Cancer History® Seminar 8 Moon Shots milestone Program marks fifth anniversary 26-27: Houston and advances along the way. Advance Team Reception and Meeting F.CARTER SMITH F.CARTER Attendees let loose with a photo booth at the 29th MAY annual Cancer Survivorship Conference. p. 13 19: Albany, Texas Polo on the Prairie 4 NEWS MAKERS A $1.5 million gift revamps the Among the first Faces of Philanthropy teen-savvy ASPIRE official duties for Exhibits highlight a diversity tobacco prevention new MD Anderson and cessation president Peter of donors who give their program. p. 14 COURTESY OF THE ASPIRE PROGRAM Pisters, M.D.: a visit with young time, talents and financial philanthropist resources. Brayden Rivera. p. 15 SECTIONS III ADOLFO CHAVEZ 6 Philanthropy in Action ACCESS ANSWERS 7 Survivors Say To become a patient: Call 877-632-6789 or fill out 10 Moon Shot Momentum the self-referral form at www.mdanderson.org. 11 Among Friends 13 Spotlight For more information, please visit www.mdanderson.org/gifts or call 800-525-5841. 14 Donors Make a Difference Download Promise at www.mdanderson.org/Promise. F. CARTER SMITH F. Back Cover: If you do not want to receive certain fundraising iPromise: Ashley Skrljac communications from MD Anderson, please visit our website at www.mdanderson.org/FundraisingOptOut or contact us at 855-344-5272. Peter Pisters, M.D. Allison Schaffer President Assistant Editor Senior Communications Specialist Tadd Pullin Senior Vice President for Leslie Friedman The University of Texas Institutional Advancement Senior Communications Specialist MD Anderson Cancer Center Patrick Mulvey Marily Scaria Development Office - Unit 705 Vice President for Development Senior Communications Designer P.O. Box 301439 Brette Peyton Contributing Writers Houston, TX 77230-1439 ON THE COVER: Executive Director, Public Relations Clayton Boldt, Ph.D. 713-792-3450 Katrina Burton Thousands of cancer survivors, friends and family Sarah Watson Jesse Purdy members join MD Anderson staff and supporters 800-525-5841 Editor, Program Director Ashley Skrljac for the second annual Boot Walk to End Cancer®, mdanderson.org/gifts Development Communications helping raise more than $1 million. p. 12 [email protected] Comments? Suggestions? We welcome your perspective. F. CARTER SMITH youtube.com/MDAnderson Email us your thoughts: [email protected]. NEWS MAKERS www.mdanderson.org/newsroom A NEW ERA BEGINS Pisters vows to ‘listen and learn’ as he leads MD Anderson in fight against cancer BY SARAH WATSON On night rounds during his first Peter Pisters, M.D., has full week at MD Anderson, returned to MD Anderson as Pisters meets with its fifth full-time president. an Acute Palliative Care team and Unanimously selected by the others across the UT System Board of Regents in institution who ensure patients September, Pisters began his receive quality care official duties on Dec. 1. from dusk to dawn. “I am beyond thrilled to return to MD Anderson as its BRETTE PEYTON F. CARTER SMITH F. new president. It’s an honor of Pisters discusses the a lifetime,” says Pisters, who held MD Anderson importance of the faculty and leadership roles for more than 20 immunotherapy platform, a key years before becoming president and chief component of executive officer of the University Health the Moon Shots Program®, with its Network (UHN), affiliated with the University of executive director, Toronto, in January 2015. Jim Allison, Ph.D., professor During his first few months as president, and chair of Pisters has embarked on a listening and Immunology. learning tour across the institution to include the mission areas of patient care, research, ADOLFO CHAVEZ III education and prevention and to engage all stakeholders. Pisters makes a stop at the School of Health Professions at MD Anderson, “I’m confident we’ll continue building on fulfilling his promise to listen and learn our successes while also forging a new path through interactions with employees, forward in the fight to end cancer,” he says. faculty and students across the institution. Pisters oversaw more than 14,000 employees and a $400 million research enterprise at UHN. Previously, he was vice president for MD Anderson’s regional care system, comprising multiple Houston-area locations. Following a surgery instructor position at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Pisters initially joined MD Anderson’s faculty in 1994 as assistant professor of Surgery, rising to full professor with tenure in 2004. Specializing in sarcoma and gastrointestinal cancer, he has served as clinical consultant for the Center for Global Oncology (now MD Anderson Cancer Network®), section chief for Sarcoma Surgery and assistant medical director of the Sarcoma III ADOLFO CHAVEZ Center. He remains a board-certified surgeon. He also holds a master’s degree in health care management from Harvard University. “Dr. Pisters has devoted most of his professional life to the care of patients at MD Anderson, and he gained invaluable experience in Toronto leading one of the most respected academic health centers in North America,” says Ray Greenberg, M.D. Ph.D., executive vice chancellor for health affairs, UT System. “This combination of his clinical Pisters marks the beginning of his first week back at expertise, institutional knowledge and servant MD Anderson by attending orientation, encouraging 60 new employees to focus on the institution’s mission to end leadership makes Dr. Pisters the ideal person to cancer and its core values of caring, integrity and discovery. take MD Anderson to the next level.” III ADOLFO CHAVEZ LEARN MORE AT www.mdanderson.org/gifts 3 NEWS MAKERS www.mdanderson.org/newsroom GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM An exhibit at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Center in College Station, Texas, highlights the Bush family’s dedication to the fight against cancer. Jim Mulva, BOV chair, welcomes new members at a reception unveiling the philanthropy- focused exhibit. The Faces of The exhibit includes Philanthropy exhibit memorabilia from past debuted in November. fundraising events. F. CARTER SMITH F. CARTER SMITH F. CARTER SMITH F. EXHIBITS EMPHASIZE GENEROSITY, COMMITMENT OF DONORS Board of Visitors, Bush family and others celebrated in new installations BY ALLISON SCHAFFER Two exhibits debuted in late 2017 honoring decades-long dedication of cancer fighters who have supported MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer. A special Bush Library exhibit opened in October at the George H.W. Bush MD Anderson. Presidential Center in College Station, Texas, during its 20th anniversary Faces of Philanthropy boasts nearly 200 images across more than 2,100 square celebrations. The exhibit features photographs, text and video highlighting the feet on Floor 2 of MD Anderson’s Main Building, in the Pavilion. Open to the public Bush family’s longstanding relationship with MD Anderson. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the exhibit exemplifies the generosity and After George H.W. and Barbara Bush lost their 3-year-old daughter, Robin, to diversity of donors throughout MD Anderson’s more than 76 years of Making leukemia in 1953, they set out to inspire others to share in their quest for more Cancer History®. effective cancer therapies. Lending their names, influence and philanthropic “I’m hopeful that the exhibit encourages and inspires our patients and their support over the years, the Bushes helped raise nearly $90 million to support families, helping them understand there are many people at MD Anderson cutting-edge research at MD Anderson. Former president Bush served as chair of who share in their journey,” says Fernando Yarrito, former executive director the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors (BOV) from 2001 to 2003. Both of Development, who led efforts for the Faces of Philanthropy exhibit and he and Mrs. Bush are Life Members of the BOV. collaborated with Mary Kathryn Cooper, associate vice president for Special MD Anderson’s Faces of Philanthropy exhibit was the setting for a Nov. 7 Programs, on the MD Anderson installment at the Bush Library. “I’m hopeful that reception preceding the board’s annual business meeting. The exhibit celebrates the displays lay a foundation for understanding that without our donors, we could the countless individuals — employees, volunteers, survivors and community not have accomplished the many milestones already reached in the mission to members — who give of their time, talent and financial resources to support end cancer.” 4 PROMISE WINTER 2018 A PUBLICATION FOR FRIENDS OF MD ANDERSON Harry Longwell ADOLFO CHAVEZ III ADOLFO CHAVEZ BOV LIFE MEMBER At a reception in November, officers of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors Harry Longwell receives present a banner signed by fellow members in advisory board’s recognition of Hicks’ service to the institution. highest honor F. CARTER SMITH F. The MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors (BOV) has extended Shortly after Life Member status, its highest becoming IN GRATITUDE distinction, to Harry Longwell of Dallas. MD Anderson’s president ad MD Anderson salutes Hicks’ Longwell joined the BOV in 1993 interim in March and served as chair from 2014 to 2016. 2017, Hicks speaks service as president ad interim to employees at a His leadership has helped ensure the town hall meeting. MD Anderson is grateful for the leadership institution’s success across critical of Marshall E.