IN OUR REPORT Messages 2 Research 8 Care 22 Education & Outreach 38 Donors & Fundraisers 48 Rev. Gerson Annunciacao Chaplain, Huntsman Cancer Institute Our Human Touch At Huntsman Cancer Institute, we put our patients and community first. Everything we do is driven by our compassion for people affected by cancer, and no detail is too small. Whether we’re heating blankets to warm someone chilled by chemo, running lab experiments late into the night searching for better treatments, walking someone VISION PRINCIPLES to the right clinic, or welcoming a woman from a small town onto our screening bus Passionate individuals and teams Patient and community first for her first-ever mammogram, each of us has the same goal: to bring the Huntsman delivering a cancer-free frontier United effort touch—the human touch—to our patients, their loved ones, and our communities. through scientific discovery and human touch Excellence in all we do MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO The Patient and Community First HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE (HCI) WAS This year we outlined a new vision for HCI’s future: FOUNDED by a man whose visionary drive and Passionate individuals and teams delivering a cancer- passion to make a difference enabled him to realize free frontier through scientific discovery and human something extraordinary. Jon M. Huntsman saw an touch. This vision reflects our individual accountability empty hillside and, through generosity, connections, for our contributions as well as our commitments to commitment, and determination, brought together a collaboration and partnership. It aims us toward major worldwide network. Today, that hillside is home to HCI. impact in both cancer prevention and treatment. It reinforces our commitment to bringing HCI to those in More than just a beautiful collection of buildings, need, serving patients and communities well beyond HCI builds upon the desire of our founder to bring our initial location in Salt Lake City. something special—the human touch—to everything we do. Whether it’s a researcher who spends her weekend In the following pages, you will find stories of scientific hours in the lab, a nurse who uses his time off to visit discovery, community partnerships, innovative a lonely patient, a student helping a patient find their cancer care models, and special services from fertility way to a clinic appointment, or the environmental preservation for young cancer patients to mobile services worker who keeps our facilities sparkling and cancer screening. You will read about the dedicated safe, we all have the same goal: to bring healing, health, talent that we have recruited to join our cause: and hope to our patients and communities, with core clinicians, scientists, trainees, educators, and donors, values and a fervor that show how deeply we care. all rowing together to deliver a cancer-free frontier. I invite you to join us in our life-saving and soul- The transformation of an empty hillside into a nourishing work. world-class engine for cancer research and care is an extraordinary accomplishment that has literally Mary Beckerle, PhD changed the landscape for cancer care in Utah and CEO beyond. At HCI, we are proud but far from satisfied. Huntsman Cancer Institute Left: Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah leadership and staff gather to celebrate Dr. Beckerle as she is named among Dr. Beckerle speaks with Don Milligan, MBA, cancer hospital Executive Director, and the American Cancer Society’s the 2019 Utah Business Magazine Women of the Year. Morgan Marietti, MS, a Huntsman Cancer Institute Community Advisory Board member, at the debut of Huntsman Right: Dr. Beckerle addresses an audience of honored guests, including faculty, staff, patients, caregivers, and donors at the Kathryn F. Cancer Institute’s Cancer Screening and Education Bus at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. Kirk Center groundbreaking event September 5, 2019. 3 MESSAGE FROM PETER HUNTSMAN Making a Difference DURING A RECENT TRIP to Salt Lake City, I I could almost see my father, a smile across his face as visited one of my favorite places: The Coffee Shop at he used to talk about the strength and encouragement Little America Hotel. An older gentleman took the stool he received by visiting patients at HCI, as it “helped next to mine and asked where I was from. I told him reset his bearings and priorities.” I was from Texas and then asked about his home. He responded that he was from Elko, Nevada, an area I This past year, HCI has experienced phenomenal knew quite well from my early years as a truck driver. growth, worldwide support, new groundbreakings, and additions such as the Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Soon we were talking about work, families, even Comprehensive Cancer Care and Women’s Cancers. But politics—and I found I’d made a new friend. I then bricks and mortar can be duplicated and rebuilt. What inquired as to why he was in Salt Lake. can’t be purchased is the creativity and intellect of our researchers, the cutting-edge skills and collaboration of “I am here to be treated for my cancer.” our doctors and surgeons, the compassion and care of our nurses and medical personnel, and the leadership That moment, my heart sank. My thoughts about the and devotion of our administrators. lines on his face told me they had more to do with sleepless nights and worry than his line of work. He At the end of the day, it’s about people caring for seemed to sense my concern and told me, “It’s quite people to make society a little better than what it advanced, but I have the best care in the world. I am otherwise would be—to focus and make well that being treated at Huntsman Cancer Institute.” He shared greatest of gifts, life itself. Thank you. his confidence in the care team at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and how their efforts give him hope. Peter R. Huntsman Chairman and CEO Huntsman Cancer Foundation HUNTSMAN CANCER FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Peter R. Huntsman Susan Sheehan Chairman and CEO President and Chief Operating Officer Ruth V. Watkins, PhD Thomas E. Muir President, University of Utah Chief Financial Officer A. Scott Anderson Ronald G. Moffitt Peter Huntsman greets John Weis, MD, during the groundbreaking for President and Chief Executive Officer, Zions Bank Secretary the Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care and Women’s Cancers. Dr. Weis cared for the man Mr. Huntsman references in this story. 4 SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL AWARDS AND HONORS, SELECTED IN MY ROLE OVERSEEING INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME Jared Rutter, PhD Martin McMahon, PhD ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION Professor, Biochemistry Professor, Dermatology SOCIAL MEDIA, I get to help tell INSPIRING HOPE National Institute of General Medical National Cancer Institute Board of about the miracles that happen here A message appeared anonymously in our Michael Deininger, MD, PhD Professor, Internal Medicine Sciences R35 Award Scientific Counselors for every day. It is an honor to be trusted research courtyard after a snowstorm, Basic Sciences Rowley Prize with these patient and staff stories. I reminding us all to hold on to hope. Katharine Varley, PhD truly have the best job in the world. International Chronic Myeloid Assistant Professor Trudy Oliver, PhD Leukemia Foundation Oncological Sciences Associate Professor Oncological Sciences Amy Olsen American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant William C. Rippe Award for Digital Communications Specialist PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP Distinguished Research in Office of Communications EXPECTING A BABY, NOT A RECOGNITION Lung Cancer Huntsman Cancer Institute CANCER DIAGNOSIS Timothy Yeatman, MD The Jon M. and Karen Adjunct Professor, Surgery Lung Cancer Research Foundation Sarah Suing was diagnosed with breast cancer Huntsman Family National Cancer Institute UH2 when 14 weeks pregnant. She and her unborn Champions for Cures Award Clinical Trial Award Matthew Poppe, MD baby went through 14 rounds of chemotherapy Association of American Associate Professor Radiation Oncology together. She delivered a healthy baby boy, Cancer Institutes OTHER NOTABLE HONORS then went on to finish treatment. Alliance Cooperative Group Djordje Atanackovic, MD Breast Committee Co-Chair NEW NATIONAL GRANTS Associate Professor, Internal Medicine AND CONTRACTS Steering Committee of the Cancer Bryan Welm, PhD SHOWING OUR PRIDE Philip Bernard, MD Immunology Working Group Associate Professor, Surgery Professor, Pathology In June, the Beacon of Hope was illuminated American Association for New England Biolabs Passion in in rainbow colors as a symbol of Huntsman Department of Defense Breast Cancer Cancer Research Science Award Research Breakthrough Award Cancer Institute’s commitment to provide Huntsman Cancer Institute hope and healing to all affected by cancer, Mary Beckerle, PhD Communications and Public Thomas Zangle, PhD Distinguished Professor Affairs Team including our LGBTQ+ patients, friends, Assistant Professor Biology and Oncological Sciences Graphic Design USA Inhouse families, and community. Chemical Engineering National Cancer Institute Board of Design Award for 2019 Report Department of Defense Breast Cancer Scientific Advisors to Our Community Research Breakthrough Award Woman of the Year OUR NEXT MAJOR EXPANSION Utah Business Magazine Tara Deans, PhD INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION On September 5, 2019, we broke Assistant Professor U.S. News and World Report ground on the Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Biomedical Engineering Donna Branson Director, Patient and Public Education High Performing Hospitals in Cancer Comprehensive Cancer