2021 Charitable Impact Report • 5
Commemorating 10 years of world-class cancer care Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center recently marked its 10th year of providing exceptional cancer care in Arizona. Opened in 2011 on the campus of Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, Banner MD Anderson is the largest extension of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center outside of Houston, offering patients the same treatment protocols, standards of care, access to clinical trials, and integrative support—all right here in the Valley.
Dr. Rogerio Lilenbaum, Senior Physician Executive for Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, speaks to the crowd gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of Banner MD Anderson.
Since inception, Banner MD Anderson has expanded to nine locations across Arizona and Northern Colorado. It increased the number of practicing physicians from 20 to more than 140, in addition to over 100 Advanced Practice Providers. Banner MD Anderson has cared for more than 220,000 patients, representing over 1.5 million patient visits since inception. Philanthropic support has played a critical role in the launch and ongoing growth of Banner MD Anderson over the past decade. “What made our vision for Banner MD Anderson a reality was a small army of passionate community leaders who recognized the importance of bringing world-class cancer care to Arizona,” said Peter S. Fine, FACHE, Banner Health’s CEO. “This group of individuals helped to ensure we had cancer prevention and integrative oncology, melanoma care, dedicated chaplains, the best of diagnostic imaging, and prostate cancer research—just to name a few of the ways philanthropic investment made an early difference.”
An inspiring gift, an enduring legacy A hard-working man known for his kindness and generosity, John Britz worked as a UPS truck driver for three decades. After fighting cancer as a patient at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, he passed away on June 1, 2021. Before he died, John knew he wanted to leave an extraordinary gift to help others on their journey with cancer and to express his deep gratitude for the physicians who cared for him. He worked with his attorney, his physicians, and the Banner Health Foundation to document his plans to donate his entire estate, worth $1.5 million, to the Cancer Center to benefit genitourinary oncology, integrative oncology, gastrointestinal cancer, and radiation oncology. “John’s foresight and generosity will have an enduring impact
A UPS truck driver for three decades, John Britz’s legacy will endure thanks to his generous estate gift to Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2021.
on cancer care in Arizona and those who are bravely fighting the disease,” says Dr. Rogerio Lilenbaum, Senior Physician Executive for Banner MD Anderson. “We are truly humbled and grateful for this gift.”
Spotlight: Na Tosha Gatson, MD, Ph.D. > Medical Director, Neuro-Oncology, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center; Associate Professor of Medicine & Neurology, UA College of Medicine Phoenix Q. What are some of the ways you focus on quality of life with patients who are facing the biggest battle of their lives? A. We have all been taught to believe the old adage, “life is short.” I remind my patients that life itself is long— but I argue that the actual process of living is what is short. My patients and I develop a mutual understanding around what they consider good living, how they define quality, and who are the people and which roles they value. Q. What might you say to someone newly diagnosed with a brain tumor to encourage them to maintain hope? A. I waste no time reassuring our new patients that our team is fully prepared to offer leading-edge, evidence-based therapies aimed at maximal tumor control and care. Hope also requires communication. Our team places a special emphasis on compassionate patient communication on top of top-class expert clinical care. Q. Ph.D., MD, professor, mother of three. What is a typical week like for you? A. There are no fixed priorities that dictate my daily execution of duties. There are weekends and nights when patient care and grant writing take priority, and there are Monday mornings when I have to manage a fever or coach a child through “Handling a Class Bully 101.” With flexible principles for prioritization, I am able to thrive as a woman, a physician, and a scientist.
