ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan medicine will get a new breast cancer care center, thanks to a generous donation from the Weiser Charitable Foundation.
The foundation’s $25 million gift will support establishing the Weiser Family Center for Breast Cancer at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center.
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The gift comes from the member of the university’s Board of Regent and has donated more than $200 million to the university to date.
“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,” said University of Michigan Regent Ron Weiser, president of the foundation.
The gift includes $5 million in matching funds to encourage additional gifts to the center.
The university says the gift will support various elements which include:
- 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
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. More than 310,000 Americans are diagnosed with breast cancer each year – almost 9,000 of them in Michigan. The director of the Rogel Cancer Center says University of Michigan Health cares for about 4.5% of breast cancer patients in the state.