Last night, we had the joy of hosting an extraordinary celebration in honor of the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion. This new facility is an accomplishment that could not have been realized without the profound generosity of our donors. During the evening, we conducted tours and shared gratitude for the hundreds of donors who helped bring the concept to life, with special recognition given to Sandra and Malcolm Berman for their transformational vision and gift that made it all possible.
Maryland’s aging population means that our need for comprehensive cancer care is growing—and GBMC HealthCare has taken a decisive stance to meet this demand. While many institutions are making the choice to reduce cancer services due to financial constraints, we are doing the opposite. Thanks to our donors we are expanding our cancer programs and making care even more accessible to those who need it most. The Sandra R. Berman Pavilion not only consolidates cancer services under one roof, but it also enables new efficiencies and supports a collaborative approach that directly benefits our patients and their families.
In previous posts, I’ve shared information about many of the space’s features we are excited about. One additional area I’d like to mention is that the Sheila K. Riggs Radiation Oncology Center now integrates fully with the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, which minimizes the need for multiple trips across campus and easing a challenging journey for patients. And, the Berman Garage connects to the new pavilion, so patients have improved access to parking, making it much easier to get to and from their appointments.
Together, we have raised over $20 million to make this vision a reality, with special thanks to our capital campaign co-chairs, Dr. Geoffrey Neuner and Jason Berman, who brought their leadership to the campaign and inspired support from our community. As we celebrated this milestone, we looked forward to continuing the important work of completing renovations to Radiation Oncology and enhancing the facility’s capabilities even further.
Thanks also go to Heidi Kenny-Berman, chair of our Philanthropy Committee, and to the Philanthropy and Marketing departments, whose efforts helped bring this project to life and make last night’s event a success.
This week, we also honored our veterans and active-duty service members at our annual Veterans Day ceremony. Keynote speaker Col. (Dr.) Jeffrey Scott Woolford spoke on the strength and resilience of our veterans, inspiring all who attended. Thank you to all who contributed to this event and to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Planning Committee for organizing this moving celebration.
Recognizing Genetic Counselor Awareness Day and Nurse Practitioner Week
A couple of healthcare recognitions are being observed this week. November 14 was Genetic Counselor Awareness Day, and I'd like to thank our genetic counselors, who help guide patients through complex medical decisions with care and expertise. We also recognize our nurse practitioners during National Nurse Practitioner Week from November 10-16. Please take a moment to thank our NPs for their compassionate service and the expert care they provide to our patients every day.
We’re celebrating a recent “Great Save” at our Gilchrist Center Baltimore, where Security Officer
Kesha Rogers’ quick thinking ensured a patient’s safety during an alarm malfunction. Officer Rogers’ attention to detail and teamwork highlight our culture of reliability and safety at GBMC. Thank you, Officer Rogers, for your vigilance and dedication to our patients.