Fox Chase Cancer Center recently welcomed Senator Jimmy Dillon to take a tour and learn more about Fox Chase, its mission, and its accomplishments, including two Nobel Prizes. Much of that history is outlined in an exhibit in the Center’s Young Pavilion, which Dillon visited.
“This exhibit alone shows the significance of the work you do and the developments that have taken place here in cancer,” said Dillon. “If a few years down the road we find a cure for cancer, I’ll gladly be back. And if this is the place it happens, you’ll certainly be worthy of a few more Nobel Prizes.”
Dillon was elected in the spring to represent the 5th senatorial district of Pennsylvania. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of Fox Chase, along with Senator Christine Tartaglione. The two were behind a $1.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program that helped fund the modernization of the Center’s research facility.
“We very much appreciate the support Senator Dillon gives us for the mission that we have and the people we serve,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase.
During his visit, Dillon met Jonathan Chernoff, MD, PhD, Cancer Center Director. Chernoff offered a brief Fox Chase history lesson to Dillon, discussing the discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome, which was the first direct link between chromosomal abnormalities and malignancies, and showed him the microscope used in the discovery. Dillon was able to get an up close look at one of the Nobel Prize medals as well.
Chief Operating Officer Joel Helmke, MSHP, FACHE, took Dillon on a tour of the patient infusion areas, where he noted that the Center takes great care to provide comfort for these patients, who may need to come to the infusion room more than once a week for several hours at a time.
“If you come see us and you need complex multidisciplinary cancer care, you may be in this building 40 times with 40 different contact points over the course of your treatment. So comfort is one of our big priorities for this area. Fox Chase really is a jewel and we’ve done some amazing things,” said Helmke.
Following a look at the patient facilities, Dillon was shown newly acquired linear accelerators that are used for radiation therapy on a tour led by Eric Horwitz, MD, FABS, FASTRO, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology.
“This has been a very impressive and overwhelming experience,” said Dillon. “I know how much of a pillar of the community Fox Chase is, and it’s amazing that I am able to be a small part by helping to fund this. I hope to continue to be a part of it as long as I’m able.”