Landmark gift for cancer center

Dr. Anand Karnad, chief of hematology and medical oncology at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center, believes taking time to talk with a patient is one of the best therapies.

The San Antonio Cancer Foundation, formerly the CTRC Foundation, has pledged $17 million to support the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, a new affiliation between UT Health San Antonio and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from Houston.

The $17 million gift will be used for physician and faculty recruitment.

“With this gift, the San Antonio Cancer Foundation wants to provide some of the resources needed to help support this affiliation,” said Gary V. Woods, chairman of the board of the San Antonio Cancer Foundation. “We are proud to be a part of the new UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center.”

UT Health San Antonio President William L. Henrich, M.D., FACP, said the foundation has been an important partner throughout the history of the university’s cancer center.

“The foundation’s commitment to our success in this new affiliation as the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center will continue the tradition of leadership support for our lifesaving mission for cancer patients,” he said. “We are indebted to Gary Woods and to the entire board of the San Antonio Cancer Foundation for once again stepping forward to lead the way with this remarkable gift. Every patient will benefit because of their generosity.”

Beginning later this year, the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center will provide adult cancer patients in South Texas greater access to the most advanced oncology care available.

Over the past nine years, the San Antonio Cancer Foundation has contributed approximately $48 million to support the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC), with grants made for faculty recruitment, research programs, equipment purchases, patient support, National Cancer Institute support and general CTRC operations.