New Endowment Benefits Local Cancer Patients

Grateful Patient Donates $2 Million to Launch $8 Million Endowment to Support Cancer Patients at Valley View and Honor Dr. Stephen Mayer

Valley View Foundation is proud to announce a recent gift of $2 million. With the goal of reaching $8 million, the gift is the start of a permanent endowment that will allow cancer patients at Valley View to benefit from the funds in perpetuity.

The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, honors Stephen Mayer, MD, PhD, FACP, a medical oncologist with the Calaway • Young Cancer Center at Valley View, as a gesture of gratitude. Board-certified in medical oncology and internal medicine, Dr. Mayer became a physician as a second career following 15 years as a molecular biologist. His areas of focus include gastrointestinal, prostate, bladder, kidney, gynecologic, melanoma, neuroendocrine, breast, lung, hematologic malignancies and benign hematology.

Dr. Mayer graduated from Boston University School of Medicine and advanced his training by completing a Clinical Fellowship in Medical Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center through Harvard Medical School.

“This generous gift will allow us to continue to serve patients at Valley View’s Calaway • Young Cancer Center in many ways for years to come,” said Dr. Mayer. “Our patients are more than just patients, they are people. One of the most rewarding parts of being an oncologist is having the honor of caring for members of our tight knit community, form deep bonds with them and educate them so they can make complex decisions about their own healthcare and treatment options. We are humbled by the community’s generosity toward The Cancer Center and its commitment to changing lives.”

The Endowed Chair of Medical Oncology held by Dr. Mayer follows an earlier gift of $1.5 million to fund an endowment for nursing education at Valley View. “Our Foundation is honored to receive and shepherd these tremendous endowment gifts that will help Valley View care for this community for decades to come,” shared Stacey Gavrell, Executive Director of Valley View Foundation.

Current plans for the cancer endowment are to continue to support patients of the Calaway • Young Cancer Center through Valley View’s Integrated Therapies, emergency assistance in the form of gas and grocery gift cards, support and survivorship programs and overnight lodging.

Integrated Therapies offer a variety of complementary, individualized treatments, and are provided at no cost to patients of the Calaway • Young Cancer Center. As a team, Valley View offers a unique array of options to help its patients manage the physical, mental and emotional challenges often associated with a cancer diagnosis. Therapies include therapeutic massages, craniosacral therapy, healing touch, manual lymph drainage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and more. This service is rare to find even at large cancer centers across the nation. The generosity of our supporters brings this very beneficial service to our community.

“We are extremely grateful for this gift that will benefit patients on their cancer journey at Valley View in perpetuity,” said Jo Bershenyi, manager of Integrated Therapies. “Undergoing medical treatment can be a very emotional and stressful time for patients and their families. We aim to help mitigate the stress that patients may feel on their journey towards optimal health. It’s a true honor to work alongside these resilient patients every day.”

Calaway • Young Cancer Center is home to a nationally renowned, highly skilled, innovative and respected team of providers with accreditations for the most advanced technologies and cancer treatment options in the U.S. The Center provides leading medical care to the people of the Roaring Fork Valley, Steamboat Springs, Grand Junction, Meeker, Rifle and beyond.

For more information about the Calaway • Young Cancer Center, visit https://vvcancercenter.org or call (970) 384-3956.

If you are interested in learning how an endowed gift can make a lasting impact, contact John Quinn at 970.384.6627 or John.Quinn@VVH.org.

About Valley View

Valley View is an independent, not-for-profit health system based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Founded in 1955 with funds raised by the community, Valley View Hospital has evolved to serve the healthcare needs of the region. In addition to its 78-bed hospital in Glenwood Springs, Valley View now includes an integrated system of specialty centers and physicians practices providing care in multiple locations across Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle and Mesa counties. Cardiovascular care, including open heart surgery, comprehensive cancer care, neurosurgical and orthopedic care, provide a level of specialty care that enable patients to stay close to home for key healthcare needs. A network of primary care practices support optimal health and the management of patients’ total health. As part of Valley View’s commitment to the community, it hosts health fairs, blood drives, a Kids & Teen Safety Fair and physician-led education series. Valley View has been recognized for performance excellence from Healthgrades, J.D. Power & Associates, Truven Health “Top 100 Hospitals”, Planetree, Survey Vitals and Consumer Reports. PeopleCare. That’s Valley View. www.vvh.org.