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Danbury's Western CT Health Network Gets $1M Ovarian Cancer Research Gift

DANBURY, Conn. – The Western Connecticut Health Network in Danbury has received a $1 million gift from the Abraham and Mildred Goldstein Charitable Trust to establish the Abraham and Mildred Goldstein Endowment Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research. 

Nationally known gynecologic oncologist Thomas Rutherford is the network physician director of cancer services at Western Connecticut Health Network.

Nationally known gynecologic oncologist Thomas Rutherford is the network physician director of cancer services at Western Connecticut Health Network.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Norwalk Hospital, left, and with Danbury Hospital are part of the Western Connecticut Health Network.

Norwalk Hospital, left, and with Danbury Hospital are part of the Western Connecticut Health Network.

Photo Credit: File

The timing of the gift comes six months after WCHN recruited nationally known gynecologic oncologist Thomas Rutherford as its network physician director of cancer services. Rutherford is one of the nation's leading authorities on ovarian cancer and other gynecologic cancers. 

“As we transform cancer care for our communities and look to eradicate this silent killer, the Goldstein Fund supports educational and research initiatives that will bring new insights and create new care pathways for women,” Rutherford said in a press release. “This new endowment helps ensure our focus on ovarian cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. I can’t underscore its importance to the future of women’s health.” 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, with about 20,000 new cases each year diagnosed in women and about 75 percent of those diagnosed succumbing to the disease.

“We are very grateful to the Abraham and Mildred Goldstein Charitable Trust for its remarkable gift to establish the Goldstein Fund,” said John Murphy, president and CEO of WCHN, in a press release. “The value of philanthropy in establishing endowments cannot be overstated. Endowments not only support cutting-edge medical and scientific advancements but also serve to recruit and retain the brightest minds in medicine.” 

Danbury Hospital’s Praxair Cancer Center, New Milford Hospital’s Diebold Family Cancer Center, and Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center are nationally accredited as Academic Comprehensive Care Programs by the American College of Surgeons. All three have received accreditation with commendation from the Commission on Cancer, which recognizes cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary quality care to cancer patients.

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