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News Release

March 31, 2009

Contact: Maureen McGuire, 860-679-4523
e-mail: mmcguire@nso.uchc.edu

William Raveis-American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program Dedicated at UConn Health Center

FARMINGTON, CONN. – The University of Connecticut Health Center has opened an American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, thanks to a landmark $750,000 pledge from the William Raveis Charitable Fund, Inc., and a $150,000 gift from the American Cancer Society.

The William Raveis-American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program provides free guidance and support for cancer patients, their families and caregivers as they face the logistical, financial and emotional challenges of their unique cancer experience.

“Receiving care for cancer can be a lengthy process spanning many months of treatment. Thanks to William Raveis, we will have a patient navigator right here, every day, in our cancer center. The navigator is available to all patients to make sure they receive the education, support and assistance they need during every phase of their care right though survivorship,” explained Carolyn D. Runowicz, M.D., director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center and a past president of the American Cancer Society.

“The patient navigator serves as a personal guide to patients with cancer and caregivers, offering additional resources to individuals who face financial, language, or cultural barriers. The program places an emphasis on assisting the medically underserved,” noted Sarah Shafir, state vice president of health initiatives for the American Cancer Society.

“A cancer diagnosis can be a life-changing experience for patients, their families and their caregivers,” Shafir said. “The patient navigator is able to provide support every step of the way, from explaining what to expect with therapy, to making sure patients have transportation to and from appointments. Fighting cancer is a difficult, challenging journey; with the help of trained navigators, patients don’t have to go through it alone.”

The UConn program is the second American Cancer Society patient navigator program in Connecticut and one of 129 nationwide. Formally launched at the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2006 with community “navigators,” the program will now be expanded with the collaboration and support of the Raveis Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

About the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program
All patient navigators receive national-level training through the American Cancer Society in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute Patient Navigation Research Programs, as well as localized training and opportunities for ongoing education, Shafir explained.

The American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program is a component of the American Cancer Society Cancer Resource Network, a free, comprehensive resource to help patients and their caregivers manage the impact of cancer on their lives through up-to-date cancer information and referrals to Society programs and other community resources.

An Appealing Concept for Raveis
Supporting the patient navigator program was intriguing to many of the top leaders at William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance, including President/COO Carolyn Deal, a 10-year cancer survivor. The company, through the William Raveis Charitable Fund, Inc., has been raising funds for cancer research and patient support since 2004.

In 2007, Raveis turned its attention to funding the patient navigator program at UConn.

“When you’re first diagnosed, you only halfway hear the things people are telling you. You don’t even know what questions to ask,” Deal said. “And you quickly find that the more you ask other people, or the more you look online, the more overwhelmed you get, because everyone’s cancer is different,” she added, noting that she would have appreciated a Navigator program when she was first diagnosed.

“We’ve always supported research and education, but this is something that is helping people right here and now,” added William Raveis, chairman and CEO. “It is a practical, high-touch program that will directly help patients and families.”

“Through the generosity and vision of the Raveis Foundation, our patients will benefit from the American Cancer Society patient navigator program every day,” Dr. Runowicz added. “We are enormously grateful to the Raveis Foundation for their support.”

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/raveis1.jpg
Caption: Photo from the ribbon cutting ceremony for the William Raveis-American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program at the UConn Health Center. Back row, from left to right: James Thibeault of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., vice president for health affairs at the UConn Health Center and dean of the UConn School of Medicine. Front row, from left to right: Sarah Shafir, state vice president of the American Cancer Society, Carolyn Deal, President and COO of Raveis Real Estate, and William Raveis, chairman and CEO.

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/raveis2.jpg
Caption: Photo from the ribbon cutting ceremony for the William Raveis-American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program at the UConn Health Center. Back row, from left to right: James Thibeault of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., vice president for health affairs at the UConn Health Center and dean of the UConn School of Medicine. Front row, from left to right: Connie Malave and Sarah Shafir of the American Cancer Society and Carolyn Deal, President and COO of Raveis Real Estate.

The American Cancer Society helps patients and their families with free information, support, and local resources. Cancer information specialists are available by phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help with diagnosis and treatment options, find rides to treatment, or answer insurance questions. If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

UConn Health includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Home to Bioscience Connecticut, UConn Health pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about UConn Health is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the UConn Health Today news page (http://today.uchc.edu) for regularly updated news and feature stories, photos and media stories. News releases are archived at http://today.uchc.edu/newsreleases/2014. UConn Health news and information is also available on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.