Phoenix doctor gifts $2.1 million to St. Joseph’s for breast cancer care
Apr 2, 2021, 4:15 AM
(Facebook Photo/St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center)
(Facebook Photo/St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center)
PHOENIX — A Phoenix doctor whose wife died from breast cancer has gifted $2.1 million to a local medical center to establish an endowment to enhance its care program.
Dr. Albert Wendt, an oncologist, said he donated to the Dignity Health Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix so that more patients can receive top-level care.
His wife of 47 years, Saundra, died in August 2019 from breast cancer.
The program will be named the “Wendt Family Breast Cancer Program at St. Joseph’s, Honoring Saundra C. Wendt.”
“My mission is to focus on innovative clinical care and the pursuit of excellence through scholarly activities, which allows our healthcare team to continue offering state-of-the-art patient services,” Wendt said in a press release.
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“My family and I are grateful to have the opportunity to enhance patient care at St. Joseph’s while honoring Saundra’s memory.”
The money will be used to grow the program, provide research dollars to fight breast cancer and give educational opportunities for all cancer institute staff.
The Wendt family has also requested some of the funds be used for breast cancer genetic counseling services for uninsured patients.
“Our hospital and the Cancer Institute is blessed to have Dr. Wendt on the team, both as an expert, compassionate oncologist and generous philanthropist,” says St. Joseph’s President and CEO Gabrielle Finley-Hazle. “His dedication is truly elevating the level of care provided here in addition to advancing the field of breast care medicine.”
