| University of Florida Foundation, Inc. | |
| Christopher Brazda | 352-392-1633 |
| Public Relations | 100 NW 20th St |
| cbrazda@uff.ufl.edu | Gainesville, FL 32603 |
| For immediate release | Thursday, April 05, 2007 |
CRISER GIFT TO CANCER HOSPITAL SHOWS FORMER UF PRESIDENT'S RESOLVE FOR SUCCESS
 |
Marshall and Paula Criser |
GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Shands HealthCare has received a $1-million gift from Marshall and Paula Criser to support the Shands at the University of Florida Cancer Hospital, a new $388-million facility currently under construction and due for completion in 2009.
Former UF president Marshall Criser led the university from 1984 to 1989, during which time he also was president of the board of directors for Shands HealthCare, the not-for-profit health system affiliated with UF. He served as a Shands board member again from 1996 to 2001.
“We’re honored that Marshall and Paula are continuing their legacy of support for our health system,” said Shands HealthCare CEO Tim Goldfarb. “Their generosity demonstrates their commitment to positively impacting quality of life for thousands of people throughout the region. Their gift is a catalyst for other donors to support this project, which will serve generations to come.”
The gift to the cancer hospital will create the Marshall and Paula Criser Cancer Resource Center.
The Crisers, who reside in Gainesville, are the distinguished honorary chairs for the statewide giving campaign for the Shands UF Cancer Hospital. They will travel throughout Florida to link with potential donors.
UF President Bernie Machen said, "Marshall has given so much to the university over the years – his time, his talent, his effort – and this wonderful gift from Marshall and Paula is just another example of their tremendous generosity. They're great Gators.”
Marshall Criser, who earned business and law degrees from UF and has held numerous leadership roles in law and education throughout his career, was named UF president emeritus in 1990. He said that the pledge supports the couple’s long-term commitment to healthcare and especially to making cancer services available to meet the state’s growing demand.
"It is very clear to us that the ever-increasing population of Florida requires an additional National Cancer Institute-designated, level-one comprehensive cancer center," he said. "The completion of the Shands at UF Cancer Hospital is a prerequisite to that achievement becoming a reality."
The U.S. National Institutes of Health NCI Cancer Centers Program supports major academic and research institutions throughout the nation to sustain broad-based, interdisciplinary programs in cancer research.
Shands and UF will co-locate comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic oncology services and clinical experts in the state-of-the-art, 500,000-square-foot academic medical center. The Shands at UF Cancer Hospital will house 192 private inpatient beds for a variety of patients and will also include a Critical Care Center for emergency- and trauma-related services.
“UF and Shands exert a powerful impact on the region with our combined research, educational and clinical efforts,” Goldfarb said. “The cancer hospital will allow us to expand services and make them more accessible to the families in need who come to us from throughout the U.S. and entrust us with their care.”
UF and Shands have a proven track record of bringing scientific discoveries to patients throughout the health system, which includes eight hospitals and more than 80 outpatient clinics. UF faculty physicians and Shands medical teams have a history of pioneering research in cancer treatment, resulting in new technologies, many of which are now industry standard worldwide.
One out of every seven adults hospitalized at Shands at UF each year is treated for cancer or cancer-related ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, Florida had more than 99,000 new cases of cancer in 2006, making California the only state that had a higher occurrence. And, in North Central Florida alone, there are at least 4,500 new cases of cancer each year among residents.
Goldfarb said, “The cancer hospital is a significant step forward to strengthen our already well-respected and successful oncology programs. It will support the health system’s ability to generate funding for research, improve the quality and quantity of available medical services to help more people and, ultimately, work to find a cure for cancer.”
To find out how you can help support the Shands at the University of Florida Cancer Hospital contact the Shands office of development (352) 733-0000
Make a Gift Online