Chuck Mattes, St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation board member and capital campaign co-chair, and Bob Mazzone, executive director of the CT Connecticut Challenge discuss plans for the future cancer survivor clinic at St. Vincent’s Medical Center
St. Vincent’s Medical Center of Bridgeport, Connecticut has formed a new partnership with the Connecticut Challenge of Fairfield. The partnership will result in the formation of a survivor clinic at the new Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care due to open January 2010. The new survivor clinic will include wellness and fitness education, free lectures, nutritional counseling, psychosocial support, and complimentary spa therapies such as massage, yoga and reiki. St. Vincent’s has begun recruiting physicians who are interested in the needs of survivors.
St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation Board Member and Co-chair of St. Vincent’s Capital Campaign, Chuck Mattes of Redding helped create the partnership. “It seemed only natural for these two organizations to partner together. In addition to providing cancer screening and education programs, St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound’s mission is also to help cancer patients and their families both in the form of financial assistance while they are in treatment, and also in the form of support programs throughout both treatment and recovery. With the help of the Connecticut Challenge that commitment will continue long after they’ve completed treatment. Many survivors experience recurrences of cancer and this clinic will direct them to change behaviors and reduce their risks,” said Mattes.
Founded by Jeffrey Keith, a cancer survivor of Fairfield, John Ragland of Westport and Matthew Vossler of Darien, the Connecticut Challenge is a non-competitive bike ride that raises money for cancer survivors. The relationship between Keith, Vossler and St. Vincent’s dates back to 1987 with St. Vincent’s first SWIM Across the Sound.
Corporate Senior Vice President of St. Vincent’s Medical Center and President of the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation Ronald J. Bianchi had worked closely with Jeff Keith in the early days of the SWIM Across the Sound. “It is very rewarding to be working with Jeff again and sharing a commitment to help cancer survivors in Connecticut. Both the SWIM and the Connecticut Challenge share a vision of helping those at risk and making a difference in their lives,” he said.
“The Connecticut Challenge is honored to support St. Vincent’s. They have a vision for caring for cancer survivors that is unique and far-reaching,” said Keith. “Their exceptional work will improve the lives of cancer survivors and that is the mission of our organization. This will also mean a lot to our thousands of cyclists, volunteers and donors from the greater Bridgeport community. We are excited to move forward,” he added.
There are an estimated 120,000 cancer survivors living in Connecticut today. Many of them will battle long-term medical problems as a result of their chemotherapy and radiation treatments, including lymphedema, heart disease, nerve damage, sexual dysfunction and early menopause in women.
By screening for long-term health and psychosocial effects from the disease and treatments, the goal of the CT Challenge survivor clinic at St. Vincent’s will be to educate and empower survivors to optimize their health, quality of life and longevity. Connecticut is among the very few states with a comprehensive program dedicated to meeting the needs of cancer survivors.
About St. Vincent’s Medical Center
St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT is a 473-bed community teaching and referral hospital with a Level II trauma center and a 76-bed inpatient psychiatric facility in Westport. St. Vincent’s provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services with regional centers of excellence in cardiology, surgery, cancer care, orthopedics, diagnostics, women’s and family services, behavioral health, senior health and an array of specialized services.
St. Vincent’s Medical Center is a subsidiary of St. Vincent’s Health Services, which include St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Services, Westport Campus, St. Vincent’s College, St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services, St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation and St. Vincent’s Immediate Health Care Centers. It is a member of Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic healthcare system. St. Vincent's is a teaching affiliate of the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine and of New York Medical College. The Medical Center is also sponsor of SWIM Across the Sound, one of the nation’s largest hospital-based cancer prevention and patient support programs. For referral to a St. Vincent’s physician or about programs and services, call the toll-free Care Line at 1-877-255-SVHS (7847) or visit www.stvincents.org.
About the Connecticut Challenge
The Connecticut Challenge is a non-competitive bike ride based in Fairfield, CT that raises money for the cancer survivorship programs of the Connecticut Challenge, including survivorship clinics, research grants, symposiums and survivor education and awareness events. Riders of all ages and skill levels can register for a 12, 25, 50, 75 or 100-mile ride and raise funds from personal sponsors to support their efforts. The 2009 Connecticut Challenge will take place on Saturday, July 25th, starting and finishing in Fairfield, CT. To register to ride, volunteer or make a contribution to the 2009 event, please visit www.ctchallenge.org.
