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UPMC Pinnacle Foundation Raises $88,000 for UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s Rocco & Nancy Ortenzio Fund for Clinical Excellence 

HARRISBURG, PA., SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 — UPMC Pinnacle Foundation with the support of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central Pa., raised more than $88,000 at the Women’s Cancer Symposium on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Harrisburg. The funds will be added to the Rocco & Nancy Ortenzio Fund for Clinical Excellence that provides funding for advanced cancer research and for patients in need at UPMC Central PA Hillman Cancer Centers.

“The Fund for Clinical Excellence is crucial as it enables us to deliver the highest-quality, cutting-edge care and increase access to cutting edge research for our patients in central Pennsylvania,” said Kit Lu, M.D., director of the clinical trials program and associate director oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. “With oncology care continuously advancing, this fund ensures we remain at the forefront of cancer treatment.”

The comprehensive one-day event discussing how to advance knowledge in women's oncology was attended by over 100 physicians, nurses, social workers, exhibitors and other health care professionals.

The speakers addressed the latest developments in breast and gynecological cancer care, including axillary management, metastatic disease, new technologies, genomic testing, and reconstructive techniques. Supportive care, featuring discussions on sexual health after cancer, patient support, and nurse navigation was also addressed.

The Cancer Statistics, 2024 report from the American Cancer Society shows while cancer deaths are declining overall, there are some alarming trends, including an increase in cancer rates among younger people.

The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central Pa. had approximately 40,000 patient visits for medical oncology and infusion in 2023, averaging close to 100 appointments per day. It is one of just 56 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country, which provides cutting-edge treatment and access to hundreds of clinical trials. For more information or to schedule an appointment at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central Pa., visit UPMCHillman.com/CentralPA

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Dr. Kit Lu - Kit Lu, M.D., director of the clinical trials program and associate director oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center speaking at the Women’s Cancer Symposium on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Harrisburg.

About UPMC  
UPMC is a world-renowned, nonprofit health care provider and insurer committed to delivering exceptional, people-centered care and community services. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC is shaping the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education. Dedicated to advancing the well-being of our diverse communities, we provide nearly $2 billion annually in community benefits, more than any other health system in Pennsylvania. Our 100,000 employees — including more than 5,000 physicians — care for patients across more than 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient sites in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, as well as overseas. UPMC Insurance Services covers more than 4 million members, providing the highest-quality care at the most affordable price. To learn more, visit UPMC.com

About UPMC Pinnacle Foundation
The UPMC Pinnacle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable giving to support community benefit and education programs, the needs of seven hospitals, and resources that improve access to, and quality of, care throughout UPMC in Central Pa. With nearly 100 different funds that benefit the hospitals as well as the community, UPMC Pinnacle Foundation invests locally in the resources and people that continually make the life-changing medicine of UPMC in Central Pa a reality. All money raised by the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation remains in central Pennsylvania to support programs and services at UPMC in Central Pa. For more information, visit upmcpinnaclefoundation.org.