The Florence Rotary club recently hosted Becky Sittason, Director of Development at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. After providing a brief overview of their work at UC Health to diagnose, treat and prevent cancer, she introduced an exciting new building renovation project called Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo.
Sittason provided insightful statistics from the American Cancer Society. She said, “The lifetime probabilities for cancer are overwhelming: one out of three females and one in two males will have cancer at some point in their lives.”
Sittason also pointed out that UC Health is unique — they are the only academic Health Center in this area. This means that they have the full force of research and education at the core of everything they do. Their desire to develop a world-class cancer center is not just about being the best. They believe that no one should ever leave the Greater Cincinnati area for cancer care.
Currently, as an academic health center, they have the ability to seek the coveted National Cancer Institute Designation (NCI). This is a partnership between UC Health, UC University, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to become a NCI designated Cincinnati Cancer Center. Sittason explained why this is important. She said, “We want to be the best of the best. You know everyone says they are the best, but being NCI certified is more than saying we are the best. It is a multi year process that will include a national advisory board. Currently, the closest NCI facility is in Lexington. There are more than 1,500 cancer centers in the US, but only 68 have NCI designation. We want to be in that top 4%.”
Located on the UC Medical Center campus in Clifton is the Barrett Center for outpatient care. This high impact center treats 10,000 chemotherapy and radiation patients per year. Many cancer patients spend hours in these cold and impersonal outpatient chemo facilities. Sittason seeks to change this with a program called Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo. Said Sittason, “Research shows the physical environment impacts ability to heal and have a positive attitude.”
Sittason is rallying local resources to create positive, healing, uplifting spaces that spiritually, emotionally, and physically support patients dealing with chemotherapy. She will do this via a volunteer driven, HGTV style transformation over two weekends in April 2014 that will be led by Cora Sue Anthony of “Real Estate Intervention” Fame.
Transforming these facilities, and thereby the lives and the well-being of cancer patients and their families, is not free. Providing the creativity and interior design that will be needed requires goodhearted people to step forward. Sittason needs to raise $90,000 in the next few months. If you are willing and able to make a gift, you can contact Becky Sittason at becky.sittason@uchealth.com or the UC Medical Office at 513-584-8540.
