The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
scarr@unm.edu

October 1, 2008

Wells Fargo Donates $250,000 to the University of New Mexico Cancer Center’s New Facility

Wells Fargo recently announced a $250,000 gift to the University of New Mexico Cancer Center to fund a reception area, a waiting room, and part of the multifaceted Cancer Patient and Community Education Center at the new UNM Cancer Center building. Wells Fargo’s gift is the first major corporate donation to the new UNM Cancer Center facility.

“This leading gift will support the continued growth of the premier cancer center in the state of New Mexico,” said Dr. Cheryl Willman, director and CEO of the UNM Cancer Center. “It is important for our patients to know that our community supports their care in their time of greatest need. Every partnership brings us one step closer to eradicating cancer in New Mexico.”

“Wells Fargo is pleased to be able to provide this gift to the UNM Cancer Center,” added Greg Winegardner, Regional President for Wells Fargo in New Mexico.  “In addition to providing improved patient care in New Mexico, the UNM Cancer Center continues to attract millions in research funding, spur technology transfer and commercialization activity and bring world-class cancer physicians and researchers to New Mexico - all of which are critical components of our state’s economic growth.” 

For many years, New Mexicans facing cancer had to leave the state to get the latest cancer treatments. With the development of the UNM Cancer Center, the talent, expertise and technical ability are now in place to provide New Mexicans with the finest cancer care available. However, since the construction of the existing facility in 1973, the Center has completely outgrown the space. Last year, the Center treated more than 7,600 cancer patients in more than 84,000 clinic visits, which is three times the current capacity.

The Cancer Patient and Community Education Center at the new facility will offer a variety of programs, including professional education for researchers and physicians, public education through seminars and presentations, and student education for our medical students and researchers. The Wells Fargo donation will fund a large boardroom and separate conference room, which will provide space for community events, meetings, and other types of activities. In addition, the donation will fund the waiting room located on the main floor and the reception area of the multidisciplinary clinics on the third floor.

The Cancer Patient and Community Education Center will also house a variety of patient service programs including the Patient Navigator program, the Arts in Medicine program, outreach to Indian/Native American Communities, and complementary and alternative medicine programs such as yoga and acupuncture. Patient services programs such as financial counseling, social work, spiritual counseling/hospice and nutrition will also be housed in the Center.

The new, $90 million, five-story, 206,000 square foot UNM Cancer Center is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in May 2009. The expanded facility will allow the Center to introduce many new state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis and treatment capabilities not currently available in the state. The UNM Cancer Center is the official cancer center of the state of New Mexico and is one of 63 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers.

The Center’s 73 board-certified oncology physicians, the state’s largest team of cancer experts, provide care to nearly 50 percent of the adults and virtually all of the children affected by cancer in New Mexico. The Center is also home to more than 120 research scientists, who are supported by $51 million annually in federal and private research funding.