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Atrium foundation’s cancer care campaign raises nearly $1 million

Patrick Piccioni (left) tries out the da Vinci Surgical System as his sister, Kara, watches a display screen on Monday at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown. Atrium Medical Center Foundation raised $899,455 to fund the final $500,000 installment of the robots nearly $2 million purchase price. The remainder goes toward expanding and enhancing cancer care at the hospital. Staff photo by Eric Schwartzberg

Staff photo by Eric Schwartzberg Patrick Piccioni (left) tries out the da Vinci Surgical System as his sister, Kara, watches a display screen on Monday at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown. Atrium Medical Center Foundation raised $899,455 to fund the final $500,000 installment of the robots nearly $2 million purchase price. The remainder goes toward expanding and enhancing cancer care at the hospital. Staff photo by Eric Schwartzberg

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By Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Writer 9:39 PM Saturday, October 29, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — The final payment for a surgical robot at Atrium Medical Center is in hand thanks to nearly 800 donors throughout southwest Ohio.

Atrium Medical Center Foundation set out to raise $500,000 to fund the final installment of the robot’s nearly $2 million purchase price through its “Imagine a Cure” campaign, aimed at expanding and enhancing cancer care at the medical center.

It raised $899,455 instead.

The smaller incisions that occur as a result of the new  da Vinci Surgical System minimize pain and improve recovery, said Dr. Albert Malcolm, Atrium’s medical director of infusion therapy.

“When you see tiny cuts instead of the bigger cuts they used to do, people go home the next day with so much less discomfort,” Malcolm said.

During a reception at Atrium Medical Center on Monday, Carol Turner, the hospital’s president and chief executive, thanked donors for sharing the hospital’s vision.

“Because of you, every patient is going to have the tools they need to fight their disease,” she said. “You understand how much we can achieve when we stand together against a disease like cancer and you’ve given your time and personal resources to make a difference.”

Pat Piccioni of Middletown, who co-chaired the campaign with his wife, Karen, praised donors and the more than 75 volunteers who gave their time and expertise over the past two years.

“Asking people for donations today is not easy, but the whole campaign committee did a great job,” Piccioni said.

In addition to helping Atrium purchase advanced technology like the surgical robot, “Imagine A Cure” funds are increasing the number of chemotherapy infusion rooms, expanding clinical trials and research and boosting comfort care for cancer patients and their loved ones.

Funds also are used to coordinate care from a patient’s specialist, provide for the needs of indigent patients who have cancer and establish endowments to ensure advance cancer care for the future.

Atrium Auxiliary Middletown contributed $143,000 and Atrium employees raised $25,000. Other major donations came from Cohen Brothers Inc. and the Cohen family, Sarah and Gary Kaup, Akers Packaging Service, Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust, Piccioni Family Foundation and Wausau Paper.

In addition, the May 2010 “When You Wish Upon A Star” celebration raised more than $120,000 to help fund the robot.

The foundation continues to seek about $100,000 in donations, according to officials.

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