CIBC’s generosity grows another $350,000!

Recently, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation recognized CIBC’s generous donation of $350,000 to fund the Dr. Patty Clugston Chair in Breast Reconstruction Surgery. This donation demonstrates CIBC’s longstanding commitment to women’s health, bringing their cumulative giving to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to over $1 million.

The Dr. Patty Clugston Chair in Breast Reconstruction Surgery is named in honour of Vancouver’s own Dr. Clugston, a world-renowned plastic surgeon who died at the height of her career. The Chair will focus on providing leadership in breast cancer care and reconstruction, with goals of increasing awareness and access to breast reconstruction surgery, improving the clinical experience for patients, addressing health care navigation issues and ensuring consistency of care across the province.

“Cancer – and breast cancer in particular – is a cause that is very important to us at CIBC, as it affects so many of our clients, colleagues and loved ones,” says Mike Stevenson, Region Head, BC & the Northern Territories, CIBC. “We are proud to support VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in providing leading breast cancer care and reconstruction for those who have been affected by cancer right across the province.”

Today the Breast Reconstruction Program, now led by Dr. Clugston’s close friend and office partner, Dr. Peter Lennox, manages one of the highest immediate clinical volumes of reconstructive breast surgery in Canada. “In Vancouver, we have nearly all the pieces to provide excellence in research and specialized care for patients. The establishment of the Chair will be an important step to closing existing gaps,” says Dr. Lennox. Recruitment for the Chair has begun, with a goal of completing the search before the end of the year.