From left: Anita and Dr. Antonio Gotto; Katie Couric; and Drs. Shari Midoneck, associate professor of clinical medicine, and Mark Pochapin.
The doors to the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center were officially opened during a spectacular dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting held on March 30.
Hundreds of faculty, staff, patients and supporters attended the highly anticipated event, which featured talks from Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of the Medical College; Dr. Mark Pochapin, director of the Jay Monahan Center and associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell; Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital; "TODAY" show co-anchor Katie Couric; and Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
From left: Dr. Mark Pochapin, Katie Couric, and Dr. Herbert Pardes cut the ribbon to the doors of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health.
Prior to the official opening, press attended a special briefing with Ms. Couric and Medical Center staff to hear about and see first-hand the unique features of the state-of-the-art patient- and family-centered facility. In addition, Dr. Pochapin guided attendees on tours of the spacious, innovative facility.
The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health was named in honor of Jay Monahan—the late husband of Ms. Couric—who died at age 42 of colon cancer. Mr. Monahan was a defense attorney and television legal commentator who died nine months after he was diagnosed unexpectedly with advanced colon cancer. After his death, Ms. Couric and Dr. Pochapin were determined to find a "better way" for other patients.
From left: Dr. Mark Pochapin, Katie Couric, Dr. Herbert Pardes and Lisa Paulsen.
"Studies show that more than 90 percent of lives could be saved through the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer," noted Dr. Pochapin. "It is our goal at the Monahan Center to encourage patients and families to go to your doctor when you are well and to offer them the best in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all gastrointestinal cancers in a caring, compassionate environment."
Located on York Avenue and 70th Street in the Medical Center's Stich Building, the Monahan Center is one of only a few comprehensive cancer and wellness centers in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to gastrointestinal health, providing multidisciplinary care for all gastrointestinal cancers, including cancers of the colon, rectum, pancreas, esophagus, liver, stomach and small intestine.
Katie Couric and Dr. Mark Pochapin in front of the "Jay Monahan Tribute Wall."
Designed to facilitate education and generate public awareness about gastrointestinal cancers, the Center includes two plasma screen video walls that display the latest information on gastrointestinal health to both visitors and passers-by.
"The multidisciplinary approach of the Center makes it an ideal venue for treating patients," Dr. Gotto said. "It will provide hands-on experience for our students, many of whom will elect to pursue this area as a specialty and go on to become the next generation of experts."
The Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF's NCCRA), which Ms. Couric founded in March 2000 to raise awareness and research dollars in the fight against colon cancer, provided funding for the Center.
"Our vision for the Monahan Center was born out of my discussions with Dr. Mark Pochapin, Jay's gastroenterologist," Ms. Couric said. "I discovered during Jay's illness that the journey following a cancer diagnosis is often a traumatic and harrowing one. It is my profound hope that the Monahan Center will make it easier for families to contend with perhaps the worst experience they will ever face by providing all necessary resources under one roof."
A widely known leader in the field of gastroenterology, Dr. Pochapin is highly respected for his dedication to the advancement of medical research and the provision of excellence and compassion in patient care.
Photos by Charles E. Manley.