ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – After losing his wife of 65 years to cancer in 2016, Maury Strauss — a Roanoke businessman and longtime community benefactor — decided to donate $1 million to help expand Carilion Clinic’s cancer program.
“We are so grateful to Maury for the opportunity to honor Sheila’s memory as we continue to advance cancer care for our region,” said Nancy Howell Agee, Carilion’s president and chief executive officer. “The thousands of patients in our region diagnosed each year with cancer deserve access to the latest, most advanced care right here.”
Carilion, which has more than five decades of experience treating cancer, uses its partnership with Blue Ridge Cancer Care to provide comprehensive cancer care for adult and pediatric patients — ranging from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and survivorship — while also aiming to advance care through research and clinical trials.
According to a statement released by the health system on Tuesday, May 24, the growing number of patients has Carilion’s current cancer center operating at capacity. More specifically, Carilion has seen a 40% increase in patient volume over the past 10 years, treating more than 2,000 new cancer patients last year alone.
“Advances in science and technology are revolutionizing what it means to have cancer, and dramatically increasing survivability,” said Dr. William A. Fintel, a medical oncologist and hematologist who joined Carilion in 2019 after more than 30 years in practice to lead the growth of the health system’s oncology program. “We want to bring personalized care, advanced technology and treatment options, sophisticated clinical trials and cutting-edge research to patients in our region, as well as train the next generation of oncologists.”
Health officials say the primary motivation for Maury’s gift was to expand the number and scope of clinical trials available in southwest Virginia. This comes after the Strauss family had to travel out of state so Maury’s wife, Sheila, could participate in a clinical trial following her bladder cancer diagnosis.
“Strauss’s gift builds on the couple’s belief in the importance of giving back,” Carilion stated. “Spanning decades, the aim of their community involvement has been to make life better for others.”
According to officials, Carilion’s oncology program has not only been accredited by the Commission on Cancer since 1979, but it has also been ranked “high performing” for colon cancer and lung cancer surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
“Health care is one of the most important things in any community, and what Carilion has done to advance care in the Roanoke Valley is remarkable,” said Maury. “I want to see that continue for generations to come.”
“I’m inspired by Maury’s selfless generosity. He embodies the true meaning of philanthropy: giving out of love for others and a genuine desire to improve their lives,” said Ralph Alee, Carilion’s vice president for philanthropy. “We are grateful to be the beneficiary of his transformational gift that will shape the future of cancer care in our region for decades.”
