HCC clinic dedicated to local
philanthropist
Friends
and family gathered in honor of the late Elizabeth “Bette” Smith
Griffith at MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center to dedicate the women’s
cancer pavilion in her memory on Sept. 7.Griffith, who died in 2004 from breast cancer, served as a member of the MUSC Board of Visitors. The Charleston native also was a board member for the Charleston Garden Club, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and she led many fundraising events for the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and was active in church, schools, and other charitable activities.
Joseph Griffith
Jr., from left, Helena Griffith, Joseph Griffith Sr., Rachael Smith,
Elizabeth “Lil Bit” Griffith Loy, Stephen Griffith, and Louis Griffith
are pictured in front of Bette Smith's portrait at the Hollings Cancer
Center.“It is my pleasure as a long-term volunteer and supporter of the Medical University of South Carolina to make this gift in memory of my wife, Bette,” said Joseph Parkwood Griffith, to whom Bette was married for 48 years prior to her death. “Understanding the courage it takes and knowing how people can inspire others, I hope Bette’s legacy will give hope to future cancer patients.”
The “world-class pavilion” that will carry Bette Griffith’s name has had more than 7,000 patient visits during the past year, according to Andrew Kraft, M.D., HCC director.
“These patients represent all races,” Kraft said. “Many have had breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. They were at the pavilion for consultations and some for chemotherapy. They were first timers and patients that had most of their treatment behind them. They all were given state-of the-art care, here at home, which means that their support networks could offer comfort more readily.”
The pavilion has 12 examining rooms and one consulting room where doctors, patients and families can gather to discuss the treatment plans and next steps, said MUSC President Raymond Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D. “By focusing attention on the needs of these patients, the Bette Smith Griffith Women’s Pavilion will allow us to deliver care that is both coordinated and compassionate,” Greenberg said.
The women’s pavilion also has many features to help women who suffer from gynecologic cancer. “However, there are two programs of which I am most proud,” said William Creasman, M.D., chairman emeritus of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We are now providing the HPV [human papillomavirus] vaccine to women at high risk for cervical cancer. This vaccine, given before sexual activity begins, has been shown to prevent cervical cancer.”
Another program is a joint project with MUSC’s gynecological department, which also has partnered with the National Cancer Institute. “This partnership allows us to develop the gold standard for our project and gives us access to new drugs before they come on the market,” Creasman said. “Both of the projects will continue to put the Hollings Cancer Center in the forefront of the battle against cancer.”
He cited as an example the new digital mammography machine that allows the medical staff to move the scans to a radiologist in an adjacent building, “So the patients don’t have to move.”
For information about the pavilion, contact Kate Watson at 792-1247.
Friday, Sept. 22, 2006
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