40th Anniversary Perspective

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40th Anniversary Special Edition

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MyPerspective A message from Todd D. Stevens, president and CEO

O

ver forty years ago, a handful of passionate community leaders decided that cancer patients should have access to state-of-the-art radiation therapy close to home - and that treatment should be available to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. In 1971, Mary Bird Perkins Radiation Treatment Center saw its first patient. And, as they say, the rest is history.

Those remarkable visionaries paved the way for what is today known as Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center - a leading cancer care organization with five locations serving 18 parishes across southeast Louisiana. We are grateful for our hospital and physician partners across the region who are working with us to provide exceptional cancer care close to home, family and friends – just as our founders intended.

The founders knew that being able to receive treatment while surrounded by the support of loved ones is a critical part of recovery.

We strive to be an extension of this support – with a devotion to providing sincere and exemplary service to every person involved in a fight for life. Every Mary Bird Perkins team member is dedicated to our core values of innovation, respect, compassion, integrity and collaboration, giving us a focus for providing an extraordinary experience for those we serve.

Mary Bird Perkins started with community leadership. And it is because of this long-standing, phenomenal support that Mary Bird

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MARY BIRD PERKINS perspective

Perkins is thriving today and providing more services than ever before. We deeply appreciate this support and ask for your continued investment in our mission so that we can work together to save more lives and build healthier communities. So much is owed to the original founders who started this amazing journey. We honor them during the 40th Anniversary as we continue to build upon their foundation. It is a privilege to do so.

Sincerely,

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Our Mission

To improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer through expert treatment, compassionate care, early detection, research and education.

THE 1969 FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“C

ommunity leaders saw a vital need for cancer treatment at home - and made it happen. That is the marvelous story of Mary Bird Perkins. Today, dynamic expansion has taken the mission across southeast Louisiana. It is an honor to serve as Chairman of the Board for such an exemplary community-owned organization; one that leverages its resources, is fiscally responsible, treats community members who cannot afford it, and always has an innovative eye to the future of cancer care.”

Jerry Jolly, Chairman Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Board of Directors

M.J. RATHBONE, JR., M.D. President and Chairman of the Board for 30 years PRESTON V. KORS Vice President ANNA B. LIPSEY Secretary/Treasurer WALLACE F. ARMSTRONG JOHN W. BARTON, SR. RICHARD A. BOYER, M.D. LYNNWOOD J. BRASSETT, M.D. M.F. CURRIER, M.D. HENRY W. JOLLY, JR., M.D. JULIUS H. MULLINS, SR., M.D. ROY A. PARKER, PH.D. THOMAS R. RAMSAY, M.D. HARRY D. RICHARDSON, PH.D. J. RALPH VANNOY MAURICE J. WILSON ALLIE WOOLFOLK, M.D.

“I have been involved with Mary Bird Perkins since its inception. It’s good to know how much people have supported it. Mary Bird Perkins today is very modern in every respect in the treatment of cancer. I’m extremely proud of that.”

Our History

John W. Barton, Sr. Co-Founding Member, 1969

1969

The Cancer Radiation and Research Foundation kicks off initial campaign for a local radiation treatment facility.

Paul D. Perkins donates land, capping off the campaign.

The Board honors his daughterʼs memory and names the Center after her.

Photo of Mary Bird Perkins Anna B. Lipsey - co-founder

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Our Story I

n the late 1960s, community leaders headed by Dr. M.J. Rathbone, Jr. and Anna B. Lipsey saw the need for a community owned, non-profit radiation cancer facility in the greater Baton Rouge area. With both the vision and financial support of the community, the facility, known today as Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBP), opened its doors to patients in 1971.

From the beginning, Mary Bird Perkins has been dedicated to providing the highest quality treatment and compassionate support to all patients and their families, regardless of ability to pay. This commitment, made possible by the Center’s founders, has been generously supported year after year through community support.

Today, Mary Bird Perkins has five centers across 18 parishes in southeast Louisiana: In Baton Rouge with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, in Hammond on the campus of North Oaks Hospital, in Covington with St. Tammany Parish Hospital, in Houma with Terrebonne General Medical Center and in Gonzales with St. Elizabeth Hospital. Through innovative partnerships with hospitals and physicians, Mary Bird Perkins is helping to provide more communities with local access to advanced cancer treatment and services across the full spectrum of cancer care, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, end-of-life care and survivorship.

Mary Bird Perkins was and still remains a community effort. It is only through a continuation of these tremendous community partnerships that Mary Bird Perkins will continue to succeed in its mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer through expert treatment, compassionate care, early detection, research and education.

Robert Fields, M.D.

Sheldon Johnson, M.D.

Kenneth Lo, M.D., Ph.D.

The three founding members of the physician group who still practice at Mary Bird Perkins today.

RADIATION ONCOLOGIST “The mission is one of the main reasons I came and why I stay. We treat every patient exactly the same, regardless of ability to pay. That’s very important to me.”

Robert Fields, M.D.

Volunteer at front desk at original Center.

1971 Mary Bird Perkins Radiation Center opens on Womanʼs Hospitalʼs Campus Louisianaʼs first 4 million volt linear accelerator installed

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MARY BIRD PERKINS perspective

1974 The Tumor Registry locates operations to MBP

1981 MBP and LSUʼs Nuclear Science Center join together to establish a joint masterʼs degree program in Medical Radiation Physics

1985

1988

MBP moves to Essen Lane

Hammond Center Opens

Louisianaʼs first 20 million volt linear accelerator installed Southeast Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group founded by Drs. Fields, Johnson and Lo

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DAUGHTER OF FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD “I know our parents would be so proud of and thankful for the commitment and hard work of so many dedicated people who have made Mary Bird Perkins the amazing institution it is today.”

Shawnee Rathbone McCord

FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THE CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC 1990 FIRST MEDICAL DIRECTOR 1975-1986 “From the beginning, we all believed patients were the heart and soul of Mary Bird Perkins and we existed for them. I always envisioned Mary Bird becoming what it is today. I like to feel that I had just a little something to do with it.”

J.E. “Bill” Hancock, M.D.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER 1997-2011 “Each year I am amazed at the innovation of Mary Bird Perkins and the leadership it provides nationwide in cancer prevention and treatment. Its combination of wonderful volunteers and outstanding staff has been truly inspiring as well as a rarity.”

Richard Lipsey

1989 Karnival Krewe de Louisiane is incorporated to raise funds to fight cancer

1990 Clinac 2100C linear accelerator and a CT scanner installed in Baton Rouge First annual Charity Golf Classic

“The golf tournament has lasted 20 years because of so many wonderful volunteers. The tournament has raised over $1 million over the years, and we have to keep getting bigger and better to keep up with the challenge of fighting cancer.”

Hillar C. Moore

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER 1973-1991 “When my friend Jack (Rathbone) broached the idea of a first class cancer facility here in Baton Rouge, my mother and brother who lived in New Orleans had already lost their lives to cancer. Of course I wanted to help. I like to feel that we were part of the pioneers.”

Troy Svendson

1992 Fighting Cancer… Brick by Brick fundraising campaign kicks off to complete the six story addition to Baton Rouge Center

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Surv ivors Across Our Region

“I researched the doctors and the technology in Houston and here. Then I chose Mary Bird.”

Arcelio Malcolm

“My research showed that the technology at Mary Bird Perkins at TGMC is excellent and their patients are happy.”

Tina Desalvo Callais “They had the best cancer treatment for me right down the street. So why go anywhere else?”

Bill O’Quin

1998 Covington Center Opens

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2001 Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment technology implemented

MARY BIRD PERKINS perspective

2002 CARE Network established Cancer Support Services Awareness & Education Research Early Detection

“The doctors who treated me at Mary Bird Perkins at TGMC were WONDERFUL.” Karen Schilling

2004 Novalis Radiosurgery installed in Baton Rouge The MBP-LSU Academic and Research Medical Physics Partnership formed

Whatever it Takes Capital Campaign launched to fund purchase of TomoTherapy Hi-Art® Treatment System and support funding for an endowed chair in medical physics at LSU

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“Everyone at Mary Bird in Covington was beyond wonderful. I felt totally confident in their expertise.”

Jennifer Rice

“Mary Bird Perkins is 10 minutes from my home. It’s great to have a cancer center in Gonzales.”

Onekeo Soukridhdy

“I think Terrebonne Parish is very lucky to have Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC.” Donny Bergeron “I am thankful we have Mary Bird Perkins in our community. It’s such a wonderful asset.”

Sherrill Lane “I am living proof that Mary Bird Perkins is very good at what they do.”

Michael Trufant “They didn’t just take cancer out of my life. They gave me my life back.”

Marielle Howard

2005 TomoTherapy® technology installed The Early Bird purchased Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Foundation chartered to raise endowment funds

2007 Dr. Kenneth R. Hogstrom appointed as the Dr. Charles M. Smith Endowed Chair of Medical Physics at LSU.

“When I chose Mary Bird I knew I was getting the best care available, and that’s still true today.”

T.J. Moran

2008

2009

Houma Center Opens

Gonzales Center Opens

Mary Bird Perkins at TGMC

Elekta technology installed in Baton Rouge and Gonzales

2011 Move into new Covington and Houma facilities with Elekta technology

The Mission Lives On...

www.marybird.org • 40th Anniversary

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