Center of Excellence
Awards and Accolades
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Lead Affiliate of the Only New Jersey-based National Community Oncology Research Program Designated by the National Cancer Institute
– National Cancer Institute
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Accredited for Providing High-quality Care to Patients with Diseases of the Breast
– National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
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Ranked 1 of the 50 Best Hospitals in the U.S. for Ear, Nose and Throat
– U.S. News & World Report
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Center of Excellence for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
– National Pancreas Foundation
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Outstanding Achievement Award
– American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer
We recognize philanthropy as one of our greatest assets. Your dedication to Carol G. Simon Cancer Center has made the impossible possible with world-class cancer care available to our communities. Your partnership with our physicians, nurses and team members results in the rigorous expansion of programs, cutting-edge research opportunities, the acquisition of prominent clinical trials and a passionate commitment to extraordinary patient-centric care.
Eric D. Whitman, MD, FACS
Medical Director, Atlantic Health System Cancer Care
Principal Investigator, Atlantic Health Cancer Consortium Community Oncology Research Program
Director, Atlantic Melanoma Center
Donor-funded Equipment Highlights
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Atlantic Precision Oncology Software
Atlantic Precision Oncology investigates genetic sequencing to improve cancer care. Philanthropy has helped to facilitate the purchase of specialized software that interfaces with electronic medical records and integrates genetic testing results into the clinical decision-making pathway, supplying evidence-based recommendations for treatment.
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Breast Ultrasound
The Carol W. and Julius A. Rippel Breast Center was the first in the state to offer all-digital imaging and full tomosynthesis. Unprecedented growth, including 50,649 screenings in 2022, has created the need for additional imaging resources. Philanthropy from Lori and John Westerhold in 2023 will facilitate the purchase of an additional ultrasound machine to accommodate patient needs.
Carol G. Simon Cancer Center’s experienced medical team provides care with dedication and compassion, using the latest technology and treatments. Foundation benefactors, alongside support from the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center Philanthropy Council, enable Carol G. Simon Cancer Center to expand research, add new programs, improve existing programs and broaden educational offerings.
2023 marked the 25th anniversary of the leading cancer center.
Donor Spotlight: 25 Years of Donor Support for Carol G. Simon Cancer Center
The family of the late Carol G. Simon knew the significance of building a program where multidisciplinary cancer care was available to the community in one location. Carol was a cancer patient and had to travel to multiple locations, including New York City, for her ongoing medical treatments, which exhausted her.
A few years after her passing, Carol’s husband, the late William E. Simon, made a lead gift to seed a comprehensive cancer care program at Morristown Medical Center, and the community did not hesitate to embrace the vision. Along with the Simon family, lead donors – including the Gagnon Family Foundation, the F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc. and Honorary Foundation Trustees Les and Eileen Quick – have been eager to assist with ongoing expansion and modernization efforts throughout the years.
Beckman Advanced Cellular Therapy Unit
Patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy or immunotherapy for the treatment of blood cancers are particularly vulnerable to treatment-related side effects and require heightened monitoring and management.
Completed in October 2023, the Beckman Advanced Cellular Therapy Unit at Morristown Medical Center will help ensure the highest quality care and best outcomes for this complex patient population.
These patients often require multiple hospitalizations as part of their treatment plan, both for induction chemotherapy and for very specific management of their symptoms. During treatment, blood counts drop to very low levels, increasing the risk of life-threatening complications. The Beckman Advanced Cellular Therapy Unit is equipped with state-of-the-art hemodynamic monitoring technology and staffed with highly-trained nurses to deliver the safest possible treatment. Garnering national attention, this important project came to fruition through generous contributions from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in honor of J. Peter Simon, the Healey and Hagerty families, Foundation for Morristown Medical Center Trustee Juliet Patsalos-Fox and Michael Patsalos-Fox, Foundation for Morristown Medical Center Trustee Kathleen Ross and Amory Ross, Robert C. and Natalie Rooke and an outpouring of donations in memory of Carol G. Simon Cancer Center team member Kristen Lynn Daley.
Donor Spotlight: Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
To honor the service of J. Peter Simon as a trustee of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the California-based foundation gave a generous $1 million grant to launch the Beckman Advanced Cellular Therapy Unit at Morristown Medical Center.
Supporting leading-edge research embodies the mission of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Its investment in state-of-the-art treatments is a fitting tribute to Peter, who, as an Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation board member, collaborated on novel ways to give back to the scientific community that echoed the philosophy and lifelong calling of the late Arnold Beckman.
Cancer Center for Research Fund
With funding from donors such as the Estate of Marilyn C. Shulman, Morristown Medical Center’s Oncology Research Department is advancing several physician-initiated trials, supporting an Ovarian Screening Trial with MD Anderson Cancer Center and working to meet the growing need for expanded access and compassion use products in cancer care.
Pancreatic Cancer Quality of Care Pilot
Made possible in part through a Healing Hands gift from Stephen and Kathy Harris in honor of Angela Alistar, MD, and their beloved son Kenneth, the Pancreatic Cancer Quality of Care Pilot Program infuses integrative medicine practices and assistance into pancreatic cancer patients’ care plans while undergoing treatment at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. The donor-funded program, which includes acupuncture and other alternative treatments, is offered under the leadership of Angela Alistar, MD, medical director of gastrointestinal medical oncology for Morristown Medical Center and medical director of the Phase 1 Breakthrough Treatment Center for Atlantic Health System Cancer Care.
Gynecologic (GYN) Nurse Navigator
The GYN Nurse Navigator Program was created to ensure that all gynecologic cancer patients at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center receive the most comprehensive care, as well as emotional reassurance and guidance, throughout all stages of their treatment and survivorship. As a dedicated, trained professional, the GYN nurse navigator uses their extensive knowledge of gynecologic oncology and the resources for women with a gynecologic cancer to advocate for the patient. Made possible through charitable giving, GYN nurse navigator services are available to Carol G. Simon Cancer Center patients without cost.
GYN Nurse Navigator services are available to patients without cost.
Breast Cancer Social Worker
The breast cancer social worker – a position made possible by a generous donation from Carol G. Simon Cancer Center Philanthropy Council member Gita Rothschild-Berry – provides psychosocial support to patients and families with breast cancer diagnoses. They assess patient and family needs, develop a comprehensive care plan, connect patients and families to individual and group psychoeducational support programs and provide short-term counseling and referrals to community resources. This team member also collaborates with other departments on breast cancer awareness and education.