Cayuga Cancer Center receives $1 million gift

ITHACA, N.Y. — A $1 million, multi-year gift to Cayuga Medical Center will support the facility and equipment needs of the Cayuga Cancer Center.

Former Tompkins County resident Thomas Seaman — now of Vero Beach, Florida — made the gift in memory of his wife, Jean.

“Enhancing the capabilities of Cayuga Health, particularly its cancer center, to better serve the community is a worthwhile goal and one that the Seaman family is pleased to contribute towards,” Seaman said in a Cayuga Health System press release. “This is a way to honor Jean’s memory in a matter that supports the health system’s efforts to care for a community and region that is so important to us.”

The Cayuga Cancer Center will use the funding to secure equipment that improves the patient’s experience during diagnosis or treatment. Options include vascular access, imaging, and surgical treatment.

“The support Mr. Seaman and the entire Seaman family are providing will have a meaningful and long-term positive impact for our patients and the cancer care we can provide,” Dr. Timothy Bael, medical director for oncology services at Cayuga Health, said. “This investment will help to ensure that we continue to have the equipment and facilities to support the needs of our patients.

Both Cayuga Medical Center and Cayuga Cancer Center are part of Cayuga Health System, which also includes Schuyler Hospital, multi-specialty group Cayuga Medical Associates, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, and the 400-plus provider network Cayuga Health Partners. The health system employs more than 2,500 people in total.