May 30, 2024
Pictured Above (left to right): Meghan Bianco, Director of corporate and community partnerships, Hartford Hospital; Dan Tapper, CTBTA; Jennifer Pace, CTBTA; Alexandra Flowers, MD, CTBTA; Lynn B. Rossini, Vice president of philanthropy, Hartford Hospital; Andrew L. Salner, MD, FACR, FASTRO, Medical director of the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital and its Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center; Alexis Matthew Demopoulos, MD, Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute; Jessica Joyce, Associate director of institutional giving, Hartford Hospital; Christopher Cusano, CEO, CTBTA; Erin Lamadrid, CTBTA; Moriah Thibodeau, LCSW, Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute.
Hartford Hospital is grateful to the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance (CTBTA), which awarded a $40,000 grant to the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital and its Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center to fund brain tumor research, patient financial assistance, and the program’s compassionate care.
“The CTBTA is very proud to provide this grant and thanks Hartford Hospital for everything they do in supporting brain tumor patients and their families, in addition to their continued efforts in developing clinical trials and research to find the cure,” said Chris Cusano, CEO of the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance. “We are very happy to have the hospital’s excellent care and services in our backyard and we look forward to continuing our work together as we put a stop to this disease once and for all.”
In addition to the generous grant, the CTBTA donated dozens of “Blankets of Hope,” which will be provided to patients visiting the cancer center for treatment.
“The wonderful thing about the CTBTA grant is that it is flexible for our oncology team and patients,” shared Moriah Thibodeau, LCSW, a clinical social worker with the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute who assists patients and their families with financial assistance programs.
“CTBTA grant funds go directly to patients who are diagnosed with a brain tumor and need financial assistance, whether they are currently receiving treatment or not,” Thibodeau continues. “They can be used for any type of expense—from personal aides and medications to food, utilities, childcare, transportation, and other needs. This reduces financial toxicity among our patients and provides a greater peace of mind and ability to focus on healing.”
“We are very thankful for the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance, which has invested nearly $400,000 in Hartford Hospital’s brain tumor research and compassionate care throughout our partnership,” shared Lynn B. Rossini, Vice president of Philanthropy, at Hartford Hospital. “CTBTA is a devoted advocate for brain tumor patients in our region and they bring hope to patients and families going through challenging and stressful healthcare journeys. We are proud to stand side-by-side with them in the fight against cancer.”