CLEVELAND – Cleveland philanthropists Jane and Lee Seidman are not willing to accept the fact that cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children. With a $1 million gift to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, they are doing something about it: establishing the Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Pediatric Cancer Innovation. The gift is made in honor of John J. Letterio, MD, chief of pediatric hematology/oncology at Rainbow, who will be the inaugural chair holder. The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation will acknowledge the Seidman’s generosity with a $500,000 match.
The Seidmans are not new faces at UH—both were born at MacDonald Women’s Hospital, and Lee’s company, The Motorcars Group, has been a strong supporter of Rainbow through the Children’s Miracle Network. Now, the Seidmans want to help the children of Greater Cleveland, providing them with the best treatments close to home and family.
“We have been long supporters of pediatric cancer research, and we fell in love with Dr. Letterio’s passion and vision for the future of pediatric cancer treatment at Rainbow,” said Jane Seidman. “We want to help make his vision a reality.”
Rainbow’s division of pediatric hematology/oncology has historically pioneered family-centered care, leading edge research in biotechnology and strong partnerships with University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
“The Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Pediatric Cancer Innovation will allow us to further our mission of becoming a recognized comprehensive cancer center devoted to developing novel therapies and providing state-of-the-art care that will improve diagnosis, treatment and the quality of life for children with cancer,” said Michael Farrell, president of Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and MacDonald Women’s Hospital. “Dr. Letterio is truly deserving of this honor. His commitment to elevating our program, and improving care for pediatric cancer patients around the world, is an inspiration to us all.”
Dr. Letterio came to Rainbow in the fall of 2005, following a 17-year career at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Maryland. He served as a member of the pediatric oncology branch and as the senior principal investigator in the laboratory of cell regulation and carcinogenesis in the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research.
“Dr. Letterio’s research and compassionate approach to clinical care really drew us to Rainbow’s oncology program, and we hope to continue this partnership for years to come,” said Lee Seidman.
“I am truly humbled by the generosity of Jane and Lee; however, this honor is not mine alone. It means a great deal to our division, as we move forward and advance on our mission of improving outcomes for children, adolescents and young adults making the journey from cancer patient to cancer survivor,” said Dr. Letterio. “It is in an incredibly comforting feeling to know that we have the gentle hands of the Seidman’s behind us, guiding and pushing us forward.”