A ribbon cutting introduced the revamped Mercy Health – O’Brien Cancer Center
The new name honors a beloved Lorain community member
On April 25, Mercy Health Foundation Lorain held a ribbon cutting in Elyria, OH, to reveal the Cancer Center's new name and look. The updated Mercy Health - O'Brien Cancer Center honors the daughter of donors who generously gave to improve life-saving cancer care for people in the community.
“The O’Brien family has been involved in many charitable and philanthropic endeavors for decades, and their generosity has made such a difference in the lives of so many people," said Scott Pember, president of Mercy Health Foundation Lorain.
The Cancer Center's new name honors Lorain native, Stacey O'Brien Artino. Her parents, Patrick and Janet O'Brien, attended the event. Stacey passed from cancer complications in December 2021, at 49 years of age. Her family decided that a donation to the Cancer Center was how they wanted to pay tribute to their loved one.
“One of Stacey’s passions was making rosaries and helping the poor, so it seems fitting that her legacy will live on to help so many with the challenges of cancer,” said Scott. “Through this transformational gift, Mercy Health will be able to further our mission by providing state-of-the-art cancer care for everyone who turns to us for the fight of their lives."
The Cancer Center underwent a major renovation over the past several months. Support from donors like the O'Briens invested in new technology, many new resources for patients and a fresh makeover. The updates help elevate patient care.
“Daily cancer treatments take a toll on patients and their families, so we want to lessen that burden any way we can. In this case, it's providing advanced cancer care in a comfortable setting that’s close to home. Patients can stay in their own communities while getting the life-saving treatments they need.” —Dr. David Barron, Medical Director, Oncology Service Line and Radiation Oncology
The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer has recognized Mercy Health Lorain's cancer program for its excellence since 1991. Ongoing support from donors helps deliver high-quality, innovative, full-spectrum care. This renovation joins a list of many improvements to the Cancer Center over the past three years. And now, it has the honor of a very inspiring namesake thanks to the O'Brien family's gift.