Health & Fitness

WELLNESS

Breast Care

Ford family underwrites new Henry Ford Hospital center.

Benson Ford Jr. and Francee Ford at the dedication of the breast center in their names,

Jerome Halperin of Birmingham, Harold and Penny Blumenstein of Bloomfield

with S. David Nathanson, M.D., of Bloomfield Hills, director, Multidisciplinary Breast

Hills and Margot Halperin of Birmingham enjoy the morning dedication of the

Cancer Program, and Karen Hunt, M.D., of Plymouth, on-site director, Breast Imaging.

Francee and Benson Ford Jr. Breast Care and Wellness Center.

Mark Kahn, right, of Encino, Calif., speaks at the new breast center dedication.

Ronald E. Michalak and Barbara Frankel of West Bloomfield donated the reception

Among the guests were, from left, his father, D. Dan Kahn of Bloomfield Hills,

area of the new Francee and Benson Ford Breast Care and Wellness Center.

Barbara Frankel of West Bloomfield and Florine Mark of Farmington Hills.

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n Aug. 19, 150 donors and guests
came together to celebrate the
dedication of the Francee and
Benson Ford Jr. Breast Care and WellnesS
Center at Henry Ford West Bloomfield
Hospital.
The $1.7 million center offers a mul-
tidisciplinary clinic, where women can
access the most advanced breast-care-
related diagnostic tools, including digital
mammography, and experience a stream-
lined process.
"In almost all other breast centers
around the country, surgeons see patients
separately and refer them to radiologists
for studies that may be scheduled days or
weeks later," says David Nathanson, M.D.,

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September 10.200`9

director, Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer
Program. "This can result in multiple visits,
no 'real time' consultations between physi-
cians, a lower quality of care and delays
in the management of breast cancer. The
Francee and Benson Ford Jr. Breast Care
and Wellness Center has surgeons and
radiologists working together in the same
clinic, collaborating and often completing
their diagnosis on the same day."
The new center is located directly above
Vita, the wellness center at Henry Ford
West Bloomfield Hospital. The partnership
of the two centers brings other treatment
options to patients. Henry Ford cancer
patients may receive a free wig, makeup
consultation and makeup kit in Vita.

Mark Kahn of Encino, Calif., son of D.
Dan and Betty Kahn of Bloomfield Hills,
was in attendance for the unveiling of
artwork that he commissioned in memory
of his wife Gayle Halperin Kahn. Gayle
was the daughter of Jerome and Margot
Halperin of Birmingham.
The sculptural installation, "Yet to
Come',' consists of black steel circles that
are placed to resemble petals blowing
in the wind. It is located on the curving
wall of a staircase that connects the two
centers. The artist, Kate Silvio of Grand
Rapids, explains that it communicates a
sense of hidden potential, that big things
can happen if small increments of growth
are accomplished every day.

"Gayle left behind two young children,
and part of my wish in donating this art-
work in her memory is for it to show them
that their mother was honored and recog-
nized. She had an impact," says Kahn. "My
goal is for Gayle to live on in another way
in the community. She was a great believer
in complementary therapies to alleviate
her pain and stress, so this center and its
focus is the perfect place for a memorial
to her. She never lost hope:'
The Francee and Benson Ford Jr. Breast
Care and Wellness Center has been the
benefactor of funding from the past four
Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Friends
luncheons. The fifth anniversary luncheon
will take place on Sept. 30.

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