PBMC Foundation and William Ris Gallery raise money for breast health

Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) Foundation announced today that “An Artful Affair,” a fundraising event held at William Ris Gallery in Jamesport, raised more than $11,000 to support the hospital’s breast health program. Eighty-nine guests attended the event, with several pieces of art sold.

Proceeds from the show, which runs at the gallery throughout September, will go toward purchasing an intraoperative breast specimen imaging system for tissue, which produces high-quality imaging of specimens that the surgeon can evaluate in the operating room.

“Peconic Bay Medical Center is incredibly thankful for the community’s support in advancing our breast health program,” said Peconic Bay Medical Center Executive Director Amy Loeb, EdD, MBA, RN. “This support will directly help to bring in more advanced technology we use to provide top-rated health care to our community. I also want to thank William Ris Gallery for partnering with our hospital for this event and being a tremendous supporter of our health care initiatives.”

The specimen imaging system will offer advanced imaging that provides surgeons with a highly magnified view of breast tissue, optimizing the preservation and restoration of tissue through closer targeted areas of removal. The system also decreases the overall operation time and likelihood of additional surgery in search of positive margins.

“I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who came to this event and showed their support for women’s health,” said Susan Lee, MD, chief of breast surgery at PBMC. “Breast cancer is diagnosed in one in eight women born in the United States in their lifetime. While early detection is crucial and saves lives, we are here at PBMC to support you at every step of the journey. That is why we offer state-of-the-art cancer treatment plans specifically crafted to the patient’s needs.”

Jan Harting-McChesney, donor and former patient of Dr. Lee, attended the Artful Affair event to share her story. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2021. After four surgeries and chemotherapy, Ms. Harting-McChesney is currently in remission and felt the need to give back to Dr. Lee and the breast health program at PBMC.

“To be able to receive world-class care in my own backyard was a godsend. I drove to Riverhead, not Manhattan,” Ms. Harting-McChesney said. “I was a person treated with compassion, not a number on a chart. I believe that it is the responsibility of the community to help support this program by any means possible, so it can help others as it helped me.”

For more information on how to support the breast health program at PBMC, visit: https://pbmcfoundation.thankyou4caring.org/pages/donation.