The John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary Honors Mark B. Faries, MD, and Ruth Weil at 31st Annual Odyssey Ball

SANTA MONICA, CA (April 11, 2016) – Internationally recognized surgical oncologist Mark B. Faries, MD, was honored with the “The Duke” Special Service Award and Institute benefactor and philanthropist Ruth Weil with the inaugural Dr. Donald L. Morton Legend Award at the 31st annual Odyssey Ball, Saturday, April 9, 2016, at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills. The yearly fundraising event benefits the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and is organized by the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary led by co-chairs Martha Harper, Colleen Pennell, Elizabeth Rawjee and Jessica Royer. KTLA-TV anchor Kaj Goldberg hosted the “Cowboys and Legends” themed gala, which featured music and dancing to the Morgan Leigh Band.

The event raised more than $750,000 to benefit the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center including a $100,000 donation from Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson. A highlight of the evening was a surprise announcement that Ruth Weil is making a $1.5 million gift to endow the Ruth and Martin H. Weil Surgical Oncology Fellow at the Institute.

Kaj Goldberg welcomed the 500 guests, dubbing the evening’s theme, “Cowboys and Legends” especially appropriate, noting that “cowboys were the first superheroes” with one name clearly standing out…John Wayne. “The Duke showed his heroism off-screen as well as on,” said Goldberg, “notably in his very personal fight with cancer, the first celebrity to bring such a personal fight onto the world stage. His heroism drives the outstanding work being done in his name at the John Wayne Cancer Institute.”

Anita Swift, granddaughter of John Wayne and president of the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary, took a moment to reflect on the recent loss of the organization’s first “True Grit” Humanitarian Award recipient Nancy Reagan who, she said, spoke of her affection for “her dear friend John Wayne” and of her dedication of stem cell research. “It was her combination of passion, heart and well, ‘true grit’ that made her the perfect premier honoree.” Swift went on to speak of the passing of John Wayne in 1979 as the catalyst for the formation of the John Wayne Cancer Institute and the “tangible progress we’ve made in that time, progress that seemed impossible three and a half decades ago.”

Patrick Wayne, chairman of the John Wayne Cancer Institute and son of the iconic actor, noted that “while cancer hasn’t been fully vanquished, we’ve gotten in some punches worthy of John Wayne,” continued Wayne, “through the best physicians, the most innovative scientists and researchers…the Institute will continue to keep hitting cancer until, once and for all, cancer is finished.”

Dr. Steven J. O’Day, professor of medical oncology, director of immuno-oncology and director of clinical research at the John Wayne Cancer Institute celebrated the work of the evening’s “The Duke” Special Service Award recipient Dr. Mark B. Faries, noting that the honoree “embodies the most important attributes of great physicians – medical expertise, a driving curiosity and a compassionate connection to his patients, whether big, small or even pint-sized…standing alongside them as they face the biggest challenges of their lives and shares their journeys.” Dr. O’Day was joined by Dr. Anton J. Bilchik, chief of medicine at the John Wayne Cancer Institute and a prior “The Duke” Special Service Award honoree, who presented the award to Dr. Faries.

Mark B. Faries, MD, director of the complex general Surgical Oncology Fellowship, director of the Donald L. Morton, MD, Melanoma Research Program and director of therapeutic immunology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute first came to the Institute for a surgical oncology fellowship in 2002. Two years later, he joined the Institute faculty as director of translational tumor immunology where he spearheaded studies and conducted clinical trials. He was later recruited to Yale University and appointed associate professor of surgery. In 2011, Dr. Morton, the Institute’s co-founder and leader of its melanoma program at the time, asked him to return to ensure completion of important research projects and assume leadership of the Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program. Dr. Faries supervises clinical trials that include more than 6,000 patients around the world and has been awarded substantial research funding by the National Cancer Institute. He is the first surgeon in California to perform minimally-invasive inguinal lymph node dissections, resulting in improved patient outcomes. He also established an FDA-certified cellular immunotherapy lab, and has published over 150 manuscripts, abstracts and book chapters, and lectured in nine countries on three continents.

Donald Morton, Jr. and Danielle Morton, son and daughter of the late Dr. Donald L. Morton, presented the inaugural “Dr. Donald L. Morton Legend Award” to philanthropist, Auxiliary board member and hospital volunteer Ruth Weil. As a friend and early supporter of Dr. Morton’s work, she has made major contributions to the leadership of the Institute. In the early 1980’s, Ruth became a board member of the auxiliary, serving on committees and holding various offices including president. Having raised more than $2 million dollars for the Institute, she established the Martin H. Weil fund, which funds the Ruth and Martin H. Weil Laboratory for Cancer Research and sponsors the Ruth and Martin H. Weil fellow. The “Dr. Donald L. Morton Legend Award” recognizes an individual who has made a lasting contribution to cancer research and education that exemplifies Dr. Morton’s heroic vision to eradicate cancer.

Under the stewardship of Dr. Morton for more than three decades, the John Wayne Cancer Institute, which he founded in tandem with the Wayne family, flourished, becoming an internationally-recognized leader in surgical oncology and early immune-oncology.

About the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center

Since 1981, the family of John Wayne has been committed to pioneering cancer research in memory of their father, who died of cancer. For more than 30 years, the courageous and dedicated researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute have made groundbreaking discoveries that have changed the way cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated around the world. Today the tradition of excellence continues as the Institute spearheads new research advances, while training the next generation of leaders in the fight against cancer through its renowned Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program. The Institute’s programs focus on melanoma, breast, neuro, prostate and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as innovative research in cancer genomics, molecular biomarkers, and chemo- and immunotherapies. With its unique ability to rapidly turn scientific discoveries into novel approaches for early detection and treatment, the Institute provides immediate hope to cancer patients everywhere.

About the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary

Established in 1982 by two breast cancer survivors, the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary is currently helmed by president Anita Swift, granddaughter of John Wayne. The Auxiliary has raised more than $19 million to fund a wide array of the Institute’s priorities including groundbreaking research, vital new laboratory equipment and the nationally renowned Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program, which trains the next generation of surgical oncologists. For more information, please visit www.JWCIgiving.org.

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Contact: Pam Giangregorio

Katy Sweet & Associates Public Relations

310-479-2333 / Pam@KatySweetPR.com