As a Donor, He Wants to Make a Cancer Patient’s Journey Easier

By: Mark Nootbar

Dan Edelstone, MD, likes to count, and he likes to research what he‘s counting. He knows he bikes 400 miles a week and has the best bike and appropriate clothing to do so. He once owned 3,000 photography books, mainly printed between World War I and World War II, and he knew almost everything about how they were produced. He even knows the back story of his 10 Mickey Mouse wristwatches and alarm clocks.

“If I have two of something, it’s okay, but if I get a third – watch out – because now it’s a collection,” Dr. Edelstone said. “My collecting has slowed since I retired, and I’m living on a ‘fixed income.’”

So, when his wife, Susan, was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, he wanted to get everything counted and in order. The problem was, at the time, getting treatment at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center—in Dr. Edelstone’s words—seemed chaotic.

“Hillman was still relatively new, and the idea of a patient navigator—someone to say, ‘Hello, what are you looking for? May I help you? May I show you where to go?’—did not exist. They did not even have valet parking,” Dr. Edelstone said.

Although he had been a physician at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital (by his count, he had delivered more than 7,000 babies) and a member of the University of Pittsburgh faculty for 25 years, navigating the system was still challenging for him. He was frustrated by the appointment-making process. With this experience, he saw a need for increased support for cancer patients as they schedule appointments and park.

“We spoke up, not just for us but for others,” Dr. Edelstone said.

Dr. Edelstone had always been philanthropic, supporting UPMC Magee-Womens and other charities and encouraging his colleagues to do the same. The Edelstones soon refocused their philanthropy to help UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s efforts to support patients as they navigated the tumultuous time between diagnosis and remission.

“I think the first thing they did was to get the valet service started,” Dr. Edelstone said. “They changed the whole ethos of the place so that they focus is totally on the patient and their experience.”

Sadly, Susan succumbed to her illness in 2013. Shortly after Susan’s passing, Dan updated his estate plan to include the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Patient Assistance Fund.

“The patient experience is so much better now than it was then,” Dr. Edelstone said. “When my estate is settled, the need might be very different than what Susan and I imagined when we first started to give to support patient care, but I know UPMC Hillman will put it to good use.”

His estate will also support the Susan B. Edelstone Endowed Nursing Scholarship, which assists registered nurses who wish to return to school to earn their Bachelor of Nursing degree.

Susan became a registered nurse in 1973 and had always wanted to earn a BSN. She finally enrolled at Pitt in 2007 and graduated with honors in 2008. She continued to work at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, where she first met Dan, even while dealing with her cancer.

“She loved working,” Dr. Edelstone remembered. “She was the kind of nurse you want to have when you are in the hospital, feeling scared and confused.”

Dr. Edelstone used to give anonymously to various causes, never seeking accolades or recognition. Then, a friend told him that if he let others know what he was doing, it might encourage them to give as well.

Today, he hopes others will follow in his philanthropic footsteps. More importantly, he knows his giving will make a difference.

“We didn’t want anyone else to have to spend all the emotional energy we had to spend to coordinate a patient’s care,” said Dr. Edelstone, whose advocacy and gifts help the more than 170,000 cancer patients who pass through the doors of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center every year. “It’s terrifying and scary, and we can help make the process simpler.”

“Dr. Edelstone’s generosity and vision have set a powerful example, inspiring others to contribute to a cause that touches countless lives,” Susan Gibson, senior director of operations at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, said. “We deeply appreciate every donation, as each one plays a crucial role in enhancing patient care and simplifying the journey for those battling cancer. Together, through continued support and philanthropy, we can make a profound impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families.”