Dedicated oncologist and family contribute $2.1 million to honor legacy of wife, mother
PHOENIX (March 2021) –St. Joseph’s Foundation proudly announces that Albert G. Wendt, MD, and his family have gifted $2.1 million to establish an endowment supporting breast cancer care and education at Dignity Health – Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. The endowment honors the legacy of Saundra C. Wendt, who passed away in August 2019 from breast cancer. In addition to fulfilling her successful career aspirations as a school teacher, Mrs. Wendt raised two children (Geordie and Kate) and shared six grandchildren with Dr. Wendt, her husband of 47 years.
As a medical oncologist, Dr. Wendt has dedicated his 47-year-long career to understanding, diagnosing and treating breast cancer, as well as increasing proficiency in breast cancer risk assessment. Currently, he continues to serve patients and build upon his nine-year tenure at St. Joseph’s Breast Cancer Program. In recognition of the family’s generous endowment, the program will proudly be named: “Wendt Family Breast Cancer Program at St. Joseph’s, Honoring Saundra C. Wendt.”
Watch the video below of Dr. Wendt being honored by his colleagues and the leadership of St. Joseph's, including Marcia Gruber Page, VP of Oncology Services, and St. Joseph's President/CEO Gabrielle Finley Hazle, who presents him with a white coat bearing the new name of the breast cancer program.
The $2-million endowment will be used to enhance the growth of St. Joseph’s Breast Cancer Program, provide research dollars for the fight against breast cancer as well as give educational opportunities for all cancer institute staff working daily to improve the lives of those suffering from this deadly disease. The Wendt family has also requested a portion of the funds be dedicated to charitable care: supplementing breast cancer genetic counseling services for uninsured patients.