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Doctors and staff at Medical Oncology Associates with prizes, on the right, that will be raffled on Oct. 29. Proceeds will benefit a prescription fund for the center’s cancer patients. First row, from left, are Jill Savitz, Stacie Wydra, Carol Greenwald, and Carol Demko. Second row: Dr. Bruce Saidman and Dr. David Greenwald.
Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader
KINGSTON – Ken Carey, the owner of the area’s two Tipsy Turtle restaurants, has raised nearly $100,000 for the Medical Oncology Associates Prescription Assistance Fund.
The 38-year-old Carey understands the importance of the fund. So does his wife, Kari, as well as business partner Jack Walker and staff of the restaurants in Jenkins Township and Swoyersville. Carey received first-hand care given at Medical Oncology Associates. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer and is a cancer survivor.
“As soon as I finished my treatment, I went to work to raise money for the prescription fund,” Carey said. “I’ve been cancer free for seven years now and in the last six years we’ve raised over $95,000. I know where every penny we donate goes – to the patients.”
Dr. David Greenwald established the fund about 18 years ago to assist Medical Oncology Associates’ cancer patients in need of help with the purchase of prescriptions. His business partner, Dr. Bruce Saidman, and Saidman’s wife, Melissa, have also been involved and supported the fund over the years.
Greenwald, 65, has been practicing in the area for 34 years. He said when he first started, the practice would send a fruit basket to the family of a patient that passed away. He said the group would also make donations to the American Cancer Society.
But some 18 years ago, Greenwald said a patient was having a difficult time buying simple prescriptions for nausea and pain.
“This happened on a day when we were getting ready to make a donation to a charity,” Greenwald said. “We realized that our patients need help and we decided to set up a fund to help them.”
Greenwald said the fund is now an official not-for-profit charity and all funds raised are dispersed to the patients. He said there are no administrative fees – they are absorbed by the practice. All of the money donated or raised – 100 percent of it – goes to the patients.
How does a patient qualify?
“They just have to ask us,” Greenwald said. “There’s no burden of proof, no paper work. If they say they can’t afford something, we help them.”
All of the people served by the program are patients of Medical Oncology Associates.
“We know these people,” Greenwald said.
Carey said he is constantly amazed by Greenwald and his staff. He said their daily attitude and sincere compassion for their patients is remarkable.
“I can’t imagine having to go through cancer anywhere else,” Carey said. “They actually made it very easy, if you can imagine that.”
Carey said he was always treated the same by everyone. And Dr. Greenwald?
“What can you say about the man that saved your life,” Carey said.
Carey holds a golf tournament, raffles and he sells T-shirts year-round at his restaurants. He said as his business expands, so does his commitment to the prescription program.
“We now have the Tipsy Turtle Make Life Count Charity and all the money raised goes to the Greenwald prescription fund,” said Carey, whose mother died of leukemia. “As long as I’m in business, as long as I can help, I will raise money and support the program. This is more about the patients than me; I’m just glad the Turtle is helping.”
Greenwald said the fund has paid insurance premiums for patients, paid their electric bills so their lights wouldn’t be turned off and even paid for consults with physicians in Philadelphia and New York.
“Many of our patients become so ill they can’t work,” Greenwald said. “They lose their benefits, like insurance. I can tell you that everybody in this office feels more than good about this program. They are all major contributors to the fund.”
Greenwald said patients and their families become part of the Medical Oncology Associates family. The office staff donates an average of $100 to $200 per week to the fund.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the staff is preparing for its annual raffle. Lots of prizes will be given away and proceeds will benefit the prescription fund. Carol Demko, coordinator of the raffle, said the drawing will take place on Oct. 29 at the office.
Dr. Greenwald’s wife, Carol, is a therapist and she offers psychological counseling for patients, family members and friends at no cost – it’s part of the Medical Oncology Associates approach to total care.
Greenwald smiles when he talks about the prescription fund and the ease in which patients can access it when needed. He said there is no paperwork, no application process, no reviews for eligibility, no approvals to wait for and, most importantly, no denials.
Greenwald wouldn’t discuss the annual budget, but he said fund raising is a continuing process.
“So far, we’ve been able to satisfy the needs of our patients,’ he said. “We’ve been lucky. And we want to make sure the patients are comfortable asking for help; that they don’t feel like they are seeking a hand-out.”
To Make a Donation
To make a contribution to Medical Oncology Associates Prescription Assistance Fund call 288-7231 or send donations to 382 Pierce St., Kingston, PA 18704. For more information, contact Carol Demko, LPN/CTR, physician liaison/projects manager, at [email protected].