Daniel M. Koenigsberg ’62 recalls how his late wife Susan was treated with “dignity and respect” by the staff and doctors at the Smilow Cancer Hospital during her treatment there for pancreatic cancer.

“The staff’s commitment to personal care was so evident and vital during such a difficult period,” Koenigsberg says. “This customer-oriented philosophy clearly came from the top of the organization.”

Koenigsberg has recognized this extraordinary patient care delivery by gifting $1 million to Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital.

His philanthropy establishes an endowment that focuses on pancreatic cancer research. The fund will enhance multiple initiatives, including seed grants for pilot projects, the establishment of a fellowship in gastrointestinal cancers, the creation of a biorepository for tissue samples, and an annual lectureship. It will also provide support for faculty research endeavors and help to ensure sustained support for future initiatives.

Read more about the gift and the impact it will have on cancer research and treatment at Yale.