I recently had the opportunity to accept a Community Service award from the American Cancer Society on behalf of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. The award recognized the Hospital’s longstanding support of the annual Relay for Life as well as our leadership in the fight against cancer.

Reflecting on the award, I was struck by two things about our community. First, the generosity of the people who live here is exceptional. In 2006, the Pottstown area Relay for Life raised over $600,000, and was named the eighth largest Relay in the world. All of us at PMMC are proud to be a Relay sponsor, but it’s the hundreds of people – survivors, family and friends – that make the event an incredible success.

Second, we’re fortunate to have an excellent team of cancer specialists working at our regional cancer center. Our physicians and staff are so good at what they do that it’s no surprise we’re a Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner, and we were recognized by the American College of Surgeons for Outstanding Achievement – one of only 39 community cancer centers in the country to receive this recognition in 2005.

Diagnosing and treating cancer is just one of the things we do well at PMMC, and in this issue of the Center Post we’ll share some of the remarkable things we’re doing every day.

Steve MacLauchlan, CEO