UCLA celebrated the naming of the Agi Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic Diseases on February 28, 2015, at a gathering of Agi Hirshberg and her family and friends. The naming was made possible by $10 million in gifts from Hirshberg to UCLA. "Agi Hirshberg's 18-year commitment to finding a cure has placed UCLA at the forefront of cutting-edge research on pancreatic cancer," said UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block. "In recognition of her visionary support and a generous new $5-million gift, we are pleased to name the Agi Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic Diseases."
In addition to the chancellor and his wife Carol, attendees included UCLA faculty from the Agi Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic fDiseases and from surgery, gastroenterology, medical oncology, pathology, radiology and human nutrition; members of The UCLA Foundation Board of Directors and directors emeriti; members of Women & Philanthropy, of which Hirshberg is president, and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Board of Visitors; seed-grant awardees; and members of the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Following opening remarks by Chancellor Block; Dr. Vay Liang W. Go, distinguished professor of medicine and chair of the Hirshberg Foundation Scientific Advisory Board; Dr. O. Joe Hines (RES '97), chief of the UCLA Division of General Surgery and Robert and Kelly Day Chair in General Surgery; and Dr. Howard A. Reber, distinguished professor of surgery emeritus, spoke about the enormous impact Hirshberg's support has had on their work to advance discoveries in pancreatic diseases.
After receiving a commemorative crystal plaque from Chancellor Block, Hirshberg, also a director emerita of The UCLA Foundation and a member of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA's Board of Visitors, spoke about her journey and the importance of raising awareness of and pursuing a cure for pancreatic cancer. She shared that when she and her family formed the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, in 1997, in memory of her late husband Ronald S. Hirshberg, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 54, they created specific goals. Hirshberg invited her grandchildren to the podium. In a moving tribute to Hirshberg and their family's commitment to a cure, each child read one of the foundation's goals. William Mitchell, chair of The UCLA Foundation, closed the celebratory event by presenting Hirshberg with flowers.
For more information, contact Kathryn Carrico at: (310) 825-2558
