John and Carrie Hayden Give Another $2M to Further Cancer Research at UC

A $2 million gift from John and Carrie Hayden will establish the Carrie K. Hayden Endowed Chair of Integrative Oncology Research at the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Integrative Health and Wellness at the College of Medicine. The chair will advance world-class integrative oncology research happening at the center and boost efforts to earn designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a “comprehensive cancer center.”

“This position will firmly establish UC as a national, and indeed international leader in integrative oncology research, ultimately translating into enhanced clinical care protocols and improved patient outcomes,” said John Hayden, retired president & CEO of the Midland Company.

“While traditional clinical treatments for cancer are yielding better outcomes every day, adopting a truly integrative approach will substantially improve the patient experience and perhaps yield even better outcomes,” said Carrie Hayden, the chair’s namesake and a two-time cancer survivor. “A plant-rich diet and an active lifestyle combined with mind and body stress reduction have been demonstrated to have tremendous healing potential.”

“We are so grateful for Carrie and John Hayden for their generosity and leadership,” said UC President Neville G. Pinto. “They are deeply committed to seeing the region become an international destination for cancer research, education and care. This is a gift that puts Cincinnati at the forefront of scientific innovation in cancer care.”

The UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, where the Hayden Chair will reside, is redesigning health care from a disease management model to a whole-person wellness care model. The center combines conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies (e.g., mindfulness, acupuncture) that focus on healthy lifestyle addressing stress, nutrition, movement, sleep and environment to reduce suffering and promote overall wellness.  

“We are focused on improving the health of our local and global community through innovative, internationally-recognized research, education, clinical practice and community engagement,” said Sian Cotton, director of the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness. “The Carrie K. Hayden Endowed Chair of Integrative Oncology Research will have an immeasurable effect on advancing our research efforts, educating the next generation of healthcare professionals and ultimately improve the lives of so many through integrative medicine.”

Andrew Filak Jr., MD, interim senior vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, noted the importance of community support in establishing endowed academic chairs at the college.

“An endowed chair helps us recruit key leaders and retain vital faculty and helps support important research efforts that might not be fully funded by grants,” Filak said. “It is a very prestigious honor for us to have an endowed chair in Carrie Hayden’s name. The Haydens’ endowment of this chair is a wonderful way of demonstrating their strong belief in the College of Medicine and showing how indispensable it is to the community.”

While the new chair’s impact on integrative oncology research promises to be significant, the gift also moves the needle on the region’s bid for NCI designation. This is important for the entire region because NCI centers receive the bulk of federal funding for advanced research, attract the nation’s top scientific talent and provide their surrounding communities with greater access to clinical trials.

The campaign for NCI designation is being led by the Cincinnati Cancer Center (CCC) and a team of 47 community members including John and Carrie Hayden. The CCC links the basic science, clinical research and cancer care teams of UC Health, UC and Cincinnati Children’s. In 2014, the Hayden family donated $2.1 million to create an endowed chair supporting the center’s director.

Featured image: Carrie and John Hayden. Photo/Chris Cone.