Physician’s Donation Helps Provide Breast Treatment for Women in Need

breast-treatment-checkDr. Gustavo Galante (back row, center), a board-certified plastic surgeon on the Franciscan Healthcare-Munster staff, recently donated $1,500 to the year-old Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond Mammography Supplemental Fund, which provides financial assistance for women who cannot afford further treatment after a mammography screening indicates it is needed.

The fund was the idea of Cindy Duran (front row, left), Franciscan St. Margaret Health oncology director; who requested assistance in creating it from Tony Englert (second from left) Franciscan Alliance Foundation regional executive director. Galante said he donated a portion of proceeds from breast surgeries he performed during October, which is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Galante last year donated funds to St. Clare Health Clinic in Crown Point to provide mammograms for women who otherwise cannot afford them.

“It is a nice way to give back to the community,” he said of his efforts, adding, “I believe in corporate citizenship and philanthropy and hopefully we can encourage other businesses to give back to their communities.”

Also shown at Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer are (from left) Dr. Sasmita Misra, a breast radiologist; Burt Piper, Franciscan St. Margaret Health vice president of ancillary services; and Pat Lewis, Franciscan St. Margaret Health Breast Care Center quality care technologist.