Sonora, CA…The Adventist Health Sonora Foundation’s annual gala, held September 29, 2024, at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds, raised $163,450 toward a campaign to purchase a new PET/CT machine, a critical piece of equipment for the care of nearly every patient receiving treatment at the Diana J. White Cancer Institute. The event’s live auction also raised $15,050 for the Cancer Patient Support Fund, which helps local cancer patients and their families with transportation to and from appointments, groceries, utility bills, medication co-pays and much more.

Photo: Jason Jeffery, MD, accepts the Distinguished Physician Award. Credit: David Hammond Brown

Photo: More than 170 people gathered at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds on Sunday, September 29 for the annual gala. Credit: David Hammond Brown.

“I am continually humbled and inspired by the generosity of our community, especially each year at our gala,” says Andee Keller, Adventist Health Sonora philanthropy director. “The support of our donors enables us to bring new and expanded healthcare services to the Mother Lode, and this year’s investment in cancer care technology is another great example of what we can achieve for our community together.”

Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) are used for cancer diagnosis, treatment planning and assessment of how well treatments are working. The existing machine at the Diana J. White Cancer Institute is nearing the end of its expected useful lifespan, and the demand for PET/CT scans is growing – more than 400 new patients are treated at the cancer center annually, a figure that has been on the rise over the last several years.
“There are many advantages to investing in a new PET/CT machine, from the dramatically improved imaging capabilities to significantly faster scans and AI features to detect abnormalities,” explains Greg McCulloch, Adventist Health Sonora president. “At the center of all those advantages is our patients and the positive impacts this new technology will have for their experience and outcomes.”

More than 170 people attended the Gala, which featured “A Night at The Met” theme and included an interactive art demonstration and fashion exhibit. The program also featured the presentation of the second annual Distinguished Physician Award to internal medicine physician Jason Jeffery, MD, in honor of the remarkable impact he has made in the lives of his patients.

More information about Gala 2024: A Night at the Met and efforts to fundraise for the new PET/CT machine are available at AdventistHealthSonora.org/Gala or by calling the Philanthropy Office at 209-536-5017.

###

About Adventist Health
Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit, integrated health system serving more than 100 communities on the West Coast and Hawai’i with over 440 sites of care, including 28 acute care facilities. Founded on Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in hospitals, clinics, home care, and hospice agencies in both rural and urban communities. Our compassionate and talented team of more than 38,000 includes employees, physicians, Medical Staff, and volunteers driven in pursuit of one mission: living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. We are committed to staying true to our heritage by providing patient-centered, quality care. Together, we are transforming the healthcare experience with an innovative and whole-person focus on physical, mental, spiritual, and social healing to support community well-being.