Crouse Health Foundation Announces Major Naming Gift for Breast Health Center

The Crouse Health Foundation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to announce a major bequest and new name for Crouse Hospital’s Breast Health Center.

On Oct. 12, 2015, Hadley Falk, MD, passed away at age 65. He had spent virtually his entire career as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, specializing in surgery for breast cancer patients.

Reflecting Dr. Falk’s years of deep concern for the well-being of Crouse patients, particularly those having breast cancer, his final act of caring was a bequest — the largest received in Crouse history — that will benefit the Dr. Hadley J. Falk Breast Health Center at Crouse Hospital, newly named in honor of his kindness and generosity.

“With such a generous gift comes great responsibility for Crouse,” said CEO Kimberly Boynton, “and we have committed to using these funds for endeavors that are consistent with Dr. Falk’s commitment to the best in patient care and Crouse’s strategic initiatives. We sought input from Dr. Falk’s friends and professional colleagues on how best to perpetuate his work with Crouse breast care patients.”

According to Foundation President Carrie Berse, as a result of those conversations, monies received to date have funded a new ultrasound machine and other upgrades to equipment and software used in the facility; education for staff; an endowment fund in his name that will help underwrite future Falk Breast Health Center needs; the purchase of instrumentation for plastic surgery procedures in our Madison-Irving Surgery Center, where Dr. Falk frequently did his plastics cases; and support for the construction of the first patient care unit at Crouse featuring all private rooms, which is scheduled to open later this year.

“Hal Falk was respected by his fellow physicians and loved by his patients for his caring and expertise. His skills made a tremendous difference in the lives of those who entrusted him with their care,” said Berse.

Sharing recollections about Dr. Falk during today’s ceremony included Boynton, as well as Marci and Mark Erlebacher, MD, a Crouse primary care physician who knew Dr. Falk as a friend and colleague. “Dr. Falk was always focused on outcomes, for his patients, not income.” The President of the Crouse Hospital Medical David Landsberg, MD, an intensivist with Critical Care Associates, recalled being with Dr. Falk in his last hours in the Crouse Intensive Care Unit and offered a toast to his late colleague.

The Medical Director of the Falk Breast Health Care Center, Stephen Montgomery, MD, said that while he did not know Dr. Falk well, he is “thankful for and humbled by his generous bequest that will make it possible for the hospital to acquire the technology that will help us continue the fight against breast cancer.”

For more information about the Falk Breast Health Center’s bequest, contact the Crouse Health Foundation’s President, Carrie Berse, at 315-470-7004 or carrieberse@crouse.org. Women seeking mammograms or breast cancer patients seeking assistance may call the Falk Breast Health Care Center at 315-470-5880 for an appointment.