Roswell Park Leaders Comment on Final New York State Budget

BUFFALO, NY — With the New York State budget for 2013-14 now final, leaders from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park) expressed their appreciation for the leadership of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and members of the state Senate and Assembly throughout the current legislative session.

The final negotiated budget maintains state support toward Roswell Park’s capital expenditures and operations at the current level of funding. Additionally, the final budget restores several line items dedicated to cancer screening and tobacco-control programs that were in jeopardy this year.

“I would like to thank our state legislators and Governor Cuomo for their continued support of Roswell Park’s mission,” says Donald L. Trump, MD, President and CEO of Roswell Park. “Throughout this budget process they listened attentively to our needs and concerns, and the fiscal-year budget reflects their recognition of the Institute’s critical contributions to the region, the state and the nation.” 

Continuing a process initiated with last year’s budget, the Institute is preparing a plan to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and chart a path toward fiscal and operational independence from the state. The plan is expected to be completed and presented to New York officials this summer, well ahead of the January 2014 deadline. 

“It is clear that Governor Cuomo and our legislative leaders recognize the importance of maintaining Roswell Park as a nationally recognized cancer research, treatment and education center,” says Michael Joseph, Chair of the Roswell Park Board of Directors and President of Clover Management Inc.

“We are grateful not only to Governor Cuomo and his team at the Department of Health, led by Commissioner Nirav Shah,” Dr. Trump adds, “but to our incredible legislative delegation for always supporting the work and the mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.”

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The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.