THE HARRIET L. NEEDLEMAN CAREGIVER’S EDUCATION FUND

1/22/19 Update

Proceeds from this endowed fund in Harriet’s name have been driving the efforts of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to elevate cancer care for nearly 20 years.  The fund was established in honor of what would have been Harriet’s 51th birthday in 2000 in partnership with her clinical team, Susan Block, MD and Larry Shulman, MD to support education and training for clinicians in providing compassionate care.  At that time, Dr. Block was building the palliative medicine program at Dana-Farber, which ultimately became the Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care in 2009. 

Harriet’s Fund has been an important resource for Dr. Block and her successor, James Tulsky, MD, in providing innovative and varied professional development offerings to physicians, nurses, fellows, social workers, and other caregivers across the Institute.  The Fund has bolstered the Department’s ability to offer both traditional educational resources as well as test innovative learning models. Representative offerings from recent years include:

Lectures by renowned palliative care clinician-researchers

Psychosocial Oncology Grand Rounds

Palliative Care Grand Rounds

Seminars led by faculty at the Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care, the field’s international resource for the best practices in education and practice.

Pilot test of an online communication skills course that provides junior and senior oncologists with feedback on actual clinic conversations with their own patients as a foundation for learning

Communication trainings for medical residents

The Harriet L. Needleman Caregiver’s Education Fund will exist in perpetuity as a tribute to Harriet’s legacy.  Annual distributions from Harriet’s Fund ensure that patients will continue to receive compassionate care without compromise.  

DESIGNATION TERM AGREEMENT

These gifts to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute honor the memory of an extraordinary wife, mother, teacher and friend to many, while supporting the caregivers of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. With great respect and appreciation for the sensitivity, care and concern shown by the physicians, nurses and staff at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Harriet L. Needleman Caregiver’s Education Fund will be established according to the following terms:

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• The total sum of $55,658 (as of 2/1/00) given in honor of Harriet’s 50th birthday, and subsequently in her memory, will be used to establish the . Additional monies from friends and family members may be added to the fund at any time.

• The will be managed by the Chief of Adult Psycho-Social Oncology, presently Susan D. Block, M.D who will work in close consultation with the Vice Chair of Clinical Services, presently Lawrence N. Shulman, M.D. and the Chair of the Department of Adult Oncology, presently Lee Nadler, M.D. to direct the use of the proceeds of the Fund.

• Harriet L. Needleman Caregiver’s Education Fund will be used exclusively to present teaching seminars and conferences on a regular basis to new and/or seasoned physicians, nurses and staff to ensure that the kind of sensitive and compassionate care shown to Harriet and her family during the course of her illness continues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

• It is the expressed wish and requirement of the donor that the principal of this endowment not be invaded.The monies in the Fund will be invested with Dana-Farber's other investments and the amount of distributions from the Fund will be made according to the Institute's endowment distribution and spending policy.

• A written annual report on the value and execution of the conferences and/seminars will be provided by the Institute to the donor or his nominee, or heirs, in a timely fashion.

• If, for three successive years, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute cannot use the income from the endowment fund, the Institute’s Board of Trustees, in consultation with the Institute President and with the consent of the donors or the donors heirs, may designate the use of those funds for another purpose that fulfills the stated intent of the donors, until such time as the original purpose of the fund again can be fulfilled.

• This agreement is conditioned upon Dana-Farber (or any successor thereto) remaining a charitable organization, gifts to which are deductible for federal income, gift and estate tax purposes. This Agreement may be altered only by a subsequent agreement in writing executed by Howard Needleman or his heirs and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

• This agreement is conditioned upon the Institute (or any successor thereto) remaining a charitable organization, gifts to which are deductible for federal tax, gift and estate tax purposes. This Agreement may only be modified by agreement in writing executed by Howard L. Needleman, D.M.D or his heirs and the Institute.

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Howard L. Needleman, D.M.D              date                                Dorothy E. Puhy                                       date

                                                                                                         Chief Financial Officer