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Cheng named distinguished philanthropist

05 / 02 / 2007

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OSHKOSH, Wis. – Dr. Theresa Cheng has been named the 2007 Distinguished Philanthropist by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP)—Midwest. Cheng was presented with the award April 30 in St. Louis.

Last month Cheng, a neurosurgeon at Affinity Mercy Medical Center, announced she was making a $2.5 million gift to the Mercy Health Foundation to establish the Dr. Theresa M. Cheng Endowment for Medical Excellence and Compassion. The gift will be used to provide neurosurgery services to low-income individuals locally, nationally and internationally. It is the largest single donation to the Mercy Health Foundation to date.

The fund also will help grow and further develop a state-of-the-art neurosurgery program at Affinity Mercy Medical Center by enhancing equipment, programming and staff skills.

The distinguished philanthropist award is presented to an individual within the 13-state area represented by AHP Midwest region who is dedicated to making a difference through healthcare philanthropy. In making the presentation, AHP leaders cited Cheng’s efforts to encourage other physicians to join her in leading philanthropy for hospitals and health systems, as well as her compassion for the poor.

Cheng, a Neenah native, joined Affinity in 2002 to start the neurosurgery department at Affinity Mercy Medical Center. In 2006, Affinity Mercy Medical Center was named the top hospital in the state, and among the top 5 percent in the nation, for spine surgery, joint replacement and total orthopaedics, according to HealthGrades. Cheng recently was named one of the country’s top surgeons by the Consumers’ Research Council of America.

The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy is an international professional organization dedicated exclusively to developing the men and women who encourage charity in North America’s health care systems. Established in 1967, AHP is a not-for-profit organization with its international headquarters in Falls Church, Va.

Started in 1971, the Mercy Health Foundation has helped fund projects that promote health and well-being in Northeast Wisconsin. The majority of funds contributed by donors help to advance the programs and mission of Affinity Mercy Medical Center and Affinity Health System.

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is ranked 24 among the top 100 integrated health care networks nationwide (Verispan 2008). Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 37th among the 250 rated health plans in the nation in terms of customer satisfaction and clinical performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 23 family practice and specialty clinics in 13 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.