Jeff Lobach has dedicated more than three decades to serving local healthcare initiatives through WellSpan and its predecessor organizations.
Meanwhile, healthcare took on a different meaning a few years ago for Bill Scott when cancer claimed the life of his sister-in-law Regina.
Those past experiences magnetically drew the two men to a fundraising campaign – and WellSpan’s mission of local non-profit healthcare – to bring advanced oncology care closer to home.
In April, that vision for the WellSpan York Cancer Center became a reality as Lobach and Scott co-chaired the WellSpan York Health Foundation’s capital campaign, which raised nearly $5.7M to assist in the renovation and expansion of the facility which will open soon.
“Six or eight months before this campaign, I lost my sister-in-law. She had to travel to different locations for care during her battle with ovarian cancer and I witnessed the added stress it put on the situation,” explained Scott, who spent most of his career in York as a human resources executive at Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff and Graham Capital.
“As the vision for this project at WellSpan was to consolidate, update and expand our oncology services, it was an easy decision for me to get on board as a way to honor Regina.”
Added Lobach, a managing partner and CEO at the Barley Snyder law firm, “Bill’s story unfortunately is one of many and just reinforces the need to have quality healthcare in our region. I think we all saw how important that can be during the pandemic and WellSpan was able to meet that challenge because it is locally governed and knows how to support the healthcare needs of their communities.”
Located in Apple Hill Medical Center, WellSpan York Cancer Center offers a full spectrum of state-of-the-art cancer treatment and supportive services under one roof. Services include radiation therapy, medical oncology, surgical services, and outpatient infusion services, as well as oncology social workers, oncology dietitians, nurse educators, nurse navigators and a financial counselor.
In addition, WellSpan York Cancer Center offers a robust clinical trials program which includes a broad spectrum of new treatment modalities for newly diagnosed and/or recurrent cancers.
Community rallies behind campaign
Lobach and Scott led the largest capital campaign in WellSpan York Health Foundation’s history which exceeded a goal of $5M and generated more than 1,100 generous gifts from individuals and families as well as businesses and community organizations in York County and beyond. More than 300 WellSpan team members at all levels within the organization also supported the campaign.
According to Lobach, the campaign committee consisted of 12 members with a mix of new volunteers and campaign veterans.
With a high-quality oncology program and teams already in place at WellSpan, donors paved the way for a modern, integrated cancer center that will make a transformative difference for patients, loved ones, friends and neighbors.
Also incorporated into the design and expansion of the new cancer center was feedback from patients and their families on ways they can be supported.
“This deepens our ability to serve our communities. Even the sunlight that shines into portions of this facility was designed for our patients who want to see sunlight,” Scott said.
Not just philanthropists
While the volunteer committee of the WellSpan York Health Foundation board set out on this bold initiative to help transform cancer care in York County two years ago, Lobach and Scott were no strangers to partnership.
Twenty years ago, they were serving together as Scoutmasters, helping the youth of East York advance through Scouting and complete many community service projects.
The collaboration blossomed into a friendship and their civic-minded nature has been helping the York community ever since.
Lobach’s philanthropic ventures have gone as far as the Peruvian rainforest on house building and medical missions including taking a dental care team to remote river villages never visited by a dentist, as part of his son’s Eagle Scout project.
While he’ll never forget that trip, working alongside a friend in conjunction with WellSpan to help those in his own community is close to his heart.
“Almost everyone in the community has been touched personally or at least through family and friends with a cancer diagnosis,” Lobach said.
“To raise almost six million dollars through a pandemic may say a lot about the campaign, but it also says a lot about this community, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.”
Learn more about the WellSpan York Cancer Center by clicking here.