Megan Leigh Brown Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer
Filling a Vital Need for the Future
Marie and Kevin Brown, of Park, City, Utah, established the Megan Leigh Brown Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer in memory of their daughter, Megan, whom they lost to ovarian cancer in 2009. Megan inspired her family and friends with courage and grace throughout her cancer journey.
“At the age of 22, just three weeks after college commencement, our beautiful daughter Megan sat in a hospital with the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. How does an otherwise healthy young woman get a cancer that generally strikes post-menopausal women?” Marie wondered.
Though Megan had excellent care in Utah, the Browns eventually found themselves at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where Megan was part of a clinical trial that reduced the size of the tumor. It wasn’t a cure, but it would buy precious time.
“We knew from the start that the odds were not great. But we maintained that someone had to be on the right side of the equation, and that she could beat the odds. With every surgery, every clinic visit, every dashed hope, we kept the mantra, ‘Megan, you can be the miracle.’”
Sadly, Megan’s miracle was not to be a cure for her. She fought for four years and passed away July 25, 2009.
Yet ‘Megan’s Miracle’ continues. “While women who get the care of gynecological oncologists increase their chances for survival, many communities across the country lack physicians with that specialty. Our desire is to see more doctors trained to care for women with this life-changing disease,” says Kevin.
The Megan Leigh Brown Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer is a start. The Browns established the fellowship in honor of Megan to increase the quality and availability of specialized training in gynecologic oncology. The endowment helps fund the four-year educational fellowships of physicians interested in ovarian cancer research and patient care at MD Anderson.
Michael Frumovitz, M.D., associate professor and fellowship program director of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, is proud of the role the Brown Fellowship plays in the training of the next generation of oncologists. “The diversity of the patient population and the dedication of the clinical and research faculty set this department apart from any other. The Megan Leigh Brown Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer helps make our world-class fellowship program accessible to skilled physicians.” says Dr. Frumovitz.
Support from the Brown Fellowship has funded educational resources for fellows, lab supplies critical to successful research and travel to conferences and seminars at which fellows present research findings while networking with other oncologists. This support allows future cancer care leaders to remain up-to-date on the most recent developments in their field, which can save lives.
Thanks to the Megan Leigh Brown Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer, budding oncologists at MD Anderson will continue to receive world-class training, and the need for well-trained physicians will be met in perpetuity.
If you would like more information about how to start an endowment, please contact the Development Office at giving@mdanderson.org ♦ 713-792-3450