Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit Opens at Mercy Medical Center

Friends and family of the late Andy Yee join Mercy leaders for the opening of the new Palliative Care Unit named in his honor. 

The program, which drew more than 100 people, featured a blessing by The Most Rev. William Byrne, Bishop of Springfield, and remarks by Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., President of Community Hospitals; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Philip Glynn, M.D., Director of Medical Oncology for the Sister Caritas Cancer Center; Sarah Yee, Andy Yee’s widow; and Tony Ravosa, close friend to Andy and the Yee family.

Following his cancer diagnosis, Andy Yee sought treatment at Mercy’s Sister Caritas Cancer Center, where the well-known restaurateur and his family developed a strong relationship with Dr. Glynn, his oncologist. Grateful for the high quality, compassionate care Yee received until his passing, Sarah Yee approached hospital leaders about creating a space dedicated to palliative care for patients. Following this meeting, Yee’s supporters joined Mercy philanthropy leaders in a community fund-raising effort that brought the hospital’s new palliative care unit to fruition.

Located on the fifth floor of Mercy Medical Center, the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit has been designed to provide an inviting, soothing space for end-of-life care for patients and families, as well as patients with chronic illnesses requiring pain and symptom management. All clinical staff involved in caring for patients and family members on the new unit receive specialized training that focuses on palliative care.

“This project has truly been a community effort, and we are tremendously grateful to the 260 donors who raised 1.5 million dollars to bring it to completion,” said Tim Stanton, Vice President of Philanthropy, Trinity Health Of New England. “We also anticipate that our fund-raising efforts will continue so that we may support the important work of our providers as they care for patients and families in this beautiful space.”