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David and Martha Ho Gift $5.4 Million to Advance Cancer Care at Providence Saint John’s Health Center

A $5.4 million gift from Saint John’s Health Center Foundation Trustee David Ho and his wife, Martha Ho, is advancing cancer care at Providence Saint John’s Health Center through the introduction of the Varian Ethos Linear Accelerator, an innovative radiation therapy system. 

Made through the S. H. Ho Foundation Limited, the gift supports adaptive radiation therapy at Saint John’s Cancer Institute, expanding treatment options for patients 

Bringing adaptive radiation therapy to patients
Unlike traditional radiation systems that rely on fixed treatment plans, the Ethos system uses high-quality imaging and artificial intelligence to adjust therapy in real time based on changes in a patient’s body. This approach helps clinicians treat tumors more precisely while limiting exposure to healthy tissue. 

Varian Ethos Linear Accelerator
At Providence Saint John’s, the technology will enhance care for patients with prostate, pancreatic, bladder, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers while increasing the health center’s capacity to treat more patients.  

Saint John’s Cancer Institute has led cancer research, treatment and education for more than 35 years, with a multidisciplinary approach that brings together specialists in prevention, early detection and advanced therapies. 

A longstanding connection to Saint John’s
David and Martha share a longstanding, personal connection to Saint John’s, where their three children and nine grandchildren were born. David has served as a foundation trustee since 2010, and Martha is an active member of the Irene Dunne Guild. Together, their leadership and generosity have supported initiatives that have expanded Saint John’s campus, advanced women’s health and elevated patient experience. 

Strengthening cancer treatment capabilities
This philanthropic investment expands the number of patients who can be treated and strengthens how care is delivered. The new system is expected to provide more efficient treatments, helping meet the growing demand for cancer care in the community. It marks a meaningful step forward in how cancer care is delivered at Providence Saint John’s. 

Pictured from left: Robert C. Wollman, M.D., radiation oncologist and medical director of Providence Saint John’s Radiation Oncology Department, and associate professor at Saint John’s Cancer Institute; Sheryl A. Bourgeois, PhD, president and CEO of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation; Michael Ricks, chief executive, Providence LA-Coastal Service Area and Providence Saint John’s Health Center; Trustee David Ho and wife Martha Ho; and Kim Kowsky, philanthropy director, Saint John’s Health Center Foundation