Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Celebrates Pioneering Leadership, Honoring Former Presidents with Named Floor in Future Cancer Hospital

Yesterday, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute paid tribute to the extraordinary legacies of three former presidents: Drs. David G. Nathan, Edward J. Benz Jr., and Laurie H. Glimcher at the Past Presidents, Future Promise: An Evening of Celebration event. Dana-Farber recognized how each president’s leadership helped build the foundation for its next era of impact—from advances in bench-to-bedside research to the elevation of global patient care standards to the future cancer hospital. As part of the celebration, Dana-Farber announced that a specialty floor in the future cancer hospital—where the most advanced methods of care will be delivered—will be named in tribute to Nathan, Benz, and Glimcher, through a gift from Anita and Josh Bekenstein, current chair of the Dana-Farber Board of Trustees. The future cancer hospital these leaders helped make possible is designed to transform inpatient oncology care in New England and will be the region’s only dedicated adult inpatient cancer hospital.  

The evening at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute brought together Dana-Farber leadership, trustees, faculty, staff, and members of the community. Remarks from Dr. Benjamin L. Ebert, president and CEO of Dana-Farber, Dr. William C. Hahn, executive vice president and chief operating and transformation officer, and Nathan, underscored the transformative leadership of each president and connected their tenures directly to the vision, momentum, and promise of the future cancer hospital. The new hospital will be a state-of-the-art, 300-bed cancer hospital for adult patients.

“Dana-Farber’s future cancer hospital is possible because of leaders who continually push this institution forward—scientifically, clinically, and in service to patients and their families,” said Ebert. “Honoring Drs. Nathan, Benz, and Glimcher reflects the extraordinary impact each of them had on Dana-Farber’s evolution and the strong foundation each built for the next generation of cancer research and care.”

“This tribute is about the leaders who helped shape Dana-Farber to what it is today,” said Josh and Anita Bekenstein. “Drs. Nathan, Benz, and Glimcher each guided Dana-Farber through moments of profound progress for patients, families, faculty, staff, and cancer patients around the world. We are honored to recognize their legacy in a place that will carry Dana-Farber’s mission forward for generations.”

From research growth and institutional expansion to equity, early detection, and a new vision for inpatient cancer care, Nathan, Benz, and Glimcher helped define Dana-Farber’s next chapter. Nathan, who served as president of Dana-Farber from 1995 to 2000, is a pioneer in pediatric hematology and oncology whose career helped define modern patient-centered academic medicine. Benz, who served as president and CEO from 2000 through 2016, expanded Dana-Farber's physical footprint in Boston and across the region, advanced survivorship efforts, and opened the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care. Glimcher, a distinguished immunologist who served as president and CEO from 2016 to 2024, led Dana-Farber through a period marked by growth, discovery, and a sharpened focus on improving outcomes for patients, playing a critical role in early visions of the future cancer hospital and Dana-Farber’s collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

“We are grateful to Anita and Josh for the generous gift that has made this named specialty floor possible,” shared Melany Duval, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer. “This named specialty floor will stand as a reflection of Drs. Nathan, Benz, and Glimcher’s leadership, and of Dana-Farber’s enduring commitment to research discoveries and great compassionate care for every patient it serves.”