Doctors to go ‘bald’ to benefit cancer research









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From left: Alfred Grovas, M.D., Bruce Gordon, M.D., display their freshly-shaved heads while visiting with leukemia patient, Alexandria Roark, at the 2007 Shave-A-Thon. Drs. Grovas and Gordon will shave their heads again today during this year’s version of the event, which raises money for childhood cancer research.

UNMC’s hospital partner — The Nebraska Medical Center — will be transformed into a barbershop today to raise money for childhood cancer research.

Four pediatric oncologists — Alfred Grovas, M.D., Bruce Gordon, M.D., Donald Coulter, M.D and James Harper, M.D. — have agreed to give up their hair at the Shave-A-Thon to benefit The St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

The event will be held at 1 p.m. in the Durham Outpatient Center West Atrium.

“I hope to give my patients a good laugh again this year,” said Dr. Gordon, who also shaved his head last year.

The doctors won’t be the only ones shaving their heads, a number of nurses and other medical center staff have signed up as well. In addition, a father will go bald in honor of his daughter, who received a bone marrow transplant last year and is still in the hospital.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation was started in 1999 and is the world’s largest volunteer fundraising program for childhood cancer, which each year takes the lives of more U.S. children than any other disease.

If you are interested in donating to St. Baldrick’s Foundation, contact Hoff, the event organizer at 559-6589. Donations will also be accepted at the event.