On Tuesday, Sept. 12, City of Hope announced a $100 million gift from philanthropist couple Andrew and Peggy Cherng, co-founders and co-CEOs of Panda Express, which will be dedicated to the creation of Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology at City of Hope. 

Set to be developed at campuses in Irvine and Los Angeles, City of Hope’s national Integrative oncology program will become the first-of-its-kind, as it incorporates Chinese medicine and other methods used in Eastern healing.

In terms of methodology, studies provided by the Journal of Clinical Oncology have found that acupuncture, hypnosis, general massage, meditation and yoga practice have provided evidence for pain management in certain types of cancer treatments.   

Robert Stone, CEO of City of Hope and the Helen and Morgan Chu Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, expressed gratitude and honor for the Cherng’s generous donation. 

“We are grateful for this gift, which will allow us to lead the way in integrative oncology and continue to pioneer compassionate medical innovation as we have done at City of Hope for more than 100 years,” Stone said.

He added that innovative holistic care is just as important as medical treatments.  

“Innovative and holistic care is part of our culture and mission; we are committed to supporting and treating the whole patient — not just the cancer. I am honored that our cancer expertise, world-class research environment, national patient population, robust clinical trials program and compassionate ethos have prepared City of Hope to lead this work.”

Peggy Cherng, who obtained a Ph.D. in electrical engineering prior to founding the Panda Restaurant Group, said it was her goal to unite East and West through her businesses, and is inspired to do the same with this philanthropic donation. 

“Panda Restaurant Group began 50 years ago with a vision to bring the best of Eastern and Western flavors and cultures together through food. In the same spirit, we hope the Cherng Family Center of Integrative Oncology becomes a model of bringing the best of Eastern and Western medicine together to unlock holistic healing for our communities,” Cherng said. “At Panda, one of our core values is giving and we are grateful to help establish, through this gift from the Panda Charitable Family Foundation, pioneering integrated cancer care to not only save lives, but improve the quality of life for cancer patients.” 

Looking ahead, Edward S. Kim, M.D., M.B.A., vice physician-in-chief, City of Hope National Medical Center, said this nuanced Oncology program will not only meet the needs of patients, but will also accelerate cancer research, and spearhead the development of new treatments that could be used on a global scale. 

“The Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology will be the epicenter of translational research, new drug development and holistic care that meets a pressing need for patients and enhances our connection to the diverse communities we serve,” Kim said. “City of Hope is creating a new standard of care through a scientifically rigorous process. Our vision is to create an international destination for integrative oncology that transforms the way people with cancer receive care.”

For now, City of Hope will begin its nuanced vision of Integrative Oncology Program in Southern California, with plans to expand nationwide. The program will be led by Richard T. Lee, M.D., who currently serves as the Cherng Family Director’s Chair for the Center for Integrative Oncology at City of Hope.  

Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope, said the Cherng family’s gift is reflective of the years of volunteerism at the foundation of City of Hope.  

“This visionary gift from the Cherng family is a profound testament to their generosity and continued desire to give back to the community,” Bertell said. “Donors and volunteers have powered City of Hope’s lifesaving work for more than a century, and their commitment will have a significant and lasting impact on the future of cancer care. We are so grateful to the Panda Charitable Family Foundation for its leadership in helping us create the most holistic approach to cancer care, anywhere.”

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