Ten Years of Compassion: Honoring Dr. Joe Rhoades’ Legacy

Established at the 2015 Hope Gala, the Dr. Joe Rhoades Cancer Compassion Fund continues to ease burdens for cancer patients and families facing overwhelming challenges.

In 2015, at the Mary Greeley Foundation’s annual Hope Gala, Radiation Oncologist Dr. Shane Hopkins stepped to the microphone and introduced a new fund in memory of a beloved colleague and friend, Dr. Joe Rhoades. The Dr. Joe Rhoades Cancer Compassion Fund was born that night, carrying forward the deep empathy and patient-first values that defined Dr. Rhoades’ career.

“Joe was a real champion of doing good regardless of the challenges,” says Dr. Hopkins. “He was basically a poster boy for Mary Greeley’s motto of ‘doing what’s right.’ From day one, I felt confident he would be proud of what we were doing.”

The response from the community was immediate and overwhelming. That night, nearly every guest in the room made a contribution, laying the foundation for a fund that has now supported hundreds of patients and distributed more than $200,000 in the past decade.

Easing the Hidden Burdens of Cancer

Administered by the Mary Greeley Foundation, the Rhoades Fund is designed to help cancer patients and families with needs that fall outside of traditional medical care or insurance coverage—expenses like gas cards, meals, overnight stays, massage services or even small but crucial needs like medications, and medical supplies. The support is often modest in size but powerful in impact.

“The financial toll of cancer is enormous,” says Sarah Heikens, MSN, MPA, RN, OCN, NE-BC, Director of Oncology Services at Mary Greeley. “We’ve helped people with hotel stays during treatment, with meal vouchers, with medication copays. Sometimes it’s just $20 for gas, but it means someone can make their next appointment. That’s a big deal when they’re already overwhelmed.”

Heikens explains that support from the fund is based on financial need and accessed most often through Mary Greeley’s patient navigators, who identify barriers to care during their work with patients. Each time a patient receives assistance, they also meet with a navigator—allowing the team to uncover further needs and connect patients with additional resources.

“It’s not a gas card program,” Heikens says. “It’s a compassion fund. Every time we help someone, we try to ease a burden. We may not be able to eliminate every hardship, but we can help carry the load.”

A Practical and Powerful Resource

Before the Rhoades Fund, care teams at Mary Greeley often found themselves piecing together support from national organizations like the American Cancer Society—valuable, but often too broad in scope or too slow to address an immediate need. Sometimes, staff would reach into their own pockets to help cover expenses.

“We all did that,” Heikens says. “But sometimes we just had to tell people we couldn’t help. With the Rhoades Fund, we don’t have to say that as often. It’s made a huge difference in what we’re able to offer.”

Dr. Hopkins agrees.

“The fund is a game changer,” he says. “When someone is sitting in front of us with an overwhelming concern—wondering how they’d get to the next appointment or pay for a critical medication—we can offer help immediately. It isn’t left up in the air anymore.”

He also commends the stewardship of the fund.

“There’s always some trust involved when donating to a cause like this,” Dr. Hopkins says. “I’ve been happy to see the fund used judiciously and responsibly—honoring Dr. Rhoades’ commitment to doing what’s right.”

A Lasting Tribute to a Beloved Physician

Dr. Joe Rhoades is remembered by colleagues as a quiet but deeply committed advocate for patients.

“Even just saying his name still makes me smile,” says Heikens. “He was so generous, so genuinely kind, and so loved by patients and staff alike. This fund is exactly the kind of thing he would have wanted his name to be connected to.”

While not every patient knows the story behind the fund, its impact is clear. Heikens describes countless moments where a small gesture—made possible through the Rhoades Fund—has provided critical relief at just the right time.

“You can’t describe how good it feels to be able to help someone who’s truly desperate,” she says. “Sometimes we’re not solving everything. But we’re helping. We’re reminding people that they’re not alone.”

Looking Ahead

Each year, the Mary Greeley Foundation continues to raise funds to ensure that the Dr. Joe Rhoades Cancer Compassion Fund remains a reliable resource for those facing cancer in our community. And with each dollar spent—on a tank of gas, a hotel room, or a co-pay—the memory of Dr. Rhoades lives on in the care provided to others.

“We wanted to remember Joe in a meaningful way,” says Dr. Hopkins. “Ten years later, I think we’ve done that. And we’re just getting started.”

If you’d like to support the Dr. Joe Rhoades Cancer Compassion Fund and help ease the burden of cancer for patients and families in our community, visit mgmc.org/foundation.