Celia Douglas and her husband, Leland Douglas, are ardent supporters of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center.

Breast cancer survivor Celia Douglas knew from experience that there was great need for a comprehensive breast cancer center in the East Bay, so she did something about it.

With the support of her husband of 47 years, Leland, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of the new Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at Alta Bates Summit, raising and donating significant sums as a member of the center’s fundraising steering committee, lending the cause her generous spirit and boundless enthusiasm. “It was the right thing to do for the community,” says Douglas, who was treated at Alta Bates Summit in the late 1990s. “I remember driving from location to location back then, being frightened and worried and thinking it would be wonderful if there was one place to go for all these procedures.”

Douglas’ efforts are also inspired by the hope that others can access skilled specialists such as those who advised and cared for her, including OB/GYN Goldee Gross, M.D., who told Douglas she’d “steer her through all this,” then called every night for three months to check in; surgeon Arthur Stanten, M.D.; surgical oncologist Lisa Bailey, M.D., now the Breast Health Center’s medical director; and Michael Cassidy, M.D., the head of oncology who also recruited Douglas to serve on the Foundation board.

Nowadays, Douglas revels in her return to good health and her active family life, including time with Leland, who owns Douglas Parking; their sons, Steven and David Douglas; their daughter Sabrina Flynn; their children’s spouses and six grandchildren. And now that the Breast Health Center is opening soon, will she keep up her support? “Absolutely,” declares Douglas. “It has to have money to continue and I’m excited to see what comes next.”