Tom and Carol Rakowski’s Bequest Will Continue Their Support of First-Rate Care

In 2020 Dr. Thomas J. Rakowski retired from Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care. As an integral part of Valley for 39 years, his accomplishments include serving as President of The Valley Hospital’s Medical Staff from 1993 to 1995 and as Chief of Hematology/Medical Oncology for Valley Medical Group. Tom and his wife of 45 years, Carol, have supported Valley’s mission since 1984, and today he serves on the Board of Trustees for The Valley Hospital Foundation. “Valley is a first-rate organization and attracts the best physicians,” Tom says. “When you see the Valley logo, you know there is a strong commitment to quality.”

This commitment is a testament to Valley’s strong culture. “Everyone is approachable and completely committed to safe, effective, efficient patient care, from environmental services to the president,” Tom says. “I am constantly impressed with how many people move out of the area and come to Valley for elective procedures due to their previous positive outcomes and their trust in Valley,” Tom says.

For Carol and Tom, support of Valley continues to be deeply personal. Their three children were born there, and they have long used Valley for their family’s health care needs. To ensure their support of Valley continues beyond their lifetimes, Tom and Carol have included an unrestricted bequest to The Valley Hospital Foundation in their estate plan to be used for the hospital’s areas of greatest need.

“As part of the Valley community, we feel an obligation to support the hospital,” they say. No matter the size of the gift, they believe other community members will benefit from contributing to the greater good of the organization.