Trending

Advertisement

Poway couple leaving $2 million to UCSD center

Share

By Emily Sorensen

A Poway woman was so moved by the care she received at the UCSD Center for Pain Medicine for her chronic, debilitating back and neck pain that she and her husband have pledged to leave the center $2 million from their estate.

Janice and David Katz, who moved to Poway from Chicago after retiring, had been looking forward to a full and active retirement in the warmth of San Diego. All their plans were sidelined, however, after Janice began experiencing debilitating pain from numerous orthopedic issues.

“My quality of life was declining rapidly,” said Janice Katz in a press release. “Even though I had been suffering with some pain for years, I took a significant turn for the worse in February. I couldn’t even lift my head without severe pain and had to sleep in a sitting position. Several doctors told me there wasn’t anything that could be done without major surgery. Even then, they suggested that the surgery might significantly reduce my mobility.”

After exploring many other options, the Katzes turned to the UC San Diego Center for Pain Medicine. The center’s cutting-edge, unique treatments for pain have helped Janice Katz live the live she dreamed of, able to play golf, tennis, cooking, and traveling the world without pain.

In addition to providing $2 million from their estate, the Katzes have also gifted the center with over $10,000 in current-use funds, to be used to provide further treatment to those in chronic and debilitating pain.

The UCSD Center for Pain Medicine offers cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments and implantable therapies that help many patients regain their quality of life and function while avoiding surgery. Treatment options may also include medical acupuncture, therapeutic exercise, cognitive behavioral therapies and biofeedback.

“We are fortunate to be able to provide a full spectrum of possible therapies in pain medicine,” said Farshad Ahadian, MD, director for the Center for Pain Medicine, in a press release. “We have a gifted group of board certified pain specialists with vast experience in interventional therapies that can provide tremendous value for our patients.”

Advertisement