Paul May and Frank Stein Lead Movement Toward “No Recovery Time” Surgery

How do you eliminate weeks of painful recovery following complicated gastrointestinal surgery? That’s easy — don’t have surgery.

Instead, consider having an outpatient procedure at the Paul May and Frank Stein Interventional Endoscopy Center at CPMCOpens new window. By using flexible endoscopes with miniature surgical devices, we can treat blockages, polyps, gastrointestinal cancers, stones, tumors, internal bleeding and other conditions that — until a few years ago — required major surgery.

That means no incisions, no pain and virtually no recovery time. You literally can get up and walk away about 10 minutes after the treatment is done.

A Shared Vision for Saving Lives

Paul May and Frank Stein both had family members who died from pancreatic cancer, a condition that today is often treatable with interventional endoscopy. Their common interest in fighting this devastating disease led them to CPMC gastroenterologist Dr. Kenneth Binmoeller. After Binmoeller shared his vision for a new leading-edge interventional endoscopy center with them, the two men immediately offered their support.

May and Stein’s generous gifts have helped create one of the best centers of its kind in the country. Dr. Binmoeller is quick to acknowledge that these donations were a key factor in elevating the program to a new level. “Because of the costs involved, you don’t just wake up one morning and say, ‘I have a vision for a new facility, let’s build it.’ You need someone else who shares your vision and we are tremendously fortunate to have found that in Paul and Frank.”

Plans to Help Even More People

The Center has developed a stellar reputation, handling nearly 9,000 patient visits in its first three years. That success has prompted plans for an ambitious expansion of the CenterOpens new window, and once again Paul May and Frank Stein were the first to pledge their support.

When asked about their gifts, Stein says having the ability to help others “is a wonderful feeling!” The significance of their impact really struck May when someone approached him and thanked him for saving a friend’s life: “The man has pancreatic cancer, but after going to the center, he’s still alive. Knowing that is a very good feeling.”