Patients to benefit from five days of diagnostic services every week,
    up from one-half day at presentTORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - CIBC (CM: TSX;NYSE) today announced a $500,000
donation to the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation in Mississauga that the
hospital will use to increase its diagnostic services for cancer patients from
the current one-half day a week to five days per week.
    At the new CIBC Cancer Diagnostic Assessment Unit, which will be located
in the 270,000 square-foot expansion now under construction, the hospital will
now be able to offer three days of diagnostic services for breast cancer
patients every week and two diagnostic days will be devoted to assessing
possible colorectal and lung cancers. The unit will take a multidisciplinary
approach, including a centralized referral process, which optimize the flow of
information while providing continuous support to the patient. This will
streamline the diagnostic process, reducing bottlenecks and patient wait
times.
    "The Credit Valley Hospital will now be able to ensure that over the next
five years, significantly more patients will be seen, more timely biopsies
will be provided for women, and cancer will be diagnosed faster," said Norma
Bandler, President and CEO of The Credit Valley Hospital Foundation. "The new
CIBC Cancer Diagnostic Assessment Unit reduces the time to confirm diagnosis
of suspected cancer from 43 days to 15. This reduces anxiety and allows
treatment to begin sooner. CIBC's philanthropic leadership and generosity is
saving lives."
    "We are proud that our donation will help to enhance cancer care for
patients at Credit Valley," said Sonia Baxendale, CIBC's Senior Executive
Vice-President of Retail Markets. "At CIBC, we are committed to helping create
a future without breast cancer. We are pleased to be able to make this
donation to support patients in Mississauga."
    CIBC is committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients, our
employees and our communities. We aim to make a difference in communities
through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of
employees. With a strategic focus on youth, education and health, and employee
commitment to causes including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run
for the Cure, United Way and the CIBC World Markets Children's Foundation, we
are investing in the social and economic development of communities across the
country. In 2007, CIBC group of companies contributed more than $36 million
worldwide to charitable organizations and community initiatives. Of this,
$27 million was invested in Canada to support national regional and local
organizations. To learn more, visit www.cibc.com/pas