Supporting Cancer Care in Central Texas
Shivers Cancer Foundation is an Austin-based private foundation serving the Central Texas region. Over the years, we have made significant investments in cancer care capability. Our particular emphasis is in:
Pediatric oncology
Cancer care, support, and end-of-life services for the
underserved in our community
The uninsured and underserved members of our Central Texas community face significant barriers to access for cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Shivers Cancer Foundation serves several roles to address these unmet needs in our regional cancer care ecosystem.
We are committed to supporting our region’s ability to offer greater resources to our neighbors on the cancer journey.
How We Support
Stewardship of community needs through collaboration with care providers, academic institutions, local organizations and others
Leadership through participation in and support of community collaborations to address the unmet needs of those experiencing cancer
Grantor of funds to support our caregiving providers, academic institutions and community-based cancer support organizations
Board of Trustees
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R. Clarke Heidrick, Jr. (Clarke), is a native Austinite and longtime board member, thought leader and Chair of the Shivers Cancer Foundation. Clarke has practiced law in Austin for over 50 years and is both a celebrated law practitioner and Central Texas civic leader. Clarke is active in his church and currently serves as the Executive Chair of the Board of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, Chair of the Board of the Austin Geriatric Center, and is a board member of the Lebermann Foundation. Clarke was the former Chair of the Board of Central Health, Travis County’s Healthcare District, Capital Area United Way, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, and is a member of the Austin Area Research Organization.
Clarke has been honored by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce as Austinite of the Year, by the Anti-Defamation League with its Jurisprudence Award, by the Austin Bar Foundation as a Distinguished Lawyer, by the SMU Dedman School of Law as a Distinguished Alumni and by the Austin Business Journal with the W. Neal Kocurek Special Achievement Award in Commercial Real Estate.
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After completing his residency in General Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Dr. Askew joined his father in surgical practice in Austin in 1991. He is a member of the American Society of Breast Cancer and works closely with local medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists and plastic surgeons to provide state of the art surgical care in breast cancer including ultrasound guided breast biopsies, breast conservation surgery, skin and nipple sparing mastectomies, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and brachytherapy. Dr. Askew is also an experienced robotic and laparoscopic surgeon performing surgery for diseases of the gallbladder, colon, small intestine, spleen, adrenal gland, liver and stomach.
Dr. Askew served with The American Cancer Society Board of Austin, the medical executive board of Seton Hospital and was the Chief of Surgery at Seton Hospital Main. He is listed in Who’s Who of American Surgeons, US News and World Report “Best” Surgeons and America's Most Honored Doctors - Top 10% and is named a “Super Doctor” by Texas Monthly Magazine.
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Serving on the Board of Shivers Cancer Foundation since 2014, Board Certified Radiation Oncologist Dr. Shannon Cox is proud to be a part of the Austin medical community having initially practiced at the Allan Shivers Cancer Center and now at Austin Cyberknife and Texas Cancer Institute. Dr. Cox, a member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society from the University of Texas at Austin, earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed his residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Dr. Cox is a member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Texas Radiological Society, and the American Society of Radiation Oncology. He has served as president of the American Cancer Society in Austin, was on the board of the Physicians Oncology Education Program, and served many years on a sub-committee of the Texas Cancer Council.
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Dr. Debra Patt is an executive vice president and practicing oncologist and breast cancer specialist with Texas Oncology in Austin,Texas, where her responsibilities include healthcare policy and strategic initiatives. She is an active leader in breast cancer and research in healthcare informatics driving digital healthcare tool adoption in clinical practice to improve the patient journey. Dr. Patt is also medical director for public policy for The US Oncology Network and has testified before the US Congress and Senate to protect access to care for cancer patients.
Dr. Patt has chaired the Council on Legislation and the Cancer Committee for the Texas Medical Association. She is currently vice president of the Community Oncology Alliance and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Board of Directors, and also chairs the Artificial Intelligence Task Force of ASCO and is the liaison for its clinical innovation committee. Dr. Patt lectures medical students and is a professor at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.
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Lew Little is President and CEO of Giving Home Health Care. Prior to joining Giving Home, Lew was involved in the healthcare industry for over 20 years with the majority of that time serving as CEO and Co-Founder of Harden Healthcare, a post-acute care company providing long-term care and home care services including Medicaid Home Health, Medicare Home Health, and Hospice.
Lew’s current community involvement includes Kamukama Foundation and serving on the board of St. David’s Foundation and the St. David’s Healthcare Partnership. Lew has chaired the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, was the former chair of both the Young Presidents' Organization and the World Presidents’ Organization in Austin and was a United Way Capital Area campaign Chair. Lew was named one of the 40 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders by SCALE Healthcare in March 2024. In 2013, he was named Best Big Company CEO by the Austin Business Journal and was the recipient of the Excellence in Leadership Award from Concordia University. In 2005, Lew was named Entrepreneur of the Year in the Austin area by Ernst and Young.
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Executive Director
Patricia (Trish) Young Brown serves as both a board member and the Executive Director of the Shivers Cancer Foundation. Starting her professional career as a CPA, Trish has a long history of healthcare and civic leadership in Austin. She served as the inaugural President and CEO of Central Health, Travis County’s healthcare district; the CEO of CommunityCare, Travis County’s Federally Qualified Health Center System; and multiple planning and operational roles within the Seton Family of Hospitals system, now known as Ascension Seton.
Trish currently serves as the Board Chair of Integral Care, Travis County’s local mental health authority, as board trustee of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest and is a member of the Austin Area Research Organization.