From clinic to community: Dr. Ron Bose takes center stage at Lynnie’s Light

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Published August 17, 2025

The Staenberg Family Complex near Creve Coeur will glow with purpose on Wednesday, Sept. 10, as the St. Louis Jewish Community Center hosts its annual Lynnie’s Light for Life event—a gathering that blends community, compassion and commitment to cancer support.

This year’s program will spotlight the work of Dr. Ron Bose, a leading breast cancer specialist at Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, who will receive the inaugural Pillar of Life Award. The honor recognizes his unwavering dedication to the Hamsa Wellness Community, the J’s cancer support initiative rooted in five pillars: connection, hope, education, strength and support.

Bose’s relationship with the program is deeply personal. He was a close ally of the late Lynne Isaacs Palan z”l, whose advocacy for cancer support services inspired the creation of Lynnie’s Light for Life. Bose developed a deep bond with the Palan family and, in turn, a lasting commitment to the broader community.

Over the years, he has not only cared for patients but also built enduring relationships with their families, strengthening the network of support beyond the clinic walls.

“We wanted to begin honoring somebody each year that is an advocate for The Hamsa Wellness Community’s mission. Somebody who has made a meaningful impact on the cancer community and demonstrated exceptional support for the mission and work of The Hamsa Wellness Community at the J – somebody who elevates the work we do,” explained Debbi Braunstein, director of The Hamsa Wellness Community.

“Dr. Bose has been partnering with us since our work began. Not only was he Lynnie Palan’s doctor, but he also treated her father Johnny Palan when he developed breast cancer (he also had the BRCA gene mutation, like his daughter) and currently treats two other J employees at risk for developing a hereditary.”

His contributions extend far past treatment rooms, say Braunstein and others, whether participating in Beyond Pink, an annual day of education and wellness, speaking at hereditary cancer awareness events, or connecting patients to the J’s Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Group. Bose also encourages his patients to connect with The Hamsa Wellness Community’s Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Group. His decades of service in cancer research and compassionate care exemplify the mission of the Hamsa Wellness Community and make him a deserving recipient of the inaugural Pillar of Life Award.

The evening will also benefit Nishmah, the St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project, alongside the Hamsa Wellness Community’s programs. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged. A tribute gift of $118 or more includes a “Leaf of Life,” to be placed on an artistic tree of life at the event—forming a beautiful, collective symbol of why we gather each year: to educate, inspire and support those who need a caring community before, during and after a cancer diagnosis.

Festivities will begin at 7 p.m. in the Helene & Carl Mirowitz Performing Arts and Banquet Center. More details and donation options can be found at jccstl.com/lynnie. For questions and clarifications, contact Debbi Braunstein at 314-442-3266.