Seventeen years ago, philanthropist Peter Read sold a prized car to fund a gift that changed the landscape of breast health care in the East Bay. That initial gift led to the creation of the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland—a tribute to his late wife, Carol, who passed away from breast cancer in 1998. Today, Read’s ongoing generosity continues to transform breast health services in the East Bay and beyond, expanding access, upgrading technology and creating healing environments for thousands of women.
“Giving is much better than receiving,” Read often says, a philosophy that has guided his enduring commitment to helping others. His support has enabled the original center at Alta Bates Summit’s Oakland campus to evolve into the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Program, a comprehensive initiative that now spans multiple Sutter care sites, including Sutter’s Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch and Sutter East Bay Medical Group’s Lafayette Women’s Health Center.
“After losing so many people in my life to cancer, I want to help as many more people as I can,” says the retired co-founder of Grocery Outlet. “Helping others becomes addictive—it feels like Christmas to me.”
Driving Access to Preventive Care
One of the most impactful additions to the program is the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center’s mobile mammography vehicle, which brings advanced breast screening directly to communities across the East Bay. The specially outfitted vehicle was launched with support from a generous grant by Read, a Sutter match grant and donations from community members. The mobile unit helps eliminate barriers to care, reaching women where they live and work—especially those who might otherwise delay or miss screenings.
Since the mobile program launched at the height of the COVID pandemic in October 2020, nearly 4,000 screening mammograms using state-of-the-art 3-D mammography technology (digital breast tomosynthesis, the same technology used at Sutter’s brick-and-mortar breast health centers) have been performed on the mobile mammography vehicle.
Read more about how Sutter Health is deploying AI-powered breast health diagnostic tools to optimize performance by standardizing care, accelerating detection and delivering insights to clinicians and patients alike.
Read’s vision doesn’t stop there. He’s now exploring ways to replicate the model to deliver women’s breast health services across Sutter’s footprint. His goal: a fully integrated systemwide strategy for breast and women’s health that carries the CARBHC mission beyond the East Bay.
“I think of what we’ve done so far as creating a nice band, but now I want to build a symphony of care to reach many more people,” Read says.
Facility Upgrades and Expanded Services
Thanks to Read’s continued philanthropy, Sutter’s East Bay medical centers have received significant upgrades:
- In November, the CARBHC at Sutter’s Eden Medical Center will introduce Contrast-Enhanced Mammography as part of a major remodel. This advanced imaging technology enhances the detection of breast abnormalities and provides a valuable alternative to MRI for many patients. Once renovations are complete next month, the Eden mammography suite will offer a serene, healing environment featuring new furnishings, soothing artwork and a tranquil water feature.
- Beginning in January 2026, Sutter East Bay Medical Group on the Eden Medical Center campus will offer a weekly breast health clinic, providing specialized monitoring and care for women at elevated risk for breast cancer.
- In east Contra Costa County, Sutter Delta’s mammography suite is now a beautifully appointed CARBHC featuring state-of-the-art 3-D screening and diagnostic mammography technology.
- And Sutter East Bay Medical Group’s tranquil Lafayette Women’s Center offers 3-D screening mammography technology in its mammography suite.
These enhancements are part of a broader five-year plan focused on:
- Acquiring state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment such as Contrast-Enhanced Mammography at each of Sutter’s East Bay hospitals.
- Expanding the CARBHC’s Patient Navigator Program to offer personalized support for women and their families.
- Partnering with the community to increase access to breast cancer screening.
Dr. Rita Kwan-Feinberg, co-director of the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center
“It’s thanks to Peter Read’s generous philanthropy in honor of his beloved wife, that Sutter Health is widely recognized for breast health services,” says breast cancer surgeon Dr. Rita Kwan-Feinberg, co-director of CARBHC and president of the medical staff at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit. “Inspired by the foundational success of the Center, Sutter continues to build upon those fundamentals to establish a first-ever systemwide, comprehensive strategy for advanced cancer care and women’s health.”
A Family’s Legacy of Compassion
Carol Ann Read was a devoted wife and mother of three daughters. Her family’s decision to honor her memory through community-based care has helped thousands of women receive timely, compassionate and expert breast health services.
The CARBHC model aims to bring all diagnostic technologies under one roof, enabling fast turnaround and seamless collaboration among specialists. This approach helps to reduce anxiety and stress often associated with screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Now approaching 83, Read remains focused on what matters most: helping others. “You can be enslaved to material things you don’t need,” he reflects.
Thanks to Peter Read’s vision and generosity, the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Program continues to grow—bringing hope, healing, and high-quality care to women across the East Bay and beyond.
Join Peter Read and other community members in supporting breast health care for women in the East Bay or contact Maureen Smith at maureen.smith@sutterhealth.org.
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