Mike Gracik Working for a World Without Cancer

By Coleen Moore, Marketing Communications Specialist

CPA Professional and Massey Cancer Center Advocate

In his over 40 years of working in the accounting field, Mike Gracik found one of the most rewarding parts of his profession was the ability to help his clients reach their financial goals. It was more than just providing a tax return—it was understanding their goals and providing options and plans to help them achieve them. Mike’s practice also offered him opportunities to meet a variety of people and develop lasting professional and personal friendships.

Massey Advisory Board Introduction 

It was one of these friendships that introduced him to Massey Cancer Center. Jeannette Lipman, a client, friend, and passionate supporter of Massey, urged Mike to join the Massey Advisory Board in the 1990s.

Jeanette lost both of her daughters to breast cancer before they were 45 years old. Jeanette and her husband Eric were involved with Massey from almost the start of the Massey Cancer Center.  They funded a rural cancer treatment outreach program for rural communities in southern Virginia so that people in those communities could receive the same excellent cancer care as Richmond residents.

“Jeanette was such a special person in my life. Jeanette’s passion for Massey was really an inspiration for me.  It motivated me to work hard for Massey so that people in the state of Virginia, regardless of income level, could have access to specialized cancer treatment.  Now that she has passed away, I really view it as a personal responsibility to her to help make sure that Massey Cancer Center continues to be a leader in cancer research and care. We are very fortunate to have this world class cancer treatment center in Richmond,” said Mike.

In his professional work, Mike was always able to provide a solution or suggest resources to solve his clients’ financial challenges. He wanted to be able to provide the same assistance when his clients, colleagues, friends, or family were faced with a much greater challenge. A cancer diagnosis.

“Over the course of my 20 plus years of involvement with Massey, I had acquired quite a bit of knowledge of Massey’s resources. I leveraged this knowledge to connect people that received a cancer diagnosis to quality doctors and hopefully, life-saving treatment options. My appreciation for Massey was ever more solidified when my Mother-in-Law was diagnosed with cancer. Massey was a true beacon of hope for her. We are thankful for the doctors, nurses and entire Massey team. Their knowledge, expertise, and care saved her life,” Mike said.

Now that Mike has semi-retired from serving clients and friends as a CPA, he has dedicated even more time to supporting his and Massey’s mission of a World without Cancer. Mike has served in variety of leadership roles on the Advisory Board at Massey and is now serving his second term as Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Keiter Community DOnation

As part of our 40th anniversary and community celebration, Keiter made a monetary donation to four selected RVA not-for-profits. The organization that received the most votes received the largest donation. Massey was one of the selected organizations.

About Massey Cancer Center

VCU Massey Cancer Center is proud to be your local National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center. Massey is the only NCI-designated center in the Richmond region and one of just two in Virginia that helps lead and shape America’s cancer research efforts. Of the 1,500 cancer centers in the U.S., only 70 have earned an NCI designation, placing Massey in the top 4 percent nationwide.

Massey scientists and physicians collaborate to conduct laboratory, translational, clinical and population sciences research to discover new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and control cancer. Our 205 research members are faculty from 38 departments in 3 colleges and 4 schools at VCU.

Massey treats all kinds of cancer and specializes in:

• breast cancer
• lung and respiratory cancer
• prostate and other urologic cancers
• hematologic malignancies (lymphomas, leukemias and multiple myeloma)
• colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers (stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas)
• ear, nose, throat, head and neck cancers
• cancers of the brain and nervous system
• gynecologic cancers
• pediatric cancers

Our cancer care is provided through VCU Medical Center, ranked the #1 hospital in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report (2012, 2013, 2015). Massey consists of more than 450 clinicians who specialize in various types of cancer. Many of our physicians are consistently voted Best Doctors in America® by Best Doctors Inc., America’s Top doctors by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. and Top Docs by Richmond Magazine.

Learn More.

Ways to Give.

About Mike Gracik

Mike is a Director at Keiter. Mike’s clients benefit from his 41 years of experience and tax insights. His consulting clients include closely-held businesses in the real estate, home building, manufacturing, construction, retail and wholesale industries. He also serves many estates, trusts and foundations.

Mike is actively involved in the Richmond community.  His involvement includes current Chairman and member of the Advisory Board and Past Chairman for VCU Massey Cancer Center; Director and Past President for J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Educational Foundation; and a proud member of the Society of 100 for Virginia Blood Services.