The Martha Papworth O’Neill Cancer Research Endowment
Martha Papworth O’Neill was only 30 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, a rare kidney cancer. Four months later, following her 31st birthday and marriage to Bill O’Neill, she died at Upstate University Hospital. Her mother and stepfather, Margot and Doug Jacoby, established this fund to support research for renal cancer.
About Martha
Martha possessed a rare combination of intelligence and beauty, humility and adventure, and deep empathy and humor. Since she was a small child, she cared for the environment; she brushed her hair outside so birds could use it building nests. She admonished friends and family members who did not compost or recycle.
Martha’s kindness was apparent in middle school and high school where she sidestepped cliques, yet remained friends with everyone. She excelled in history and journalism in college, and traveled extensively to learn about other people, and their cultures and religions. She continually deepened her relationship with God. After college, Martha taught English in China twice, before teaching at Jefferson Community College in Watertown, NY.
She ended her runaway bride streak when, in ICU and on a ventilator, she texted her soulmate, Bill O’Neill, to marry her. He hurried to her bedside to put a ring on her finger.
To know Martha is to be influenced by her, and become a better person. She was admired and loved by everyone who knew her. She is dearly missed by many.
Department of Urology
The Department of Urology at Upstate Medical University is a multifaceted organization drawing on the expertise and dedication of many leading physicians and research scientists to provide medicine with advances in research, innovation in patient care, and quality instruction in the practice of urology.
The Urology department provides medical and surgical care to women and men with disorders of the kidney, bladder, prostate, penis and testicles, and includes cancer, stone disease, voiding dysfunctions, incontinence, impotency, urinary infections and prostate enlargement. The department has the latest technology and equipment. The faculty contributes regularly to research literature.
The department’s residency training program attracts outstanding students from medical schools around the country, and provides them with a broad-based, high-volume, well supervised educational experience. Thanks to the breadth of study and education this program offers, graduates display competency in all areas of comprehensive urology. Graduates who choose sub-specialization typically obtain top fellowships across the country.