David Daggett Turns a Life-Changing Diagnosis Into Hope for the Future
After David Daggett’s prostate cancer was detected through routine screening, he and Cynthia created an endowed fund to support future urologists and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.
For David and Cynthia Daggett, a routine prostate cancer screening became a moment that changed everything.
One year after David’s early diagnosis, the Winston-Salem couple is turning that life-altering experience into an opportunity to help others. During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this September, the Daggetts are launching the David D. and Cynthia D. W. Daggett Endowed Fund for Urologic Education, an initiative to support the next generation of urologists and encourage more men to prioritize their prostate health.
Donate to the Urologic Education FundA Routine Screening That Made a Difference
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among American men. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, with African American men facing a higher risk.
Those statistics can be concerning, but David and Cynthia’s experience also an important message: early detection can make a profound difference. David’s cancer was discovered through routine screening, allowing the family to consider treatment options and move forward with hope.
“For our family, a routine screening became a life-changing moment,” David and Cynthia said. “Because the cancer was identified early, we had options, hope, and access to outstanding care.”
The care David received at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist left a lasting impression on the family. So did the realization that behind every successful patient outcome are physicians whose knowledge, training, compassion, and dedication can change lives.
That realization inspired the Daggetts to look beyond their own experience.
Investing in the Next Generation of Urologists
The new endowed fund was established within the Department of Urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Its purpose is straightforward but meaningful: help future urologists gain the training and experiences they need to care for patients like David.
The fund will provide annual support for visiting medical students participating in urology sub-internships. These immersive clinical experiences can help medical students determine whether urology is the right career path for them.
For some students, however, participating in a rotation away from home can come with significant expenses, including travel, housing, and everyday living costs. By helping offset those barriers, the Daggetts hope the fund will open doors for talented students who might otherwise be unable to participate.
In doing so, the initiative can help strengthen the pipeline of future urologists while supporting continued excellence in patient care, education, and research.
A Commitment to Expanding the Impact
The Daggetts are not stopping with the initial endowment.
To accelerate the fund’s impact, the family has pledged to match charitable contributions dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. That matching commitment allows community members, grateful patients, alumni, friends, and others to multiply the impact of their support.
Every contribution can help provide a medical student with valuable clinical experience and potentially inspire a future physician whose career will improve the lives of thousands of patients and families.
Raising Awareness Alongside Education
For the Daggetts, this initiative is about more than medical education. It is also about broadened awareness.
Too many men may put off conversations about prostate health or delay routine screenings. Yet David’s experience demonstrates why paying attention to prostate health and discussing screening with a healthcare professional can be so important.
Advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment have improved outcomes for many men with prostate cancer, particularly when the disease is identified early. At the same time, disparities in prostate cancer risk and access to high-quality care underscore the need for continued education and investment.
The Daggetts hope their story encourages men to take action for their own health while encouraging the community to invest in the physicians who will care for future generations.
Turning One Family’s Experience Into a Lasting Legacy
A cancer diagnosis can change a family’s life in an instant. But for David and Cynthia Daggett, that experience has also created a sense of purpose.
Their endowed fund offers a way to turn gratitude into action: supporting medical students, strengthening the future urology workforce, promoting prostate health awareness, and helping more patients access exceptional care.
“Every patient deserves access to knowledgeable, compassionate specialists,” the Daggetts said. “By supporting the education of tomorrow’s urologists, we can help improve lives far beyond our own family and contribute to better health outcomes for generations to come.”
Their message is ultimately one of hope. A routine screening gave one family options when they needed them most. Now, through an investment in education and awareness, the Daggetts hope to help create those same opportunities for countless other families.
This Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, their story reminds us that early detection matters, and that investing in the future of medicine can make a difference for generations.
Donate to the Urologic Education Fund
