AceShowbiz -

Is known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd (Dr. McDreamy) on the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy", Patrick Dempsey is making a real-life contribution to health care. The hunk made an appearance at the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine on Monday, March 10 to announce plans for a new cancer center to be named in his honor.

The cancer center is about to be named the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. The inspiration for it comes from Patrick's mother Amanda Dempsey who fought ovarian cancer, successfully being treated at the hospital and is now cancer free.

Recalled his past experience when he didn't know where to turn when his mother was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, Patrick said at a press conference, "For a family to get a cancer diagnosis is devastating, and all the information out there can be overwhelming. A lot of the websites I went to just didn't have enough information."

He went on saying, "So, I talked to my sister about a place where people could go for all this type of information and help. Knowledge is power."

With the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing is set to provide education and support programs for cancer patients and their families, Patrick himself plans to take part in the center's public education campaign about cancer prevention and detection. He, moreover, is having his sister Mary works at the hospital and will serve as coordinator of the new center.

Visit dempseycenter.org for more information.