Roswell Park, Oneida Healthcare Break Ground on Radiation Center in Madison County

Two organizations, collaborating since 2016, to expand oncology services in Oneida

New radiation center on Oneida Healthcare campus slated to open in 2019
Medical oncology facility fully implemented with naming of medical director
Collaboration made possible by $6.75M DOH grant plus $2.3M from private donors

ONEIDA, N.Y. — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Oneida Healthcare today marked two milestones: the full implementation of a new medical oncology facility and ground-breaking at the site of a state-of-the-art radiation oncology center on the same campus. Both developments are part of a collaborative initiative to provide increased local access to the services of a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center to residents of Central New York.

Construction of the radiation oncology center, to be named in honor of the late Dorothy G. Griffin, will begin in the late summer. When completed, the center will occupy a 6,079-square-foot building, slated to open in 2019, and will contain four exam rooms, a consultation room, a CT scanner for treatment planning, a linear accelerator for radiation therapy and required support facilities on a single level in an outpatient setting. The center will accommodate oncology patient treatment planning, radiation therapy sessions and patient treatment monitoring.

“Congratulations to Oneida Healthcare and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center on this exciting partnership that delivers the highest quality cancer treatment services,” says Sen. David J. Valesky. “Having these services available in Central New York means our community has the best possible care available right here, close to home.”

“Today marks an important day for us, and we are excited to be partnering with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to further develop our campus with the singular vision of delivering the best care locally for those in our region who require cancer care services,” adds Gene Morreale, President and CEO of Oneida Healthcare. “Roswell Park and our local team will provide our region with quality cancer care that meets NCI guidelines, creating local access to some of the latest treatment options from a nationally ranked cancer center.”

The collaboration marks the first time such a broad array of cancer services will be united on a single site in this part of the state; previously, Central New York (CNY) families had to travel several hours to seek the services of a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.

“Everyone deserves access to great health care. We’re so proud of this affiliation because it represents two great healthcare organizations coming together to address this community’s needs while complementing existing resources, enabled by both public investment and the private donors who supported our vision,” says Candace S. Johnson, PhD, President and CEO of Roswell Park.

Oneida Healthcare and Roswell Park are already providing care at a medical oncology center at 604 Seneca St. in Oneida on Oneida Healthcare’s campus. That facility, now fully operational with the recent appointment of Mohamed El-Naghy, MD, PhD, as Medical Director, includes 12 infusion suites, four exam rooms, a telemedicine conference center, a consultation room, and a resource center. In 2016, Oneida Healthcare was awarded a grant from the New York State Department of Health for $6.75 million to expand oncology services to CNY in partnership with Roswell Park. That important state investment has been further supported by regional donors who have contributed over $2.3 million to the project over the past year.

Oneida Healthcare also plans to expand its outpatient imaging center, the Alice M. Gorman Imaging Center, which represents the third step of its three-phase project to offer the highest quality of cancer care to CNY residents. The project will include the installation of a new state-of-the-art MRI, PET/CT and a second 3D mammography unit. This project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

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About Roswell Park
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a community united by the drive to eliminate cancer’s grip on humanity by unlocking its secrets through personalized approaches and unleashing the healing power of hope. Founded by Dr. Roswell Park in 1898, it is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. Learn more at www.roswellpark.org, or contact us at 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or ASKRoswell@roswellpark.org.

About Oneida Healthcare
Oneida Healthcare serves an area comprised of approximately 29 communities in Madison and western Oneida counties with a population of approximately 100,000. Operated by Oneida Health Systems, Inc, a New York State not-for-profit corporation, the organization includes a 101-bed acute care hospital, emergency department, state of the art surgery center, 160-bed extended-care and short-term rehab facility, primary care offices, internal medicine, comprehensive lab services, home medical equipment, comprehensive imaging services, outpatient therapy, and care specialties in: oncology, neurology, podiatry, vascular, sleep, OB/GYN, orthopedics, and ENT. To learn more about Oneida Healthcare, visit www.oneidahealthcare.org.