Oregon City, Ore. — World class cancer care is coming closer to home for Clackamas County residents and surrounding communities. Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center has broken ground on the 32,000-square-foot Carol Danielson Suzuki Cancer Center and expansion project at the hospital.
The new facility will bring the expertise of Providence Cancer Institute to those served in the Carol Danielson Suzuki Cancer Center. Providence cares for more people with cancer than any other health system in Oregon. The Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, part of Providence Cancer Institute, is internationally recognized for its focus on immunotherapy research and treatments.
“We’re excited to be investing in the health of our community and demonstrating our commitment to elevating care for our patients and their loved ones,” said Brad Henry, chief executive, Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center. “This project allows us to keep care local and grow in a way that meets the needs of our patients while also reducing travel and making care more accessible for the communities we serve.”
Once opened, the center will provide patients nearly all the care they need – diagnosis, treatment and follow-up – under one roof. It will also double the capacity for chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments over the previous clinic location in Clackamas and save thousands of trips to Portland for hundreds of patients, giving them and their families more time and energy for their regular activities.
“The new center will make it easier for Clackamas County residents to participate in innovative treatments and clinical trials bringing patients the very latest in cancer care,” said Janet Ruzich, D.O., hematologist and oncologist, Providence Cancer Institute Clackamas Clinic.
The project is designed by PKA Architects and led by Fortis Construction. It includes the build-out of a 14,000 square foot cancer center as well as provides 5,000 square feet of new space for infrastructure improvements supporting the hospital. The project also creates a new entrance and patient drop-off on the east side of campus, easy access for parking and lays the foundation for future modernization of clinical services. Construction is scheduled to be complete by end of 2022.
The Carol Danielson Suzuki Cancer Center is dedicated in memory to Carol D. Suzuki. Suzuki courageously battled cancer for more than two years with family by her side, a role model of love, purpose and joy. She was dedicated to serving others in the communities she called home, including Oregon City. That dedication to serving others now includes helping to build a place of hope for cancer patients.
Additional philanthropic support is helping Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center Foundation raise more than $3 million for the project through the Bridges to Hope Campaign.
“Big things are possible when we work together and we are proud to engage the community in philanthropic efforts to make this dream a reality,” said Pat Markesino, Providence Willamette Falls Medical Foundation chair. “The overwhelming support for bringing cancer care closer to home has ignited the generosity of Clackamas County as well as the Danielson and Suzuki families. We are forever grateful.”
To donate or learn more about the Bridges to Hope Campaign to support the Carol D. Suzuki Cancer Center, call 503-650-6809 or visit providencefoundations.org/bridges.
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