Today, The Cooper Health System celebrated the official groundbreaking for its new state-of-the-art cancer treatment center on the Cooper Health Sciences Campus. The four-story, 103,050 square foot Cooper Cancer Institute will expand access to cancer care in South Jersey by providing a full range of cancer care services and specialists all under one roof.
Cooper’s administrators and Board leadership participated in the Groundbreaking Event, along with business, community and elected officials from throughout New Jersey, including N.J. Governor Chris Christie, NJ Senator Stephen Sweeney, and Camden City Mayor Dana Redd. The event was held at the site of the new building, on the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Haddon Avenue. It is the newest addition to the Cooper Health Sciences campus in Camden, joining the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, which will open this July.
“Cooper Health’s dedication, for 125 years now, bridges excellence in medicine with community engagement,” said Governor Chris Christie. “This groundbreaking is the latest example of the steps New Jersey is taking to become a national leader in providing comprehensive healthcare and cancer treatment services, not only for the citizens of Camden and New Jersey, but for individuals from across the region and the nation.”
“Today marks yet another milestone in the expansion of the Health Sciences Campus in Camden,” noted George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of Cooper’s Board of Trustees. “Our commitment to Camden and our community continues to be our priority as we work to bring positive changes and improved healthcare services to our patients. The recent opening of the Robert’s Pavilion and the establishment of Cooper Medical School, as well as the significant improvements in and around the neighborhood, demonstrate that we believe – strongly — in the future of Camden.”
The new Cooper Cancer Institute will provide a full range of specialists and cancer care services with the benefit of patients having all their medical needs in one place, including: radiology and radiation oncology, hematology/medical oncology, surgical oncology, urology and gynecologic oncology; chemotherapy infusion and laboratory space; and chemotherapy pharmacy. Abundant examination, treatment and procedure space throughout the new building will improve patient flow and access, and conference room and academic spaces will foster the team-approach to cancer treatment for which Cooper Cancer Institute is already well-known.
Currently, specialists of the Cooper Cancer Institute treat patients in Camden and Voorhees. The new building in Camden will provide integrated treatments for Cooper cancer patients.
Cooper has a long history of providing care to cancer patients, dating back to 1887 when the hospital first opened its doors. Today, the Cooper Cancer Institute is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program and is the only cancer program in South Jersey to be included in the prestigious network of institutions that make up the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ). As a Major Clinical Research Affiliate of CINJ, Cooper provides patients with access to the latest clinical trials, therapies and technology available.
“Cancer has touched, in some way, nearly every person in South Jersey,” said John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO at Cooper. “It’s our goal, with this new building, to help improve our patients’ experience by providing a full complement of coordinated cancer care services, including diagnosis, counseling, treatment, follow-up care and supportive services, all in one convenient location.”
The new Cooper Cancer Institute will open in the fall of 2013.
[flickr album=72157629744923086 num=122 size=Thumbnail]