Sentara Healthcare will begin a multi-year, $93.5 million construction project to build a cancer center on the campus of Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. The new Sentara Cancer Center will bring together expert care teams from Sentara Medical Group, Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Virginia Oncology Associates, and other community physicians to provide compassionate, personalized cancer care. Outpatient oncology services centralized in one cancer center will give patients and their families access to a single location for multiple appointments and treatments in a healing environment. The ability to facilitate care coordination and collaboration among providers will provide improved efficiency and convenience for patients. This state-of-the-art center is modeled after major cancer centers throughout the nation and builds upon the exemplary cancer care services currently provided by Sentara.

“The Sentara Cancer Center will bring together multidisciplinary care teams to deliver the most innovative and comprehensive cancer care for the Hampton Roads community as well as patients across the region and country,” said Howard P. Kern, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sentara Healthcare. “Developing this center is the culmination of years of work to deliver a truly integrated cancer program that will engage clinicians, researchers, support staff, community leaders, patients, and families in a collaborative way.”

“We are excited to see Sentara Healthcare and their medical partners leading the charge to bring a pioneering cancer care center to the Hampton Roads community,” said Kenny Alexander, Mayor, City of Norfolk, Virginia. “The development of this center is a direct reflection of efforts to bolster the region’s growth and economic prosperity.”

Sentara will continue to provide multidisciplinary cancer care at existing Hampton Roads locations, which serve as strong assets for their communities. However, with cancer rates expected to grow 36% by 2030, the Sentara Cancer Center will enhance current services. It will also enable Sentara and other medical partners to engage in and accelerate research, improve customer experience, grow as a community resource, develop new care models, and provide coordinated survivorship programs to help patients transition to life after active treatment. Construction is scheduled to begin with a groundbreaking ceremony this month and is projected to be complete by mid-2020.

“We are thrilled to partner with Sentara and EVMS to create this comprehensive hub of oncology services,” said Dr. Dean McGaughey III, Physician, Virginia Oncology Associates. “Bringing our groups together under one roof will provide an unprecedented level of collaboration amongst providers and will enable us to achieve the best care coordination possible for our patients.” 

“The Sentara Cancer Center will undoubtedly be a great addition to our community,” said Dr. Doug Culling, President, Sentara Medical Group. “We’re proud to have our experienced and specialized oncology surgeons and other physicians on board to not only provide high quality care, but to also help ease the burden that patients and their families face by providing multidisciplinary team-based cancer care in one state-of-the-art location.”

"For over forty years, EVMS and Sentara have developed a long-term partnership to improve the health of the patients and communities we serve in Hampton Roads,” said Dr. Richard V. Homan, President and Provost, EVMS and Dean of the School of Medicine. “EVMS is committed to participating as a clinical and academic affiliate of Sentara as they develop the seminal Sentara Cancer Center facilities and programs on the Sentara Leigh campus.”

For more information about the Sentara Cancer Center, please visit Sentara.com/SentaraCancerCenter.