For Immediate Release

Contact:

Laura Blodgett

734-712-4536

Laura.Blodgett@stjoeshealth.org

November 30, 2018

A team of staff, physicians and community members who were instrumental in developing the updated St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Cancer Center took part in the opening dedication yesterday including (back row, from left) Alonzo Lewis, Senior Vice President of Operations, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor; Susan Wyman, Regional Director of Oncology Services, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS); Walter Sahijdak, M.D., Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, SJMHS; Cecilia Fileti, Cabinet Member, St. Joe’s Life is Remarkable Campaign; Kelly Sorini, Chair, St. Joe’s Life is Remarkable Campaign; Katie Elliott, Director of Development, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor; Sandy Lymburner, Cancer Patient Advisory Board Members, SJMHS; Lila Lazarus, Health Reporter for SJMHS (front row, from left) Katie Beekman, M.D., Director of Infusion and Genetic Services, SJMHS; Beth LaVasseur, Executive Director of Cancer Research and Oncology Services, SJMHS; Rob Casalou, President and CEO, Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System; Bill Manns, President, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston; Judy Dow Rumelhart, Honorary Co-Chair, St. Joe’s Life is Remarkable Campaign; Most Reverend Earl Boyea, Bishop of Lansing; Sister Yvonne Gellise, Senior Advisor for Governance, SJMHS; Philip J. Stella, MD, Oncology Program Medical Director and Principal Investigator for Research, SJMHS.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – (Nov. 30, 2018) – St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor has opened its new 66,000-square-foot Cancer Center designed to deliver comprehensive cancer care for patients.

"This new state-of-the-art facility combines the very best in cancer prevention, screening, research, treatment and support services all in one location," said Rob Casalou, president and CEO, Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. "The space has been redesigned to deliver an experience tailored to each individual and their unique cancer journey, in which they are surrounded by a completely integrated multidisciplinary team."

Since opening the Robert H. and Judy Dow Alexander Cancer Center in 1993-- becoming the area's first comprehensive cancer center-- the number of new patients diagnosed and treated for cancer at the cancer center has tripled with more than 40,000 patients visits a year. This multi-million-dollar transformation will allow St. Joe’s to deliver comprehensive cancer care to patients using the latest medical technologies, research-driven treatments, and revolutionized clinical and support services.

Over the past twenty-five years, the cancer care team has grown from eight to 18 medical and radiation oncology specialists and from three to 34 research staff, as well as added surgical specialists for all tumor types. It has added genetic counseling, cancer specialty clinics and one of the strongest nurse navigator programs in the state. It is the home of Michigan's first CyberKnife® and a leading da Vinci® surgery program, and has been recognized as one of the best National Cancer Institute-funded community research programs in the country that received the highest grant rating among the 34 participating programs.

"Cancer care at St. Joe's has evolved tremendously from groundbreaking clinical research trials that continually become available to holding weekly tumor boards to customize treatment for each new patient that comes through our doors," said Dr. Phil Stella, medical director, Oncology Services, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. "It's a testament to the advances in our oncology program that we attract the highest level of fellowship-trained surgeons from around the country."

Starting with a redesigned entrance that features the DiPonio Foundation two-story glass atrium lobby welcoming patients into a warm and healing environment, patient ambassadors will meet patients at the main entrance and provide a concierge-like experience. These patient ambassadors will be available throughout the cancer center to ensure patients connect to the various services needed during their visit and make their visit as stress-free as possible.

The main floor of the new Cancer Center, named for the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation, features an expanded infusion suite with 22 private bays and a view of a serenity garden bordered with five boulders – each from one of the five Great Lakes. A small café is a central feature in the infusion center, offering a gathering spot for patients and family to have coffee or nutritious refreshments provided by Joe’s Java. In addition, nurse navigators, genetic counselors, dietitians, chaplains, social workers and an on-site pharmacy for chemotherapy services will be located on the main floor.

The second floor of the Cancer Center features 38 exam rooms – an addition of 26 rooms—where St. Joe's oncologists, surgeons and specialists will work together to care for patients.

St. Joe’s nationally renowned National Cancer Institute Oncology Research Program (NCORP) will be housed in the new lower level of the Cancer Center, with space for 34 clinical research staff. St. Joe’s Ann Arbor leads the Michigan Cancer Research

Consortium (MCRC), a network of 13 hospitals that collaboratively enroll over 1,000 patients per year on clinical trials. The MCRCNCORP has been continually funded for 24 years, with 100 trials open at any given time. Also located on the lower level is a state-of-the-art conference center equipped with the latest video conferencing capabilities.

Free valet parking will be available at both the Cancer Center main entrance and the Imaging Center / Radiation Oncology entrance to ease patients' visits.

Planning a seamless patient experience was a priority throughout the design of the building from registration to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, lab and pharmacy services. Patient advisors served a critical role in both planning the design of the building and cancer care flow process redesign.

The redesigned center brings all of St. Joe’s oncology services under one roof: IHA Palliative Care; IHA Hematology & Oncology Consultants; gynecologic oncology; Cancer Care Specialty Center; Infusion Clinic and Infusion Lab; Radiation Oncology; Michigan Cancer Research Consortium NCI Community Oncology Research Program; Cancer Prevention and High Risk programs; and Supportive Care Services, which includes cancer-specific genetic counseling, pastoral care, social work, and nutritional counseling.

Key facts:

• The new Cancer Center will have almost 25,000 additional square feet of space above its current 41,000 square feet including a "bumping out" of the existing front walls
• The lower level will be a dedicated conference center and research suite
• Private infusion bays
• More than double the number of current exam rooms to 38
• Dedicated patient reflection spaces
• Dedicated pharmacy adjacent to the Infusion Center
• The front lobby will include a Joe's Java coffee shop

In addition to $19 million in Trinity Health capital funds, St. Joe’s Ann Arbor Development team, joined by community members, staff and physicians, is conducting a $10 million campaign to support capital, operations and endowment needs for the Cancer Center.

To date, gifts totaling more than $8.1 million have been made toward the campaign, including lead donors, the Angelo and Margaret DiPonio Foundation, with a gift of $2.5 million to name the atrium lobby and The Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation with a gift of $1 million to name the main level of St. Joe's renewed Robert H. and Judy Dow Alexander Cancer Center.

The hospital worked with architectural firm Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED) and Granger Construction on this renovation and expansion.

# # #

About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving seven counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Lenawee. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 443bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 136-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, and 133-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. Combined, the five hospitals are licensed for 1,553 beds, have five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 15,300 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 2,700 physicians. SJMHS has annual operating revenues of about $2 billion and returns about $115 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs.

SJMHS is a member of Trinity Health, a leading Catholic health care system based in Livonia, Mich. Trinity Health operates in 22 states, employs about 133,000 colleagues, has annual operating revenues of $17.6 billion and assets of about $24.7 billion. Additionally, the organization returns almost $1.1 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit www.stjoeshealth.org.