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The Dallas Morning News Robert Miller Column: ,Br≫Cancer Center Has Big Goals

Posted on: Thursday, 29 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Morning News

Dec. 29--Richardson Regional Medical Center has been providing exemplary medical service for more than 25 years, and its new comprehensive cancer center is expected to help raise oncologic treatment in this region to a new level.

The Richardson Regional Cancer Center is an affiliate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

"The new cancer facility will provide the Dallas-Fort Worth area with something very different from any other cancer facility in North Texas," said Mary Wylie, executive director of neuro, oncology and development at the regional medical center on Campbell Road.

"It will combine a community cancer center with a top-tier academic medical center, offering a unique health care delivery model to include superb customer service and convenience, community education and a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.

"Along with the compassionate care a community hospital can provide, the center will offer clinical trials necessary in the fight against cancer.

"The clinical trials will enhance patient care options and provide patients a more convenient place to obtain the latest treatments."

She said the center will have a therapy program that will offer a variety of classes for cancer patients and their families.

Dr. Barry Levinson of UT Southwestern will be the cancer center's medical director.

Richardson Regional is providing the capital for the project and has mounted a capital campaign to help raise up to $10 million.

"To date, even though we are still in the quiet phase of the campaign, we've raised $1.2 million in philanthropic funds for the project and $15 million through bonds," Ms. Wylie said.

The public phase of the capital campaign will begin in early spring.

Frank Leftwich, chairman of the Richardson Hospital Authority Board, is spearheading the community effort.

Judy [Mrs. Max] Martin, a cancer survivor, is chairwoman of the capital campaign, and Ed and Linda Armstrong Kelly are honorary chairs. Mrs. Kelly is cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong's mother.

UT Southwestern will provide clinical and research coordination.

"The people in this growing, vital area that's so important to our economy and to our future deserve and must have a first-class, first-rate comprehensive cancer center, and we must not fail in delivering that," UT Southwestern president Dr. Kern Wildenthal said.

Ms. Wylie said Dallas-Fort Worth is the largest metropolitan area in the nation without a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.

Richardson Regional and UT Southwestern will work to obtain that designation, which would enable UT Southwestern to expand its reach in clinical care and research, cancer prevention and population-based research, she said.

"There are only two other cancer centers in the state of Texas, one in San Antonio and one in Houston, that offer the level of comprehensive cancer care an NCI-designated facility provides."

E-mail bmiller@dallasnews.com

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Dallas Morning News

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Source: The Dallas Morning News

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