The Arizona Board of Regents approved funding for a $100 million cancer center at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, set to open by 2015.
The six-story center also has a 20-year facility lease with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and 1.56 acres from the city of Phoenix at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus.
The cancer center is intended to house a general clinical-research center, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, a prevention/executive health clinic, patient wellness and support services, endoscopic/interventional radiology, infusion, specialized cancer clinics, clinical labs and related support spaces, according to Board of Regents documents.
Sara Hammond, director of the Office of Public Affairs at UA, said the school started talking with St. Joseph’s hospital about three years ago. UA looked at several health-care institutions and chose St. Joseph’s.
“They wanted to a part of this,” Hammond said.
St. Joseph’s could not be reached for comment.
UA is issuing $66 million in bonds, while the city of Phoenix is going to pay $14 million over the next seven years, Hammond said, and the rest of the money will be donated. Examples of donors include the development office, people who support the cancer facility and people who have benefited from cancer research.
Hammond said it can be expected that students will be a part of research studies at the center and that medical students in their third of fourth year of medical school will have the opportunity to observe cancer treatments in the hospital.
“Students from the nursing program and pharmacy will be able to have clinical rotations,” Hammond said.
Hammond said the facility is anticipating several hundred jobs to become available, including nurses, technicians and pharmacists.
The staff of the cancer center will comprise St. Joseph’s employees, UA faculty and new employees.
UA physiology junior Andrew Wojtanowski is excited about the cancer center.
“Considering that I will be applying to medical schools within the next year, I’m taking into account the measures different facilities are taking to stay relevant and on top of modern technologies and issues,” Wojtanowski said. “This is easily something that sways my decision toward Phoenix relative to the med school campus in Tucson.”
Wojtanowski believes the $66 million toward the Phoenix cancer center is a significant investment and the opportunities it brings are invaluable.
“Building this cancer center is an important way to facilitate recent and pressing medical issues as a staple in the education of our future generations of doctors,” he said.
Due to previous exposure and current research, Wojtanowski is interested in pursuing a career in cardiology or oncology.
UA biomedical engineering junior Corey Edwards feels similarly about the project. Edwards will be preparing for the MCAT in the spring and begin applying for medical schools.
“I feel that the money spent on the development of this cancer center will definitely be worth it. Money spending is always an issue and up for debate, but the decision to fund a cancer facility will most likely, and should be, supported by the community,” Edwards said.
Edwards only recently learned about the Phoenix center. He had previously planned on applying to the medical school in Tucson.
“Learning of this cancer center has made the Phoenix campus of the UA med school much more appealing,” he said. “I like that students will have the opportunity to do research and observe the treatment of patients.”
Contact the reporter at michelle.rico@asu.edu
