Northwestern Medicine celebrates cancer care center in Orland Park, funded with $51 million gift

Northwestern Medicine officials celebrated Tuesday the opening of the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute at its Orland Park campus.

The center was made possible by a gift of $51 million from The St. George Corporation, and Northwestern said it represents the largest one-time gift in Northwestern’s history.

Northwestern also introduced Dr. Timothy Kuzel, who will be medical director for the institute. Kuzel is also medical director for oncology at Northwestern Medicine Palos.

The cancer center opened in summer 2022, but the gift from St. George has allowed Northwestern to expand services and specialties offered. Northwestern’s Orland Park campus is at 153rd Street and West Avenue.

The cancer center offers hematology and medical oncology care, laboratory services, nutritional counseling and social work. A full-service infusion suite and specialty pharmacy provide on-site chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and supportive care, according to Northwestern.

The clinic features nine infusion exam rooms and 13 infusion bays.

“We have an unwavering commitment to providing our patients with access to world-class, compassionate care closer to where they live and work,” said Howard Chrisman, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “This gift will have a generational impact on our ability to increase and enhance the offerings of cancer care in the south suburbs.”

Dr. Terrence Moisan, president of The St. George Corporation, said the directors are committed to expanding the delivery of world-class cancer, cardiovascular and neuroscience care.

This marks a new phase of The St. George Corporation’s commitment, building upon its previous support to advance cardiovascular, neuroscience and cancer care in the south suburbs, according to Northwestern. A long-term expansion plan to create more patient and clinical spaces in the cancer institute facility is also in progress.

“Given the multiple visits required for cancer treatment, typically over an extended period of months and sometimes even years, this one-stop experience eases the burden on patients and their loved ones,” Kuzel said.

Kuzel said since the center opened in August 2022, more than 200 new patients each month are coming there. Kuzel, who was with Rush University Medical Center before coming to Northwestern, said many of his patients live in the southwest suburbs near the Orland Park campus.

Robert Jarvis, a Frankfort resident who was a patient at the center, thanked staff and said the center is much needed.

Jarvis was diagnosed in 2021 with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to Northwestern. He initially received treatment at Northwestern in Chicago before the Orland Park center opened, and told dozens of people at the dedication ceremony “I am cancer free.”

He said a cancer diagnosis “does affect a lot of people,” not just the patient and immediate family but friends as well.

“I connected with so many people,” he said. “You found it in your hearts to be more than just doctors and nurses.”

Based in Burr Ridge, The St. George Corp. had been the longtime operator, through Palos Health, of the 425-bed Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights. Palos Health also operated the medical campus in Orland Park where the new cancer center is located.

Palos Health joined Northwestern Medicine in January 2021.

According to Northwestern, St. George’s mission includes granting and oversight of funds for the health and well-being of the communities traditionally served by Palos Health. Moisan was previously chief executive of Palos Community Hospital.

Through a partnership between Palos Health and Loyola Medicine, an expansion of 83,000 square feet at Palos Health’s Orland Park campus was completed in the summer of 2018. Loyola also established the Loyola Center for Cancer Care & Research there.

A health and fitness center Palos Health operated, separate from the Orland Park campus to the west of the main buildings, is now owned and operated by the village of Orland Park.

Palos Health and Loyola had explored a merger, signing a nonbinding agreement in January 2019, but a few months later ended talks without explanation.

Loyola this summer opened a 72,000-square-foot ambulatory care center in Tinley Park, at 179th Street and La Grange Road.

mnolan@tribpub.com

Originally Published: Dec 19, 2023 at 2:27 pm