UCSF, John Muir Health Open New Cancer Center In Walnut Creek

WALNUT CREEK, CA — A world-class outpatient cancer center opened Monday on the John Muir Health campus in Walnut Creek, bringing cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care coordination into one location for East Bay patients.

In Contra Costa County, there are more than 135,000 residents who are living with cancer with nearly 13, 000 newly diagnosed each year, John Muir Health Spokesperson Ben Drew told Patch.

The UCSF-John Muir Health Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center at the Behring Pavilion, 177 La Casa Via in Walnut Creek, provides a calm and inviting space where these patients can navigate their health journey and focus on healing. Rather than having to travel to multiple places for consultation, tests and treatment, it is a one-stop location.

“Our partnership with UCSF Health builds on the outstanding cancer care already delivered in our community, by providing patients with access to the expertise of top cancer specialists and the latest treatment advances from John Muir Health and UCSF Health,” said Mike Thomas, president and chief executive officer of John Muir Health. “All of the services essential to the world-class care of cancer patients are readily available through our partnership with UCSF Health.”

With an aging population comes a rising incidence of cancer but also a significant increase in the number of cancer survivors. The expansion of services through this new facility reflects the growing demand for cancer care and long-term surveillance. The joint cancer network provides disease-specific treatment capabilities, expanded clinical trial enrollment and precision medicine offerings.

Planning for the 155,000-square-foot Behring Pavilion and Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center began in 2018. Groundbreaking for the project was held in 2021.

“The new cancer center is a huge milestone in our nearly decade-long collaboration to enhance access to care for East Bay communities with John Muir Health,” said Shelby Decosta, president of the UCSF Health Care Network and senior vice president at UCSF Health. “Our partnership with John Muir Health is built on the same value of trust that we know cancer patients and their families will rely on as they receive care from both of our organizations, closer to home.”

Within the UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Network, multidisciplinary teams of specialists have vast experience treating cancer, including breast, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, lung, thyroid and prostate, as well as uterine and ovarian cancers, hematologic malignancies and sarcomas. Patients receive extensive support through nurse navigator and survivorship programs, genetic counseling, nutrition and more, as part of a comprehensive cancer care program.

“The UCSF-John Muir Health Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center is a symbol of healing and hope in the face of adversity,” said Dr. Tiffany Svahn, president of the John Muir Health Cancer Medical Group and medical director of cancer services. "This building is to honor our patients and those of us who work in oncology. We know what a privilege it is to work in this field and to work with cancer patients and to be let into their lives at such a critical and difficult time. Within these walls, exceptional clinicians and staff will be working side-by-side with our patients during their cancer journeys through screening, diagnosis and treatment."

The first UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Network location opened in February 2020 in the Berkeley Outpatient Center, which is jointly operated by UCSF Health and John Muir Health. Additional locations include Brentwood, Concord, San Ramon and Vallejo.

“This is a partnership between two organizations that are deeply committed to providing outstanding care, and expanding access to patients in the region is a critical part of that commitment,” said Dr. Alan Ashworth, president of UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and senior vice president for Cancer Services with UCSF Health. “When patients walk into this building, they have UCSF Health and John Muir Health behind them, which will give them confidence that they will receive the best treatments available anywhere in the world.”

Complete information about the new facility is here.

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