LI's First Cancer Hospital, Campus Opens At LI Jewish Medical Center

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A philanthropic gift to Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park means Long Island will get its first dedicated cancer hospital and campus, Northwell Health announced last week.

LIJ trustee Roy J. Zuckerberg, a former executive at Goldman Sachs, donated what Northwell called a "transformative gift" to create a new cancer hospital at LIJ, the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Hospital.

On Wednesday the hospital held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new campus, which Northwell called "the first-of-its kind cancer campus on Long Island and in Queens."

Zuckerberg is a long-time trustee of of Northwell whose 2009 donation led to LIJ's largest expansion.

In addition to the new cancer hospital, Northwell executives unveiled the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer, "a state-of-the-art outpatient facility that offers numerous cancer programs and therapies in a healing environment."

Northwell said the Northwell Health Cancer Institute will now be able to add to and create new programs for cancer patients including a women's cancer center and new technology for liver cancer patients.

The cancer hospital will have 164 beds and operating rooms for cancer surgery.

Richard Barakat is the director of cancer services at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute.

“What makes us so unique is that we provide comprehensive medical care as our standard of cancer care, meaning virtually any medical condition patients have or side effects they may experience can be treated by our specialists in one health system,” he said.

In 1972, Zuckerberg brought his then 3-year-old daughter to LIH's hearing and speech center.

“I’ve had a passion for LIJ since I saw the remarkable care my daughter received there, and it inspired me to get involved in the hospital,” he said.