New York, NY, Tuesday, December 10, 2019 – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) today celebrated the opening of a $1.5 billion state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility with government officials, members of the Boards of Overseers and Managers, and staff. Opening for patient care next month, the 750,000-square-foot building is the institution’s — and the city’s — largest freestanding cancer care facility. The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is a healing community dedicated to patient-centered care, made possible by a landmark donation and a pioneering vision that signifies a new era of cancer care.
The Future of Cancer Care
“For more than 130 years, MSK has been on the forefront of providing superior clinical care through innovative approaches. The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK is the next chapter of this vision,” said Craig B. Thompson, MD, President and CEO of MSK. “This facility expands on MSK’s rich history of innovation in patient care and combines the latest, most intuitive technology with the compassionate, efficient care of our staff. This is the future of cancer care.”
Located on East 74th Street between York Avenue and the FDR Drive, the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK sets a new standard in care. Its stewards are 1,300 employees who will work with up to 1,300 patients daily. The outpatient facility occupies 25 floors, with 231 exam rooms, 110 infusion rooms, 37 procedure rooms, and 16 inpatient beds for those requiring a short stay.
The new facility integrates all the lifesaving innovations and clinical advances that MSK has developed in its pioneering effort to care for people with cancer. Nearly every aspect of cancer care across numerous specialties will now be available under one roof, including hematologic oncology, interventional radiology, dermatology, and endocrine, head and neck, pulmonary, and thoracic cancers, as well as phase I clinical trials and more. This will make it possible for patients to receive many of the services they need in a single visit, reducing patient travel and stress while also fostering face-to-face collaboration among care teams and specialists.
“The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK creates the space, in every sense of the word, for our breakthrough research and therapies to stand in lockstep with our steadfast commitment to truly care for each person as an individual,” said Lisa DeAngelis, MD, Physician-in-Chief of MSK.
Engaged, Embraced, Empowered
“The vision for the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK is to create a caring and healing community where all are engaged, embraced, and empowered,” said Elizabeth McCormick, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of MSK. “That includes the patients we care for, the caregivers at their side, and our researchers, clinicians, and staff who work together in our united mission of conquering cancer.” This is accomplished through a unique approach to state-of-the-art cancer care that encompasses:
- Innovative Research and Comprehensive Clinical Care: As home to more than 300 early phase clinical trials, the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK has been specifically designed as a world class facility to study new therapies, unrivaled by any cancer treatment center in the area. This facility will be home to the largest gathering of hematologic experts ever at MSK, including specialists in blood and marrow stem cell transplants, CAR T cell therapy, lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and other blood cancers. Lifesaving treatments will be delivered with innovative medical technology, including one of the country’s first MR-linacs, which provides the combination of radiation therapy and magnetic resonance imaging.
- Bringing Hospitality to the Hospital: A Reimagined Patient Experience: The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK is the latest example of MSK’s creative approach to rethinking the way cancer care is delivered. From intuitive touchpoints ahead of arrival to the moment patients are greeted to discharge, the experience is curated to resemble more of a calming hospitality environment than a hospital. The center was designed after listening closely to feedback from patients and staff with insights learned at MSK’s other thoughtfully designed outpatient facilities. The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK embodies “the art of smart” through the use of unobtrusive technology that seamlessly supports each step of the patient journey.
- State-of-the-Art Structural Resiliency and Environmental Sustainability: Given its river-adjacent location, the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at MSK has been uniquely designed to survive a 500-year flood event, and all systems are reinforced by design and construction features to reduce energy consumption and operate at optimal efficiency.
A Lasting Legacy
The facility stems from the record donation of $150 million from the late David H. Koch, who served as a long-time member of the MSK Boards of Overseers and Managers. His gift represents the largest single donation in MSK’s history, and his lifelong gifts and pledges to the institution total $230 million. These include funds to establish the David H. Koch Center for the Immunologic Control of Cancer, and three chairs including the David H. Koch Chair.
“My husband saw in this center the potential to transform cancer care around the world, and today his vision becomes reality,” said Julia F. Koch. “David’s legacy of leadership and generosity will persist through this state-of-the-art facility and the lifesaving work of this team.”
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About Memorial Sloan Kettering
We are the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, home to more than 18,000 physicians, scientists, nurses, and staff united by a relentless dedication to conquering cancer. As an independent institution, we combine 130 years of research and clinical leadership with the freedom to provide highly individualized, exceptional care to each patient. We are consistently ranked the number-one hospital for cancer care in the Northeast and among the top two cancer hospitals nationwide. Our always-evolving educational programs continue to train new leaders in the field, here and around the world. MSK is one of 50 institutions in the United States that has been designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute, affirming its leadership in research, patient care, and education. MSK is also an American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet ®–designated institution, based on nursing excellence. In 2018, more than 24,000 patients were admitted to Memorial Hospital, and more than 173,000 patients were seen at MSK’s Manhattan and regional facilities.
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