T R I - C I T I E S
November 26, 2013
Greetings,
Becoming the new Chief Executive Officer for your Tri-Cities Cancer Center this month is my honor and
privilege! Returning to the Tri-Cities gives me a chance to pause...to reflect on our past, to appreciate the
present, and to be enthused about the future of cancer care in our area. The Vision of the early 1990s by
healthcare leaders and citizens of our community was to build a best in class cancer center in our community
to serve the region. Our residents battling cancer could remain at home, receiving the best medical care
while surrounded by families and friends. Many volunteer hours were spent and dollars generously given to
achieve this Vision with the Cancer Center opening in 1994.
Fast forward to 2013, with our 20th anniversary occurring next June, we have a wide breadth of key services
here on our campus including radiation oncology, medical oncology offered by Columbia Basin Hematology
and Oncology, many support services providing for the emotional and physical needs of our patients and
their families, and many new cancer prevention and early detection programs underway. We have physicians
of cancer-related specialties meeting often to discuss complex patient cases, all in an effort to define the
best course of treatment to achieve the optimal result for our patients. And just recently, we became an
affiliate of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance comprised of University of Washington Medicine, Seattle's
Children's, and the Fred Hutchinson Research Center. This partnership means our patients can now benefit
by participating in cutting edge clinical trials here at the Cancer Center so again, they can receive world
class care at home, while surrounded by their families and friends. Our community support is second to
none as everyone young and old - continue to offer assistance in support of our mission.
Our future bodes well to advance our Vision a community supported asset offering a seamless, cancer
care program based from the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, comprised of key cancer physicians, related medical
and support services, and our three owner hospitals Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Lourdes Health
Network, and Trios Health. Together, offering integrated care benefitting our patients and residents of the
region.
Our community has always been a partner in the success of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Through bake
sales, financial donations and vision champions like Billy Jane Lampson, the Cancer Center became a reality
nearly twenty years ago. Today, community supporters like HAPO Community Credit Union, CH2M HILL,
high school students who participate in Pink Week, and other supporters large and small, allow us to offer
an expansive array of health and wellness services. As we look to the future we will continually engage new
segments in our community, such as educational endeavors to support our growing Hispanic and aging
populations. Community, the Tri-Cities Cancer Center has always been about community. I am so very
excited to be back in a community that values and supports entities like ours to create greater quality of life
through health, wellness and education. I look forward to serving our community today, tomorrow and well
into the future.
Sincerely,
Chuck DeGooyer, CEO
Tri-Cities Cancer Center