Sentara Healthcare to build a $93 million cancer center in Norfolk

Sentara Healthcare said Thursday that it will build a $93.5 million cancer center on the campus of Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk. Construction on the multi-year project is scheduled to begin with a groundbreaking ceremony this month, with the center expected to be complete by mid-2020.

The new Sentara Cancer Center will bring together cancer care teams from Sentara Medical Group, Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Virginia Oncology Associates, and other community physicians to provide cancer care. According to Sentara, outpatient oncology services centralized in one cancer center would give patients and their families access to a single location for multiple appointments and treatments. Plus, it would offer improved efficiencies in facilitating care coordination and collaboration among providers.

“Developing this center is the culmination of years of work to deliver a truly integrated cancer program that will engage clinicians, researchers, support staff, community leaders, patients, and families in a collaborative way,” Howard P. Kern, Sentara’s president and CEO said in a statement.

“We are excited to see Sentara Healthcare and their medical partners leading the charge to bring a pioneering cancer care center to the Hampton Roads community,” Kenny Alexander, Mayor, city of Norfolk, said in the  statement. “The development of this center is a direct reflection of efforts to bolster the region's growth and economic prosperity.”

Sentara said it will continue to provide multidisciplinary cancer care at existing Hampton Roads locations. However, with cancer rates expected to grow 36% by 2030, the Sentara Cancer Center will allow Sentara and other medical partners to engage in and accelerate research, improve customer experience, develop new care models, and provide coordinated survivorship programs to help patients with the transition to life after active treatment.