As part of a $225 million investment to improve cancer care, Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network, both based in Pittsburgh, broke ground on a new, $80 million academic cancer center March 7.
The new 90,000-square-foot cancer center, which will be constructed on Allegheny General Hospital's existing campus in Pittsburgh, will serve as the hub for cancer research, clinical trials and medical education for the AHN Cancer Institute. The AHN Cancer Institute Academic Center is expected to open in late 2019.
"Our significant investment in the AHN Cancer Institute will not only greatly enhance our patients' and members' access to care, but also transform it through the extraordinary work of our caregivers and the advanced capabilities of the facilities we are developing," said David Holmberg, president and CEO of Highmark Health, a partner of AHN.
In addition to the academic cancer center, Highmark and AHN plan to construct multiple community cancer centers.
AHN currently employs more than 200 cancer physicians and 500 oncology professionals, and will recruit an additional 200 oncology professionals over the next two years to staff the new academic and community cancer centers.