News

Pardee to kick off $6M campaign for cancer center

The Cancer Center at Pardee Hospital will occupy the ground floor of the $32 million Joint Medical Education Center.

By Bill Moss, Published: April 27, 2015

Comprehensive cancer treatment close to home, a consolidated location for surgeons and oncologists, new technology, opportunities for research and a Healing Garden to meet the emotional needs of cancer patients are among the assets Pardee Hospital leaders will emphasize when they kick off a $6 million capital campaign on Thursday.

Occupying the ground floor of the 100,000-square-foot Joint Medical Education Center on the Pardee campus, the Comprehensive Cancer Center will give patients access to more research protocols and the newest experimental treatments without having to travel from the community, Pardee said. Pardee leaders will describe the project in more detail and seek the community's support at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Bo Thomas Auditorium at BRCC.

Money raised in the capital campaign will go towards the Comprehensive Cancer Center, full implementation of the Operating Room Integration Program and the creation of an endowment to support long-term expansion of programs and services. The kickoff will feature a video presentation, guest speakers, and a special campaign announcement.
“Pardee Hospital currently has a wonderful comprehensive cancer center, but the services are scattered,” Kim Hinkelman, executive director for Pardee Hospital Foundation, said in a news release. “We now have the opportunity to bring all of those services into one place to serve people in a more efficient and effective manner.”
Guests attending the campaign kick-off event will have the opportunity to mingle and talk to doctors, nurses, and campaign leaders during a reception catered by Larc’s Table before heading into the auditorium for the main presentation.
Touching on the theme of the campaign, Pardee Hospital will introduce a video featuring hospital and campaign officials explaining the importance of why our community needs a new comprehensive cancer center. Guests will hear Pardee patient and breast cancer survivor Rachel Willingham as she tells the story of her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Willingham will also share her personal reasons on why this campaign is significant to our community. Other speakers for the evening include Pardee CEO James M. Kirby II and campaign co-chairs Bill Medina, MD, and Marcia Caserio.
The $32 million Joint Medical Education Center is the product of an unprecedented partnership among Pardee Hospital, Henderson County, the city of Hendersonville, Blue Ridge Community College and Wingate University. In addition to housing the comprehensive cancer program and surgical offices of Pardee Hospital, the building Center also be home to the existing programs in allied health care from Blue Ridge Community College, as well as the pharmacy, P.A. and M.B.A. programs from Wingate University.

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Seating is limited for the event. The Foundation is asking anyone wishing to attend to RSVP by calling 828.233.2700 or by visiting pardeehospitalfoundation.org.