Groundbreaking opens a new chapter on United General cancer care

||| FROM ANNE WILLIAMS for PEACEHEALTH |||

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. – PeaceHealth United General Medical Center caregivers, project partners and generous donors gathered in front of the hospital earlier this month to celebrate the start of a year-long installation of a new, high-precision linear accelerator (LINAC).

The symbolic June 11 groundbreaking follows years of research, planning and fundraising. The project aims to meet growing local demand by boosting capacity, expanding services and upgrading equipment at PeaceHealth United General’s 50-year- old Cancer Center. “There is just a tremendous thank you that goes out to all of you, because every one of you here has played a significant role in making this happen,” said Chris Johnston, chief administrative officer.

Johnston gave special recognition to Nicholas Muff, MD, a pioneering radiation oncologist who founded what was then called the North Puget Cancer Center at United General Hospital in 1975. Under his leadership, the center grew to serve a five-county region, offering the latest chemotherapy and radiation treatment as well as a variety of related therapies. Dr. Muff, who attended the groundbreaking with his wife Sue, worked at United General for 30 years and in 1985 oversaw installation of the region’s first linear accelerator.

The new and highly versatile Varian TrueBeam will replace the center’s 18-year-old LINAC. The TrueBeam offers the most advanced radiation therapy treatment for cancer patients, giving clinicians the ability to tailor treatments for each patient’s unique condition.

The TrueBeam provides a noninvasive alternative to traditional surgery, improving the accuracy and treatment of tumors that are often difficult to treat surgically, such as those in the brain, lung, spine, prostate or elsewhere. It generates 3-D images in 60 percent less time than other imaging technologies and can reduce a patient’s X-ray dose by 25 percent. The TrueBeam offers tumor tracking in real time to ensure the radiation beam accurately targets the tumor and avoids normal tissue.

The Cancer Center expansion at PeaceHealth United General is being funded through a mix of PeaceHealth capital funds, grants and philanthropy. Thanks to the Muffs and other generous donors – including leadership gifts from Skagit-based TRICO Design-Build General Contractor; Handy’s Heating owner William Handy, Jr.; Dr. Robert and Rebecca Gates; United General Hospital Auxiliary; Mike Perry; the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust; VECA Electric & Technologies; and Community Cancer Fund-San Juan Islands, LLC – the project has exceeded its $1 million fundraising goal.

Other donors at the groundbreaking included Chris Chase, president of the United General Hospital Auxiliary, which provided the initial gift; William Handy; and several representatives from TRICO, PeaceHealth’s project partner.

“RICO has a core value to build meaningful projects and I cannot think of a more meaningful project than the linear accelerator and vault addition that is being kicked off today,” said Chris Kiel, TRICO president. “To know what this will mean for PeaceHealth’s stated vision of keeping cancer care close to home makes TRICO extremely proud to undertake a supporting role in this vision. The entire TRICO team is committed to delivering on this promise for this project that will aid in PeaceHealth’s ability to have a world-class healthcare environment, providing world-class care here in the Skagit Valley and surrounding communities.”

Johnston noted that PeaceHealth United General continues to buck the trend in rural-urban cancer disparities. “While many small, more remote communities face barriers to access comprehensive cancer care, United General has continued to invest in cancer specialists, advanced equipment and a full range of support services,” he said.

Services available at the United General Cancer Center include medical and radiation oncology, 3D mammography, breast cancer surgery, infusion therapy, nurse navigators, nutrition management and wellness programs.

The new linear accelerator should be fully operational early in 2025.

Learn more at www.peacehealth.org/united-general-cancer. To support the Cancer Center expansion and help keep cancer care closer to home, please contact Tony Stopperan, Director of Philanthropy, tstopperan@peacehealth.org.

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a non-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, more than 3,000 providers, more than 160 clinics and 9 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.