Avera Health plans to build a new cancer center in Pierre. The Helmsley Charitable Trust donated money to pay for the facility.
Avera’s new cancer facility is going to be named the Helmsley Center after a 10 million dollar donation from the Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Mikel Holland is President and CMO at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.
He says the facility is going to offer treatments such as infusion for chemotherapy, diagnostic services, and radiation oncology.
“At this time people in central South Dakota if they’re diagnosed with cancer, half of those people will end up needing radiation therapy. They have to travel a 150 miles or more away from home to receive radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment plan. This will allow them to stay close to home next to their physician, family, friends and work,” says Holland.
The Helmsley Charitable Trust is donating seven and a half million dollars for construction. The Trust is matching an Avera fundraising campaign to raise an addition two and a half million dollars totaling 10 million in funding.
The center is set to be located between the hospital and the current Avera medical group clinic building. Holland says the project includes space for primary and specialty care.
“That will include things like general surgery, of course oncology, urology, and also dermatology which is also a new service we’ll be offering here in central South Dakota,” says Holland.
The ground breaking is set for next spring with a possible opening date in the fall of 2018.