YMG celebrates the opening of Smilow Cancer Hospital

Yale Medical Group physicians help dedicate the most comprehensive cancer center between New York and Boston.

After years of careful planning, the Yale Medical Group, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Yale Cancer Center officially dedicated the new 14-story, 500,000-square foot Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. The first patients will be cared for in the radiation oncology center on October 26, and other cancer care services will open in Smilow over the course of the next five months.

The most comprehensive cancer care facility between Boston and New York City, Smilow brings together some of the nation’s best medical minds, including Yale Medical Group physicians who are developing and putting into practice new methods to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. They will use the hospital as a central location for all inpatient and outpatient cancer services.

Smilow Cancer Hospital was designed to be a soothing environment for patients coping with difficult diagnoses. Once it is fully open in April, 2010, the facility will include a rooftop healing garden – complete with trees, shrubs, plants, a small stream, benches and lovely views of New Haven. The new hospital has a two-story glass lobby with a terrazzo floor, a granite waterwall, terracotta walls and maple woodwork. Patients will be able to shop for items in a special boutique that will help them look and feel better despite their illness.

Most importantly, YMG physicians will be working in multidisciplinary teams focused on providing an exceptional level of service and support for cancer patients. A team from one of Smilow’s 12 cancer programs will meet to discuss each patient’s diagnosis and therapy options, and develop of a unique, comprehensive treatment plan that may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, a combination of treatments, or conservative monitoring.

Patients at Smilow will have access to the latest in screening and diagnosis, genetic counseling, treatment, psychosocial support, pain management, rehabilitation and long-term, follow-up care. Patients will continue to have opportunities to take advantage of clinical trials which are not available at most hospitals.

Smilow Cancer Hospital has 112 inpatient beds, outpatient treatment rooms, expanded operating rooms, infusion suites, diagnostic imaging services, radiation oncology, and a specialized Women’s Cancer Center. It is affiliated with Yale Cancer Center – southern New England's only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute, and one of only 40 in the United States.

Ground was broken for the Smilow Cancer Hospital on September 6, 2006. The new hospital was made possible by the philanthropic major gift from Yale alumnus Joel E. Smilow (Yale College ’54), the former chair, chief executive officer and president of Playtex Products, Inc.

Smilow's 12 Cancer Programs

• Brain Tumor
• Breast Cancer
• Endocrine Cancers
• Gastrointestinal Cancers
• Gynecologic Cancers
• Head and Neck Cancers
• Melanoma
• Pediatric Oncology
• Prostate and Urologic Cancers
• Sarcoma
• Thoracic Oncology
  

For a referral to a Yale Medical Group cancer expert, please call 877-YALEMDS (877-9253 ext. 637) or 203-785-4851.

Photos by: Robert Lisak and YNHH