The University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Care Network announces Marshall Medical Centers in Guntersville and Boaz, Ala., as its newest and sixth affiliate, providing residents in Marshall County and surrounding areas with increased access to advanced cancer care.
The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and UAB Medicine developed the UAB Cancer Care Network to provide community health-care providers access to exceptional cancer research and enable patients to receive care close to home. Launched in June 2011, the network links the UAB Cancer Center with community cancer centers and hospitals in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
“We look forward to working with the Marshall Medical Center Cancer Care Center to leverage each other’s strengths and offer access to leading-edge care and research to Marshall County and the surrounding areas,” says Edward Partridge, M.D., director of the UAB Cancer Center and immediate-past president of the American Cancer Society. “UAB’s 350 cancer scientists and clinicians are making discoveries every day, and we will collaborate with cancer-care providers across the region to increase access to those discoveries, ultimately saving more lives.”
UAB is home to Alabama’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and the only one in a six-state region; its Cancer Center treats an estimated 5,000 new patients annually and is committed to providing the highest quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer, says Partridge.
The UAB Cancer Center works closely with each network affiliate to provide local access to best practices in cancer care, innovative clinical trials and support services, physician and nursing education and research expertise and resources.
“We are excited about our affiliation with UAB and what it means for our ability to bring quality cancer care close to home for the residents of Marshall County,” says Gary Gore, chief executive officer of Marshall Medical Centers.
Marshall Medical Centers’ Cancer Care Center is located on the campus of Marshall Medical Center South in Boaz, Ala. Plans are under way to build a new facility adjacent to the Marshall Professional Center in Albertville. The new, centrally located center is scheduled to open in July 2013.
The other five UAB Cancer Care Network affiliates are the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Russell Medical Center in Alexander City, Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, Ga., and Gulf Coast Medical Center in Panama City.