A new alliance between Bradford Regional Medical Center and
Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., has been forged to
expand cancer care for patients as well as education for physicians
here in Bradford.

Officials from BRMC and Roswell Park signed a regional
affiliation network agreement during a press conference Wednesday
morning in the lobby of BRMC. This agreement will enhance oncology
and hematology programs through research, education and patient
care in northwest Pennsylvania as well as the southern tier of New
York.

The move – lauded as a historic day for BRMC – will allow
patients in Bradford to enroll in Roswell Park clinical trials and
BRMC medical staff to participate in Roswell Park’s continuing
education.

“This is an historic day,” George Leonhardt, president and chief
executive officer at BRMC, said.

Leonhardt said this affiliation is a key step in a process that
really got rolling last year when Gov. Ed Rendell brought $3
million in early 2005. That state grant funded a $14.5 million
expansion project that includes a newly constructed and expanded
medical oncology suite, which will open in December.

“Local patients will receive care and treatment … in their own
town,” Leonhardt said, adding one of the elements BRMC was looking
for was found in Roswell Park – “a reputation and ambition to match
our own.”

Roswell Park is the oldest cancer research, treatment and
education center in the nation.

“What we found was right down the road,” he said. “Aligning with
a National Cancer Institute-designated organization of Roswell
Park’s worldwide status, quality and cutting edge reputation was
just a great match to our mission.”

The new oncology suite will be headed by a new full-time
oncologist officials are currently trying to recruit.

This oncologist will provide services to patients at the new
Cancer Care Center as well and live in the Bradford area and serve
as a member of the Roswell Park faculty.

Dr. David Hohn, president and chief executive officer at Roswell
Park, echoed Leonhardt’s remarks about the day.

“This is a historic day for Bradford and it is also a historic
day for Roswell Park,” he said.

“With this affiliation, Roswell Park continues to expand its
academic, research and clinical activities to enhance
community-based delivery of cancer care.”

Hohn said this also benefits Roswell Park with their intention
on “extending knowledge and treatment services as far out as
possible.”

For Ed Pecht, chairman of the board of directors at BRMC, this
move is yet another way the facility is “leading the way.”

“These three words can define decades of (BRMC’s) distinct and
long history,” he said. That tradition continues with this
“groundbreaking and historic affiliation.”

Pecht said the board adopted a strategic plan which provided a
“road map to the future.” Part of this plan was to identify the
needs of the region. This affiliation is one step in that direction
as BRMC “continues to build the future.”

The agreement helps both facilities.

Dr. Donald Trump, associate director at Roswell Park, added that
today’s technology will allow the two centers to exchange
information with online consultations and education.

“For these two health care organizations so steeped in history
and community commitment, this agreement will pave the way for both
parties to develop innovative collaborative educational and
research endeavors,” Trump said, as the two search for a cure. “The
affiliation will provide exciting and dynamic opportunities to
promote the academic and clinical missions of both
Institutions.”

Dr. David Godfrey, vice president of medical affairs at BRMC,
said the agreement heralds new opportunities for the medical
center’s key consumers – the patients.ð

“While collaborations for research and educational opportunities
will be initiated, it’s quality patient care that’s at the heart of
this agreement, including the availability of clinical trials,” he
said.

For U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., this move is “just how
health care should be” with a collaboration between rural and urban
centers.

“You are hooking up to one of the best,” he said, adding
treating most people here is a great asset.

Other members of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Regional
Network are Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y., and Rochester
General Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.