UChicago Medicine Expands Plans for City’s First Freestanding Cancer Facility Based on Community Input

By NAINA PURUSHOTHAMAN | Senior News Reporter

On February 15, UChicago Medicine (UCM) released updated plans for Chicago’s first freestanding cancer facility, located on East 57th Street between South Maryland and Drexel Avenues.

The 575,000-square-foot cancer facility will be an $815 million project with the possibility of future expansion, which is a budget increase from its original plan. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved a permit in March 2022, which began the process and allowed UCM to spend time communicating with cancer patients and survivors in the local community.

A February 15 press release also detailed the 10-month process through which UCM collected and incorporated input from South Side residents. The effort to solicit input from South Side residents consisted of volunteers, a telephone poll, town halls, community meetings, and 200,000 surveys administered in person, on social media, and in newsletters.

According to the press release, the incidence of cancer on the South Side is predicted to rise by 19 percent over the next five years. This statistic puts the South Side at nearly twice the incidence of the other counties surrounding Chicago.

In the press release, Tom Jackiewicz, president of the UChicago Medicine health system, wrote, “We have an opportunity to build a world-class facility for our patients and the community that propels UChicago Medicine to become the premier destination for comprehensive cancer care, where groundbreaking science and compassionate care meet to provide an unrivaled approach to conquering cancer.”

UCM has had a history of groundbreaking cancer-related discoveries. In 2017, UCM was the first hospital in Illinois to offer therapy for adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, as well as for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Back in 1943, UCM also laid the groundwork for using chemotherapy to treat cancers.

“We will be building a model for groundbreaking cancer care and prevention, established on the principles of access, equity, dignity and innovation, right here on the South Side of Chicago,” said Mark Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for medical affairs, in UCM’s statement.

Construction on the new facility is set to begin in 2023, and UCMed plans to open it by 2027.