Cooper celebrates 5th anniversary of MD Anderson partnership

MD Anderson, which marked its fifth year partnering with Cooper University Health Care this week, is preparing to celebrate its expansion into northern New Jersey with Summit Medical Group next week.

The five-year anniversary was celebrated in Camden.

“This is another exciting day, as MD Anderson at Cooper continues to transform cancer care for the people of South Jersey and the region,” George Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care, said. “In just five short years, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper has become a leading cancer center in South Jersey.”

Norcross is credited with MD Anderson’s entrance into New Jersey, and he played a role in the expansion to Summit.

Dr. Peter WT Pisters, president of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said the partnership has worked for them.

“This five-year milestone is an opportunity to reflect on MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper’s tremendous impact on the communities it serves,” he said. “Together, we have brought a new dimension of high-quality cancer care, research and innovation, allowing more patients and families to stay close to home and near their support circles.  We look forward to many more years of collaboration with Cooper as we advance our shared goal of ending cancer.”

MD Anderson at Cooper has experienced significant growth in the past five years, with more than 110,000 treatment encounters and 70,000 physician practice visits in 2017, according to a statement.

Summit represents just the latest expansion project for MD Anderson, which also opened the Janet Knowles Breast Cancer Center in July 2015, a new oncology unity at Cooper in July 2016, an expanded outpatient infusion center in November 2016 and a new outpatient diagnostic mammography center in May 2018.