OSF HealthCare is set to significantly expand its Cancer Institute in Peoria, a facility that opened just two years ago. The expansion will add a new fourth floor, enhancing the institute’s capabilities in medical oncology, surgical oncology, and research, including more space for clinical trials. This development aims to improve patient outcomes by facilitating multidisciplinary perspectives and advancing cancer research.
Key Takeaways
- OSF HealthCare has received state approval for the expansion of its Peoria Cancer Institute.
- A new 29,000-square-foot fourth floor will be added, focusing on medical and surgical oncology, research, and clinical trials.
- The expansion is expected to be completed by spring 2027.
- Dr. Robert McWilliams has joined the leadership team as deputy director.
Enhancing Patient Care and Research
The existing OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, a $237 million, 200,000-square-foot facility, has already served over 77,000 patients. The addition of a fourth floor, spanning 29,000 square feet, will introduce new medical oncology and surgical oncology services, alongside expanded research components and space for more clinical trials. This expansion is designed to foster collaboration among specialists, leading to more comprehensive treatment plans and better patient care.
Dr. James McGee, president of the OSF Cancer Institute, emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives in treatment. "I think it’s really good for patients to be able to get a lot of different perspectives, and this facilitates all of that," he stated. "It makes it more likely that the patients will get the best treatment regimens and recommendations possible."
The new floor will also enhance the institute’s diagnostics and therapeutics program and include private rooms for infusions. The overarching goal, according to Dr. McGee, is to improve health outcomes, both for individual patients with rare conditions and for the broader population by reducing cancer incidence and advanced diagnoses.
New Leadership and Future Vision
Complementing the physical expansion, OSF HealthCare has appointed Dr. Robert McWilliams as the new deputy director of the Cancer Institute. Dr. McWilliams, who previously spent two decades on the faculty at the Mayo Clinic, joins Dr. McGee and Dr. Jun Zhang, vice president of oncology research, in leading the institute.
Dr. McWilliams expressed enthusiasm for the institute’s potential. "The vision from the OSF leadership team and Dr. McGee is very much aligned with what I think we can accomplish," he said. "This is an inflection point. Right now, the resources and the commitment is there to make this a true destination center, a place where people will come from all over to get treatment and redefine how we care for cancer in the U.S."
Construction for this significant expansion project is slated for completion by the spring of 2027, promising to further solidify OSF HealthCare’s commitment to advanced cancer care and research in the region.
