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Clifton Park Welcomes Cancer Care Center

Lucas Willard
/
WAMC

The healthcare industry in Saratoga County is continuing its expansion, as officials gathered in Clifton Park Friday to break ground on a new cancer care center. 

“Thank you and I would like to officially, on behalf of the Town of Clifton Park, welcome New York Oncology Hematology to Clifton Park!"

Town supervisor Phil Barrett addressed a small crowd gathered at the corner of 3 Crossing Boulevard, the future home of New York Oncology Hematology’s Clifton Park Cancer Center. The 28,000 square foot facility will be the largest of its kind in Saratoga County, and will provide both radiation and medical oncology. It will also conduct research through clinical trials.

Dr. Nini Wu, president of NYOH, said the center will serve her organization’s mission of bringing cancer care close to home.

“So from Hudson to Albany, to Amsterdam, Troy, Rexford, and now Clifton Park, we believe that we need to do everything we can so you can so that you can stay home with your loved ones when you are suffering through an illness,” said Wu. “We want to get you there and we want to get you beyond.”

One of Dr. Wu’s former patients, breast cancer survivor Lisa Morahan, spoke about her personal experience with the disease. After her surgery Morahan started Floydwarriors, an online support group for breast cancer patients.

Credit Lucas Willard / WAMC
/
WAMC
Lisa Morahan hugs Dr. Nini Wu at the groundbreaking for the Clifton Park Cancer Center

“What you’re doing here is you’re healing people and you’re inspiring  them to do great things in their lives and really realize what it is what they were put on this earth to do, and part of Floydwarriors is for people to realize the God-given dreams and talents during and after diagnosis,” said Morahan.

Edwin Graham, Regional Senior Vice President of the US Oncology Network, said the Clifton Park Cancer Center will allow patients and doctors to seek expertise across the country.

“They can reach out to any one of their colleagues of close to a thousand physicians across the network who may have an area of expertise that would be something that would be vital to a patient that they are having the opportunity and privilege to care for,” said Graham.

Capital District Congressman Paul Tonko praised Clifton Park and its residents for welcoming the facility.

“I’m so proud to represent an area that is constantly showing its concern, its compassion, and its love. If we embrace those qualities we can accomplish great things and climb several mountains,” said Tonko.

Albany-based Columbia Development Companies will develop the new center. BBL Medical Facilities will build the facility in a part of town near neighborhood homes, but is also surrounded by newer retail establishments.

Town supervisor Phil Barrett said NYOH’s move to Clifton Park is a result of 15 years of planning.

“We first concentrated on the retail sector because that’s what we needed to fill. There was a lot of empty retail areas. We then had a lot of success there. We consummated a lot of opportunities that came about in the hospitality sector. And we knew with that success it would bring community organizations and expansion of healthcare services and other support services to this area, and that is exactly what’s happened,” said Barrett.

The new center will open in 2015. NYOH will relocate operations from its practice in Latham. Additional hiring is planned.

Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.
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