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After two years of fundraising and six months of construction, the Wilfried Leder Oncology Center at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital (MHMH) is finally complete and treating incoming patients.
Oncology not only refers to cancer and chemotherapy treatments, but also to diseases of the blood (both cancerous and noncancerous) that require similar intravenous remedies. The Wilfried Leder Oncology Center, named for its initiator oncology physician, Dr. Wilfried Leder, is suited for both for oncology and hematology.
The new treatment center consists of seven different treatment bays ("waiting rooms") and 3,000 sq. feet of space. Prior to construction, there was little room for visiting family members, but the center is now equipped with individual TVs and speakers, two private rooms with beds where patients can lie down for treatment and a room for drawing blood or bone marrow.
"Dr. Leder came to the U.S. young, after World War II and went to UC (University of Cincinnati)," said Julie Nickell, MHMH director of development. "He started into oncology before it was actually a field … 28 years ago. UC provided doctors to staff our clinic here."
MHMH Board Chairman and Miami alumnus Dr. Thomas Speh said MHMH's effort to provide oncology care is greatly appreciated.
"The first thing that you have to understand is that the oncology efforts at the hospital are nothing short of awesome," Speh said. "I think it will attract people who think of this of a great alternative. First of all, the doctors are great, and the nurses are fantastic."
In terms of funding for the project, the hospital's development team had high hopes from the start, Nickell said.
"We met and exceeded it (the goal)," Nickell said. "Our goal was $725,000 and we raised more than $750,000. Almost all donations came from this area, primarily our physicians and employees. They gave more than $50,000. One volunteer auxiliary gave more than $150,000."
Speh said he was impressed how the community reached out to the hospital, especially because of difficult economic times.
"The way the community reached out and supported it (the development) during this economic time, it's just one of those things," Speh said. "The fact that the community supported it, says volumes."
In celebration of the opening, a dedication ceremony for Leder will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m Tuesday, April 21. The event will consist of a ribbon cutting, an open house of the center and a plaque hanging to honor Leder's work and generosity.
Sylvia Moore, administrative assistant to MHMH CEO Brain Hehemann, said she is excited to celebrate the opening.
"It's a very beautiful, positive healing environment," Moore said. "The aesthetics of the room allow for a better healing process."
