Where you live should not determine the quality of cancer care you receive. This investment brings that commitment to life.
Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhDDartmouth Cancer Center Keene, located on the Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) campus, celebrated its expansion and the opening of its new linear accelerator on September 1. The ribbon-cutting marks a major milestone in efforts by Cheshire, a member of Dartmouth Health, to expand access to advanced radiation therapy close to home.
Cheshire now has two operational linear accelerators, increasing the medical center’s capacity to provide radiation therapy to patients throughout the greater Monadnock region and beyond. Patients have already begun receiving treatment with the new machine, and Cheshire is increasing the number of appointments as the facility moves toward a full treatment schedule.
“This represents the culmination of years of planning and the hard work of many people who made this second linear accelerator a reality,” said Joseph L. Perras, MD, CEO and president of Cheshire. “With two operational linear accelerators, Cheshire’s Dartmouth Cancer Center location remains the primary treatment hub for a large geographic region. I am thrilled that we can continue keeping world-class oncology care close to home.”
The new linear accelerator is part of an expansion of Dartmouth Cancer Center Keene, including a new bunker to house the linear accelerator.
The new technology can deliver radiation at higher dose rates, reducing the amount of time patients spend receiving treatment. It also allows radiation beams to be altered to the size and shape of tumors, helping limit exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. For patients with certain lung and liver cancers, the system can track tumor motion associated with breathing and adjust treatment accordingly.
“The new linear accelerator is state-of-the-art, and it will significantly impact the care we can provide for our patients,” said Janelle L. Park, MD, medical director of oncology services at Cheshire. “We’re excited to offer next-generation radiotherapy to our patients.”
The addition of a second machine also allows the medical center to increase capacity for patients, while helping them avoid longer travel for radiation treatments.
“Where you live should not determine the quality of cancer care you receive,” said Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, director of Dartmouth Cancer Center. “This investment brings that commitment to life.”
The project was made possible in part through philanthropic support from the community. The Cheshire Health Foundation’s “Our Community, Our Future” capital campaign has raised more than $42.7 million to date to support major capital projects at Cheshire.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to our donors, because when we asked for your support for this and other vitally important campaign projects, you answered the call without hesitation,” said Jane Larmon, chair of the Cheshire Health Foundation Board of Trustees and co-chair of the capital campaign. “This is a tangible reminder of what is possible when we come together for the greater good.”
For more information about Cheshire and Dartmouth Cancer Center Keene, visit cheshiremed.org.
About Cheshire Health Foundation
The Cheshire Health Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization supporting Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene. To learn more, call 603-354-6810 or visit cheshirehealthfoundation.org. Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene is a non- profit community hospital and clinic with a mission to lead our community to become the nation's healthiest through our clinical and service excellence, collaboration, and compassion for every patient, every time. Founded by CMC/DHK, Health Monadnock 2020 is a community-wide health initiative designed to actively engage the citizens of Cheshire County in the process of becoming the nation's healthiest community. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit cheshiremed.org.
About Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) advances the health and wellness of individuals across New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region through outstanding care and exceptional service. Cheshire teams deliver an impressive range of clinical services that support the community's needs. As a member of Dartmouth Health, Cheshire is able to provide services far exceeding those of a typical rural hospital, including extensive programs in primary care, cancer care, cardiology, orthopaedics, and public health. Cheshire patients are also able to access hundreds of highly trained specialists and a depth of clinical and technical resources through its collaboration with Dartmouth Health. Cheshire’s clinical practice is distinguished by an exceptional staff, a strong commitment to safety and quality, and a culture that values the contribution of every staff member and volunteer. Cheshire is the area's largest healthcare provider and leading employer. Along with the services delivered on their Keene campus and satellite locations, the Medical Center partners with local organizations to provide vital services and programs throughout the region. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit cheshiremed.org.
About Dartmouth Cancer Center
Since 1972, Dartmouth Cancer Center (DCC) has combined groundbreaking and advanced cancer research at Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine with award-winning, personalized, compassionate, patient-centered cancer care and clinical trials. At its flagship location at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, with 14 locations across New Hampshire and Vermont, DCC is one of fewer than 60 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers nationally. Each year, DCC manages 74,000 appointments, treats more than 4,500 newly diagnosed patients, and currently offers more than 240 active clinical trials. DCC remains committed to excellence, outreach and education. DCC strives to create new knowledge and impact, accelerate integrated and collaborative research to prevent and cure cancer, enhance survivorship and promote cancer-related health equity. Learn more at cancer.dartmouth.edu.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and largest private employer, serves patients across New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,300 providers in nearly every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. Its network of hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics and home care facilities, spans a broad geographical area. Year after year, DHMC is named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is consistently recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, northern New England’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of less than than 60 total nationally; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital at DHMC/CHaD) and more than 20 locations around the region; eight member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont, Hampstead, and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Dartmouth Health Home Care; Dartmouth Health Connected Care Center for Telehealth, serving patients as far away as Texas; and more than 30 primary and multi-specialty clinics across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its partnership with Dartmouth College, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and the White River Junction VA Medical Center, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials with international impact. Dartmouth Health and its more than 16,000 employees are committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in the communities it serves and to providing every patient with exceptional, state-of-the-art, personalized care. Learn more at dartmouth-health.org.