Sentara Healthcare Opens the Sentara Brock Cancer Center

Sentara Healthcare has officially opened the doors to the Sentara Brock Cancer Center for patient care and comprehensive cancer treatment. This new patient-centered facility transforms cancer care in Hampton Roads by bringing together expert care teams, community organizations and holistic cancer treatment services within one location.

The Sentara Brock Cancer Center is a $93.5 million, 253,000 square-foot facility and regional hub for the Sentara Cancer Network. Sentara broke ground on the center in March 2018 and began treating patients on June 1, 2020. The name of this center honors the Joan and Macon Brock family. Joan Brock’s generous donation ensures cancer patients receive exceptional care in a healing environment. Joan is a three-time cancer survivor, a grateful patient of the Sentara Cancer Network, and a previous Sentara Healthcare board member. She is honoring her late husband, Macon Brock, and her family through this generous gift.

“I heard that dreaded phrase, ‘You have cancer,’ so I know how vital it is to have a comprehensive solution that treats the whole person as well as the disease,” said Joan Brock. “I relied upon an advanced clinical team to get me through survivorship. Now, everyone in our community will have access to our region’s community cancer partners in one location right here at home.”

“I am deeply appreciative of Joan’s generous spirit and dedication toward the communities we serve,” said Howard P. Kern, President and CEO of Sentara Healthcare. “Together with the professionals who provide cancer care, we will advance the health of our neighbors and loved ones. Joan’s gift is a testament to the shared commitment between Sentara and our community members.”

The Sentara Brock Cancer Center brings together care team partners from Virginia Oncology Associates (VOA), Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) Medical Group and additional community providers who will be moving into the building in a phased approach through Spring of 2021. The partnership is led by an unparalleled Physician Steering Committee comprised of clinical leaders from Sentara, VOA and EVMS to develop and guide a shared vision for oncology care in the Hampton Roads community. This includes multidisciplinary care, expanded community access to clinical trials, improved outcomes by strengthening the capacity for advanced cancer care close to home, and coordinated survivorship programs to help patients transition to life after diagnosis. By partnering with like-minded clinical teams and community organizations, cancer patients, survivors and their families will benefit from increased access to cancer resources and services, expanded screening, awareness and prevention efforts, treatment options, and survivorship care.

Expanded Services in a Healing Environment

Imagine: a cancer patient in Hampton Roads arrives and enters one building to complete all of their needed treatments, support services, and consultations. While this might not seem like a huge milestone to some, it is this type of feedback from patients that fueled the creation of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center. Cancer survivors and caregivers understand the constant burden and disruptions of seeing several specialty doctors and having multiple appointments in several different locations, over long periods of time.

This new cancer center is a clinically advanced destination for hope and healing. The building was designed with the patient’s health journey and customer experience as a top priority. A few of the services patients can expect are:

• A calming environment that includes an outdoor Healing Garden and quiet family work stations for caregivers as they assist their loved ones at appointments
• Support services for advanced illnesses, including Sentara’s first outpatient palliative care clinic in the Hampton Roads community
• Complementary alternative medicine therapies, such as massage, art and music therapy
• Silhouette Mastectomy Boutique - A retail shop for wig services, headwear and mastectomy products
• A rehabilitation gym with two certified lymphedema therapists and fitness classes led by a certified cancer exercise specialist

Sentara will continue to provide cancer care at existing Hampton Roads locations—these locations will continue to serve as resources and points of access, playing an essential role in the Sentara Cancer Network.

“Cancer has surpassed heart disease in Virginia as the leading cause of death and cancer rates are expected to increase 36% by 2030,” said Carolyn Carpenter, Corporate Vice President of Sentara Healthcare. “It’s important for us to continue to grow and enhance our ability to provide care for cancer patients right here at home. The Sentara Brock Cancer Center will strengthen our current services and serve as a catalyst for new services and care experience.”

A virtual tour of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center provides an inside look and more information about its services and patient care at www.SentaraBrockCancerCenter.com.

Safety Precautions During COVID-19

On opening day and every day forward, patients of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center may expect to be welcomed by their care team to receive necessary treatments in a safe and clean environment. The center has adopted rigorous guidelines to ensure the safety of all who enter the building. All patients, staff, and visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Everyone must wear a mask while inside, as well as follow social distancing and hand-washing protocols. At this time, patients are allowed to bring one visitor with them to any Sentara facility. We are committed to keeping all of our patients safe, especially those most vulnerable.