Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center


Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a cancer research and treatment center and a New York State public-benefit corporation located in Buffalo, New York and founded by Roswell Park. Candace S. Johnson is President & Chief Executive Officer of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2019, Roswell Park ranked #14 on U.S. News & World Report's list of the best cancer hospitals in the country, an increase from position #30 in 2018. Roswell Park was the first dedicated medical facility for cancer treatment and research in the United States, and is the only upstate New York facility to hold the National Cancer Institute designation of "comprehensive cancer center." Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, which conducts clinical research on cancer as well as developing new drugs, provides advanced treatment for all forms of adult and pediatric cancer and serves as a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
The Roswell Park campus, spread out in 15 separate buildings of approximately two million square feet, occupies on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus in downtown Buffalo, and includes of space equally distributed between clinical programs and research/education functions. A separate hospital building, completed in 1998, houses a diagnostic and treatment center. The campus also includes a medical research complex as well as research and education focused space.

Organization

The Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corporation, which is the name of the New York public benefit corporation that operates the center, is guided by a 14-member board of directors. The management team is headed by President and CEO Candace S. Johnson, PhD, who reports to the board. In 2017, it had operating expenses of $722.45 million, an outstanding debt of $189.67 million, and a staffing level of 2,919 people.

History

In 1898, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center was established by Roswell Park, who was a professor of surgery at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. Park said that "Only through a deliberate well-planned, combined attack from various directions by means fitted for such work could real advances be made and further the relationship of laboratory work, clinical study and education must be closely associated."
Research started in three rooms in the University of Buffalo School of Medicine but not long thereafter, it outgrew the rooms. Seeing the importance of dedicated cancer research, select Buffalo citizens donated funds to purchase land and construct a new building. The largest contributor was Mrs. William Gratwick, who donated $25,000. The Gratwick Research Laboratory of the University of Buffalo was constructed in 1901 and was located at High and Elm streets.
Park wrote books, gave lectures, and was the administrator at the cancer research center. In 1904, Park stepped down and Harvey R. Gaylord took over as the Center's second director. Park remained as the chairman of the board of trustees.

Centers of Research

Roswell Park's centers include the Breast Service; Chemotherapy/Infusion; Dermatology, Soft Tissue Melanoma, Thoracic; Lower Gastrointestinal; Upper Gastrointestinal; Genito-Urology; Head & Neck; Dentistry and Maxillofacial Prosthetics; Pediatric; Gynecology and Hematology/Neurology/Pain. Supporting these centers are clinical resources that include Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine; Blood Bank/Plateletpheresis; Clinical Research Services; Community Cancer Resource Center; Diagnostic Imaging; Genetics Counseling/Testing; Infectious Disease Service; Nursing; Pain Medicine; Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; Patient Advocacy; Photodynamic Therapy; Psychosocial Support; Radiation Oncology; Rehabilitation ; and Therapeutics.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center also offers specialized treatments, services and therapies including: High-dose Chemotherapy; Photodynamic Therapy; Gamma Knife; Follow-up Clinic for Long- term Survivors of Childhood Cancer; a Regional Center for Maxillofacial Prosthetics; Clinical Genetics Testing and Counseling; the Center for HIV-related Malignancies; Lymphedema Clinic; Balloon Kyphoplasty; Brain Mapping; Cancer Pain Management Service; High Risk Breast Clinic; Intraoperative MRI; Minimally Invasive Surgical Suite; Mohs Surgery;
Robotic Surgery and Colorectal Cancer Risk Management Clinic.

Vital statistics

Statistics from Fiscal Year 2017

Training and education

Previous names