AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Unveils Leading-Edge $76M Cancer Institute

MERRIAM, Kan., May 02, 2024 — AdventHealth today unveiled its $76 million, 71,000-square-foot Cancer Institute, designed to provide unparalleled cancer care services to the community. AdventHealth Cancer Institute Shawnee Mission offers a wide range of services, including the only MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy in the region, physician clinics, CT and PET scans, infusion, radiation, on-site laboratory testing, and a world-class diagnostic breast center.

In addition to these essential services, the AdventHealth Cancer Institute centers around a patient-focused approach, reflecting its commitment to compassionate, whole-person care. Additional services include financial navigation, nutritional counseling, lymphedema therapy, genetic counseling, massage, physical therapy, and social work support.

“This is an incredibly meaningful day for the future of cancer care in the region as we expand upon our abilities to provide compassionate cancer care to patients,” said Sam Huenergardt, Chief Executive Officer of AdventHealth Mid-America Region. “On behalf of our team, we are honored and humbled to have the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art Cancer Institute that is built to care and driven to cure.”

Earlier this year, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission began installation of leading-edge cancer-treating technology, with the Elekta Unity MRI Linear Accelerator (Linac). This advanced therapy uses MRI-Guided Radiation to view tumors in real-time during treatment, resulting in pinpoint precision, fewer sessions, and reduced side effects. AdventHealth Shawnee Mission is the first in the Kansas City metropolitan area to offer MRI-Guided Radiation, addressing an unmet need in cancer therapy.

“Our clinical team is deeply committed to providing the highest quality of care to our community and I’m extremely proud of the patient-focused approach we have created,” said Dr. Brenda Shoup, Medical Director, Gynecologic Oncology at AdventHealth Cancer Institute. “The new Cancer Institute not only features leading-edge technology, but whole-person, compassionate care that is an integral part of each patient’s cancer journey.”

A large range of cancers can be treated with MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy. This therapy is ideal for tumors in and around the chest or abdomen and for treating cancers located in difficult-to-visualize soft tissue such as pancreatic, esophageal and colon cancers, among others. The new technology enables personalized radiotherapy by integrating two critical but distinct technologies in a single platform: a state-of-the-art, high field (wide bore 1.5 Tesla) MR imaging system and a next generation Elekta linear accelerator to target cancer more effectively as the tumor’s size, shape and location change throughout treatment.

Rigorous testing and commissioning are now underway for the MRI Linear Accelerator, and Cancer Institute staff will complete extensive training. The Cancer Institute plans to open on May 13, and will begin offering MRI Guided Radiation Therapy later this year.

For more information about the AdventHealth care team and cancer treatment options, visit CancerCareKC.com.

About AdventHealth in Kansas City

With a sacred mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health. A focus on whole-person health and commitment to caring for the body, mind and spirit unify the system's nearly 50 hospital campuses and hundreds of care sites in diverse markets throughout almost a dozen states. AdventHealth in Kansas City includes AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Merriam, KS; AdventHealth Prairie Star; AdventHealth South Overland Park, AdventHealth College Boulevard, AdventHealth Centra Care and AdventHealth Medical Group. Visit AdventHealthKC.com for more information.