Introducing New Jersey's Premier NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Care Center: Andrew Evens, DO, MBA, MSc

Marking a historic advancement in New Jersey’s cancer care, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute have officially opened the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center—the state’s first and only freestanding, fully comprehensive cancer hospital. Situated in New Brunswick, the 12-story National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated center unites groundbreaking research, state-of-the-art treatment, and seamless, patient-centered care all in one location.

Andrew Evens, DO, MBA, MSc, deputy director for clinical services and chief physician officer, Rutgers Cancer Institute and Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, discusses the significance of this new cancer center and the impact it will have for patients battling cancer.

This transcript was lightly edited; captions were auto-generated.

Transcript

Can you discuss the opening of the new Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center and what it means for cancer care in New Jersey?

This is a really monumental moment for the state of New Jersey and beyond. It is the only freestanding cancer hospital and pavilion in the state of New Jersey, and 1 of only 13 in the United States where we are providing all aspects of cancer care under one roof, including inpatient hospital private beds—96 state-of-the-art beds—as well as all of the ambulatory cancer care, including 86 private infusion bays for adult cancer patients. That’s where most cancer care is delivered—in the outpatient setting—as well as a pediatric ambulatory cancer unit, where we have the boardwalk theme of the Jersey Shore. When you walk through, you have the imagery of the Jersey Shore and just that comfort to disarm the patients—our pediatric cancer patients and their families—all the way through state-of-the-art imaging, radiation oncology, and a whole host of other really innovative cancer care services.

Can you share the significance of being an NCI-designated cancer center?

Yeah, we’re really excited that, of course, we are already an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. Only 3% to 4% of all cancer centers in the country are designated by the NCI. We are one of them—and the only one in New Jersey. We feel this brings us to another level. Of course, New Jersey is our first love and most important, but this really marks a transformation of this center and our health system as a national, if not global, destination center. Said in another way, we see this as bringing hope to patients by giving them access to the best cancer care in the world.