Greenwich Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) and Smilow Cancer Hospital marked a significant milestone in the future of regional cancer care with a transformation kickoff ceremony held on Wednesday to celebrate the construction of the new Smilow Cancer Hospital within the walls of Greenwich Hospital.
From left: W. Robert Berkley Jr., chair, Greenwich Hospital Board of Trustees; Karen Santucci, MD, chief medical officer, Greenwich Hospital; Carmen Elledias, former Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich patient; Pamela Sutton-Wallace, president, Yale New Haven Health System; Lori Pickens, senior vice president, Cancer Services, Yale New Haven Health System, Smilow Cancer Hospital; chief administrative officer, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine; William Oh, MD, The Jean and David W. Wallace Medical Director, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital, director, Precision Medicine, Yale Cancer Center, professor of medicine, Yale School of Medicine; Bob Blenderman, PA, president, Greenwich Hospital
Renderings of the new Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital are displayed on the first floor of the hospital. The entire project is set to be completed in early 2029.
The event brought together leaders from across YNHHS, Smilow Cancer Hospital and Greenwich Hospital, as well as clinicians, staff and community partners to commemorate the beginning of the hospital’s oncology campus transformation.
Featured speakers included Bob Blenderman, PA, president, Greenwich Hospital; W. Robert Berkley Jr., chair, Greenwich Hospital Board of Trustees; and William Oh, MD, The Jean and David W. Wallace Medical Director Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital and director, Precision Medicine, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital.
Carmen Elledias, a former Smilow breast cancer and colon cancer patient from Bedford, NY, concluded the speaking portion with a powerful testimony about her experience, highlighting the importance of innovative support close to home and the personalized approach to care offered in Greenwich.
Because the new Smilow Cancer Hospital is being built within the current footprint of Greenwich Hospital, the event featured a symbolic wall‑breaking ceremony rather than a traditional groundbreaking.
Construction partner Consigli Construction created a temporary wall specifically for the event, giving the speakers and YNHHS leadership the opportunity to ceremonially “break through” and celebrate the start of the interior transformation.
“Reaching this milestone is the result of remarkable efforts from our Greenwich Hospital staff and board members, donors and friends in our community, Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Health,” said Blenderman. “We are bringing a level of cancer care to the community that has never been seen before. The result of this project puts our patients at the center of forward-facing,
The new hospital will expand access to leading cancer specialists and bring the pioneering research of Yale Cancer Center – Connecticut’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – directly to patients in Fairfield and Westchester counties.
“Expanding Smilow’s presence in Greenwich is essential to address the projected increase in cancer diagnoses in the region and provides a unique opportunity for individuals with cancer in the surrounding communities,” explained Eric Winer, MD, president and physician-in-chief of the Smilow Cancer Hospital Yale New Haven Health System and director, Yale Cancer Center. “We bring the highest quality cancer care and will be expanding access to clinical trials and innovative treatment options. Our goal is to ensure that patients locally can receive the best possible care with greater convenience and continuity.”
The project represents a major investment in the future of cancer care and, most importantly, in the patients and families the hospital serves. Renovations will redesign and modernize clinical spaces to bring together medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion, surgical services, diagnostics and supportive care, creating a fully integrated cancer hospital within the existing Greenwich Hospital campus.
“The Smilow team in Greenwich has built a remarkable culture defined by expertise, compassion and the drive to push cancer care forward,” said Dr. Oh. “The innovations emerging from this campus, from precision medicine to advanced clinical programs, are elevating the standard of care for the entire region.”
“As we celebrate this historic moment at Greenwich Hospital and the commitment to our patients, we are also honoring the collaboration and commitment of dedicated friends, many of whom have chosen to support the realization of the new Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital through their philanthropy. I invite others to join us in helping make these advances possible,” said Berkley.
As construction progresses, Greenwich Hospital, Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Health remain united in their mission to reimagine cancer care for the region. When finished, the new Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital will offer patients a seamless, state‑of‑the‑art, multidisciplinary healing environment designed to support them at every step. The entire project is set to be completed in early 2029.
To learn more about the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital Building Fund and how you can contribute, please contact Noël Appel at noel.appel@greenwichhospital.
Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed community hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. It is an academic affiliate of Yale School of Medicine. Since opening in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a progressive medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital is recognized throughout the healthcare industry as a leader in service and patient satisfaction excellence. Greenwich Hospital has the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. www.greenwichhospital.org
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven is one of the nation’s pre-eminent cancer hospitals, Connecticut’s largest provider of cancer care and the only comprehensive cancer facility in Southern New England. In addition to the flagship Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Smilow offers state-of-the-art cancer services at 16 locations throughout the region – including Greenwich. Partnering with Yale Cancer Center, Smilow Cancer Hospital offers the very latest care, delivered by some of the nation’s most prominent and highly respected physicians and nurses. A leader in groundbreaking academic medicine, Smilow provides access to more than 300 clinical trials – bringing innovation and new hope to patients each year, including access to Phase I trials. https://www.ynhh.org/smilow