Samaritan and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Announce Medical Oncology Partnership

Published on: October 18, 2021

Medical oncology at the Walker Center for Cancer Care now clinically affiliated with Roswell Park, providing patients access to the latest in lifesaving medical oncology services

Watertown, N.Y. – Samaritan Medical Center and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y., have announced a new affiliation, linking medical oncology services provided at Samaritan’s Walker Center for Cancer Care with the Roswell Park Care Network. The new affiliation will offer cancer patients in the North Country region access to the latest approaches and best practices in cancer treatment to enhance the quality of medical oncology services available locally.

Beginning October 18, 2021, the care of medical oncology cancer patients in the Watertown region will have access to leading cancer research, education, and prevention services overseen by experts from Roswell Park, the only facility in Central and Upstate New York designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center.

Two full-time medical oncologists at the Walker Center – Florence P. Arnold, M.D. and Ihsan U. Haq, M.D. – will become employees of the Roswell Park Care Network and will continue to provide care for their patients at the Walker Center location. Patients at the Walker Center will benefit from enhanced capabilities and resources offered by the expanding Roswell Park Care Network, which is the most expansive community cancer, supportive and specialized care affiliation across New York State.

“When opened in 2018, the Walker Center for Cancer Care represented a $16 million investment in the health of our community and changed the way cancer care is delivered in our region,” said Thomas Carman, president and CEO of Samaritan Health. “This collaboration with the Roswell Park Care Network bolsters this investment and allows us to bring nationally recognized care to the North Country.”

“We are very pleased to partner with the high-quality oncology program at Samaritan and to work collaboratively to expand the therapies and services available to cancer patients in the North Country. Together, we will provide seamless access to services these individuals would otherwise have to travel hours for, starting with multidisciplinary care and access to oncology and surgical subspecialists,” said Thomas Schwaab, MD, PhD, a urologic oncologist and Chief of Strategy, Business Development and Outreach at Roswell Park. “Two highly qualified physicians have come onboard to serve patients at the Walker Center as a part of the Roswell Park Care Network, and we are excited about the level and integration of care these outstanding oncologists will continue to provide for this community.”

Samaritan’s partnership with the Roswell Park Care Network builds on cancer care standards available to network members and enables them to experience better quality and efficiency. It allows patients to take advantage of the latest technology in cancer treatment and gives access to innovative therapies in a community practice setting. The agreement also gives cancer patients and survivors options to live their best lives during and after cancer treatment.

The new affiliation provides exciting and dynamic opportunities to promote the missions of both institutions while combining the strengths of a respected community hospital with the expertise of a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Together, Samaritan and the Roswell Park Care Network will build upon high-quality cancer care currently available to patients, their families, and communities throughout the Watertown region.

The Watertown region will also benefit from increased training and development, as Samaritan Health’s patients, employees, and medical staff physicians will be able to participate in Roswell Park Care Network’s community education, cancer prevention, clinical care, and professional educational programs. Oncology patients at Samaritan Health will benefit from the knowledge of Roswell Park’s specialist and subspecialist experts, and to access a broad array of innovative treatments and clinical trials, giving them more options and earlier opportunities to decide the best route to treat their cancer.

Cancer treatment often requires a multi-pronged treatment approach, relying on medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgical care. Samaritan will continue to own and operate the Walker Center for Cancer Care.

About Roswell Park
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a community united by the drive to eliminate cancer’s grip on humanity by unlocking its secrets through personalized approaches and unleashing the healing power of hope. Founded by Dr. Roswell Park in 1898, it is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. Learn more at www.roswellpark.org, or contact us at 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or ASKRoswell@roswellpark.org.

About Samaritan Health
Samaritan Medical Center (Watertown, New York) is a 290-bed not-for-profit community medical center, offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. From primary and emergency care to highly specialized medical and surgical services, such as cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, behavioral health and addiction services, and imaging services, Samaritan Medical Center and its team of healthcare professionals proudly serves the medical needs of our civilian and military community. Quality, compassion, and safety are the basic principles by which exceptional care is delivered at Samaritan.