START Center for Cancer Care Celebrates Grand Opening of New 120,000 Square Foot Facility

START Center for Cancer Care, San Antonio, TX - June 18, 2009

On Thursday, June 18, 2008, the START Center for Cancer Care celebrated the Grand opening of their new 120,000 square foot START Center for Cancer Care building and its anchor tenant, the new STRIC Imaging Center.

Two of the city’s top medical practices opened their doors for a by-invitation-only grand opening event to showcase the new START Center for Cancer Care.

In this new building in San Antonio’s Medical Center, cancer patients are being treated with some of the most advanced treatments and technology available.

Within the same four-story building, a team of world-renowned researchers work around the clock to develop breakthrough drugs that may one day render the center’s state-of-the-art technology unnecessary.

The new START Center for Cancer Care combines sophisticated treatment modalities and one of the world’s largest and most active Phase I clinical trial programs. The center represents the union of South Texas Oncology and Hematology (STOH) and South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics (START), which now share a name and are together in one location for the first time since they joined forces in 2007.

The physicians of the START Center for Cancer Care aim to usher in a new era in cancer treatment, one that combines customized, streamlined cancer treatment with groundbreaking, accelerated drug development efforts.

Located on a 4.5 acre site in the heart of San Antonio’s Medical Center at the corner of Ewing Halsell and Medical Drives, the new facility houses a full spectrum of clinical care for cancer patients, including chemotherapy, state-of-the-art radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and wellness programs. It also is home to an internationally renowned Phase I clinical trials program, where more than 40 promising new drugs are now being tested for the first time in patients.

An in-house South Texas Radiology Imaging Center (STRIC), a fully staffed pharmacy and a spa-like Wellness Center for patients are all part of the new offerings.

“It’s designed totally with the patient in mind,” says Dr. Lon Smith, who co-founded STOH along with Dr. Steven Kalter. “We hope that not only will we be able to do a better job of taking care of patients, but also that we’ll be able to make substantive contributions to the treatment of cancer in the near future.”

START is one of the city’s largest oncology practices, with seven other locations throughout the San Antonio area. They completed their new 120,000 square foot flagship building in December of last year and began seeing patients in January. This is the first grand opening START officials have hosted to showcase their state-of-the-art new building to community and health care leaders.

STRIC is one of the largest providers of radiology services, with more than 20 locations throughout the city. They are the anchor tenant in the new START Center.

Over 500 guests were expected to attend this event which included tours of the new building, opportunities to see some of the latest cancer treatment technology and briefings by physicians.

Guests included elected officials, local physicians and other community leaders. The new START Center for Cancer Care building is located at 4383 Medical Drive.