Enhancing Access to UPMC Hillman Cancer Care Across Europe
By: Danielle Schall and Lisa Lombardo
With nearly 20 years of experience in delivering oncology care overseas, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center supports its mission of providing access to high-quality care, close to home — working closely with local governments to ensure that both public and private patients can receive treatment at our facilities.
With the addition of new locations, services and technologies, UPMC International is committed to expanding high-quality cancer care to people across its European footprint.
Bon Secours Radiotherapy Cork in partnership with UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre Celebrates Five Years
Since its inception, this joint venture between Bon Secours Health System and UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre in Cork, Ireland has been committed to delivering advanced cancer treatments close to home for people across Ireland’s southern region.
The Cork location celebrates its five years of service milestone this year. During that time, more than 50,000 radiation oncology procedures have been performed for more than 4,000 patients using two advanced Varian linear accelerators (linac). Aligned with UPMC Hillman’s focus on quality and safety standards, the site was recently re-accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI).
“We are incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made in the lives of our patients over the past five years,” said Mary Hickey, director of oncology services, UPMC Ireland. “It is a testament to our dedicated team’s hard work and commitment to providing cutting-edge cancer care.”
UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre at UPMC Whitfield Hospital Commissioned Second New Linear Accelerator
About 90 minutes northeast of UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre in Cork, Ireland, UPMC Hillman’s location in Waterford recently commissioned a second new, state-of-the-art radiation oncology linear accelerator (linac).
The center, located inside UPMC Whitfield Hospital, opened in 2006 and has served patients in Waterford for the last 18 years.
A significant stride in enhancing cancer care for Ireland’s southeast, UPMC initiated a phased upgrade in late 2023 to bring two state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines to the Waterford location. These improvements underscore UPMC’s commitment to providing advanced, accessible oncology services for the local community.
The new technology represents a crucial step in ensuring that oncology patients receive the highest quality care close to home.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at San Pietro FBF Adding a Cutting-Edge Linear Accelerator
Like the expansion of technology and services in Ireland, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center continues to add to its repertoire in Italy.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at San Pietro, in collaboration with San Pietro Fatebenefratelli (FBF), a 500-bed public hospital in Rome, began construction for two new bunkers (also known as vaults) to house what will be the most advanced linear accelerators in the country.
Following construction, an innovative linear accelerator will be added, with space primed to expand services with an additional linear accelerator in the future. “We are installing a MR-Linac, which brings together diagnostic quality MRI with a linear accelerator to deliver unprecedented visibility and precision,” said Beth Wild, president, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
It will be the first MR-Linac in UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s network worldwide.
“This is one of the many ways UPMC continues to increase access to advanced care, with services focused on responding to the needs of people in our communities,” said Wild.
Italy UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Locations Creating Top-Tier Experiences in the World
They are prime examples of prioritizing people-focused health, as evidenced by their recent Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Awards. Both sites have been ranked in the top 5% of more than 41,000 health care facilities across multiple countries, including the United States, for creating outstanding patient experiences.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Croatia Set to Open in the Coming Months
It will bring life-saving oncology care to improve health care access and quality for Croatia and nearby countries. Local officials have recognized this incoming presence as a significant advancement for health care in the region.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center will be located at Zabok General Hospital, which is approximately 25 miles from the Croatian capital of Zagreb, and near Slovenia. It will provide cutting-edge cancer therapies and personalized medicine — bringing comprehensive cancer care to the people of Croatia and neighboring countries with advanced radiation oncology, medical oncology and PET-CT diagnostics.
“UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is internationally renowned for providing the most advanced, evidence-based treatments and clinical trials not previously offered in local communities,” said Joel Nelson, MD, president, UPMC International. “We look forward to positively impacting more lives and supporting the Croatian health system’s goals to improve cancer prevention and treatment.”
Construction has been moving along swiftly. The groundbreaking ceremony was held just nine months ago and the center is expected to open its doors to patients by December of this year or early 2025.
The Cork location celebrates its five years of service milestone this year. During that time, more than 50,000 radiation oncology procedures have been performed for more than 4,000 patients using two advanced Varian linear accelerators (linac). Aligned with UPMC Hillman’s focus on quality and safety standards, the site was recently re-accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI).
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at San Pietro, in collaboration with San Pietro Fatebenefratelli (FBF), a 500-bed public hospital in Rome, began construction for two new bunkers (also known as vaults) to house what will be the most advanced linear accelerators in the country.
