April Sampson Cancer Center to Provide Leading-Edge Cancer Care
Progressive, centralized cancer care under one roof is now a reality for patients in
April Sampson Cancer Center
Nebraska and beyond, with the opening of the April Sampson Cancer Center. This state-of-the-art facility is a collaboration between Bryan Health and Cancer Partners of Nebraska.
“The April Sampson Cancer Center is completely focused on and designed with patients’ needs at the forefront,” said Russ Gronewold, president and CEO, Bryan Health. “We worked with our cancer patients who’ve experienced care across the country, as well great physicians who gave their time to plan every component.”
In Nebraska, over 75,000 people require cancer care every year. The April Sampson Cancer Center offers advanced technology and treatment within a healing, comfortable environment. The facility provides cancer care under one roof and during one stop, improving upon a system that can involve multiple meetings with several specialists over the course of weeks.
First Structure on New Campus
The April Sampson Cancer Center is a 140,000 square foot building and the first structure on the new Bryan South Campus. The project and new campus location were unveiled in late 2020 after John Sampson, president of Sampson Construction, and his daughter, Cori Vokoun, vice president of Sampson Construction, donated 29 acres of land for the facility. The comprehensive community cancer center is named after April Sampson, John’s wife and Cori’s mother, who lost her life in 2016 after bravely battling breast cancer for decades.
“Being involved with Bryan as a friend, contractor and board member, I’ve always been so impressed with how the organization has been relentless in getting what’s new and needed in Lincoln,” Vokoun said. “I feel so much joy when I go into this building. It’s so perfect for the site. It’s perfect for the work that’s going to happen here. I’m really excited about it and really proud of it.”
Cancer treatment at the April Sampson Cancer Center honors the highest-quality, protocol-driven care available using a multi-disciplinary approach:
Treatment
- Access to clinical trials through two national networks, including MD Anderson
- Personalized chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and oncology treatments
- Rehabilitation and therapy gym
- Specialty pharmacy and on-site lab
Care
- Nurse navigators to guide care
- Palliative care services to ease discomfort and transitions
- Wig fitting and styling, breast prosthesis services and cancer-sensitive apparel
- Social workers
- Healing arts, walking path and pond
Counseling
- Genetic counseling
- Mental health support
- Spiritual care
- Palliative care
- Nutrition guidance
Two existing Bryan services are now located at the April Sampson Cancer Center:
- The Bryan Imaging Center moved from Bryan Pine Lake Campus. This service provides cost-effective imaging, including mammography, X-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, biopsy and bone density testing. PET-CT remains at Bryan Pine Lake Campus.
- The Spa by Bryan Medical Center relocated from Bryan LifePointe and offers manicures, pedicures, massages, facials and acupuncture. This service is open to the public and all providers have specialized oncology training.
Building the April Sampson Cancer Center demonstrates a commitment to providing patients with complete, state-of-the-art care, said Dr. Nathan Green, oncologist, Cancer Partners of Nebraska.
“It’s been incredibly helpful for recruiting new health care talent to our community, as well as signifying that local physicians can come together and provide the absolute best care for our patients,” Dr. Green said.
Philanthropy Boosts Programming and More
Philanthropy was the cornerstone of making the April Sampson Cancer Center and its innovative programming a reality. In addition to the donation of land from the Sampson family, private donors provided more than $21 million in charitable gifts to equip not only the physical facility, but also the center’s support programs.
“What made this campaign so successful, so quickly, started with those closest to the project making personal gifts. The administrative and physician support validated the effort in the eyes of so many and a very generous community took it from there,” said Bob Ravenscroft, system vice president and chief marketing and development officer, Bryan Health.
Read more about the April Sampson Cancer Center and how to support local cancer care here: AprilSampsonCancerCenter.org.
