From the introduction of chemotherapy to the integration of AI, cancer care has undergone a startling evolution in the century since Massachusetts General Hospital opened the nation’s first tumor clinic in 1925. When it comes to innovation, however, treatment has long outpaced infrastructure. The complex and increasingly diffuse nature of modern cancer care can strain even the most advanced healthcare systems, let alone caregivers, patients and their families.
But now, with the support of a transformational gift of $100 million from entrepreneur, philanthropist and proud Bostonian Herb Chambers, Mass General, a founding member of Mass General Brigham (MGB), is moving forward with a new, state-of-the-art flagship facility designed to integrate cancer care, simplify the healthcare journey for patients and families and redefine cancer treatment. In recognition of this visionary gift, Mass General will name the East Tower of the Phillip and Susan Ragon Building the Herb Chambers Tower in honor of the Dorchester native.
“Herb’s bold vision and investment in our mission will allow us to offer a diverse array of services — initial consultations, labs, imaging, procedures, infusion, inpatient and ICU care — all under one roof, making it easier for patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer. This incredibly generous gift will enhance collaboration and transform the way our exceptional clinical teams deliver cutting edge, research-infused care and train the next generation of leaders in cancer care,” says David F. M. Brown, MD, president, academic medical centers, Mass General Brigham.
“This generous gift will make the greatest cancer center in the world even greater, giving patients and their families the reassurance that they are in the right place during the hardest times of their lives,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “I’m deeply grateful to Herb Chambers, his family and the entire Mass General Brigham community for all they do to make Massachusetts the best place in the world for health care.”
“This gift, for me, is intensely personal,” Mr. Chambers says. “Patients at Mass General receive the highest level of care, with all departments operating in perfect harmony. Over the years, members of my family, friends and I, have had the good fortune of being cared for by the legendary Mass General team. My heart fills with gratitude when I reflect on the dedicated and compassionate professionals that have treated us.”
A Patient-focused Experience
An integral part of the MGB system, Mass General’s cancer program conducts more than 200,000 outpatient visits and more than 9,000 inpatient admissions each year — and that volume is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Because of this growing need for world-class cancer care, the cancer team is committed to delivering excellence across every dimension of the patient experience, with more than 500 dedicated specialists on staff and 30 multidisciplinary disease centers and programs. This dedication to the patient experience, in the face of rising demand, is the driving force behind Mr. Chambers’ gift to the Herb Chambers Tower.
For the first time ever, cancer patients will receive the continuum of their care — from diagnosis, to treatment, to recovery, and beyond — under one roof. The Herb Chambers Tower will enable Mass General Brigham to expand and co-locate inpatient and outpatient facilities, incorporate advanced technologies to support clinical programs and telemedicine operations, strengthen research programs and provide care to more patients.
One of the distinct highlights of this new space will be a dedicated 24/7 urgent care for cancer patients, a convenient alternative to the hospital’s Emergency Department where staff are focused on the unique needs of cancer patients. And, thanks to extensive input from patients and families, the tower features single-occupancy inpatient rooms and design that facilitates seamless, coordinated care from arrival to treatment and recovery.
“If patients can arrive at the same place from their first appointment, where they come into a multidisciplinary room and meet with a surgical oncologist, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist, and have enough space for their family to be with them, we’re embracing them with arms that say ‘you’re home,’” says Casandra McIntyre, RN, nurse director of the Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies, which provides MGB cancer patients the opportunity to participate in innovative clinical trials.
In addition to co-locating cancer care services, the nearly 1 million-square foot Herb Chambers Tower will offer access to an array of re-imagined indoor and outdoor areas that support cancer patients and their families, including a nearly 7,500-square-foot rooftop garden with expansive views of Beacon Hill.
“Patients around the world turn to Mass General Brigham for expert, compassionate cancer care, and these new, advanced facilities will allow us to meet their needs in a way they expect and deserve. From the moment patients arrive and throughout their treatment and recovery — the Herb Chambers Tower will create a welcoming environment that promotes healing, health and hope,” said Mass General President Marcela del Carmen, MD. “We are profoundly inspired by Herb and this extraordinary gift.”
A Towering Philanthropist
As the founder and president of the Herb Chambers Companies, the largest veteran-owned business in Massachusetts, encompassing 60 automobile dealerships and employing more than 2,400 people throughout New England, Mr. Chambers is recognized as one of New England’s most successful entrepreneurs. He is also a celebrated philanthropist with strong links to Mass General, MGB and the Boston community. He is a longtime benefactor of Mass General for Children’s annual fundraising gala, Storybook Ball, as well as a steadfast supporter of Mass Eye and Ear, which, in 2018, named its lobby in his honor. By making a significant capital gift to Mass General at this pivotal moment, Mr. Chambers is helping lay the groundwork for a new generation of caregivers, discoveries, and treatments that, together, will shape cancer care around the world today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
“It gives me immense pride to be in a position to give back to a city that has given me so much,” Mr. Chambers says. “As we all know too well, most families will be impacted by cancer in some way. My motivation in extending this gift is that the Herb Chambers Tower will shine as a beacon of hope for everyone touched by this awful disease. There can never be enough effort or resources put into finding a cure.”
To learn more about the Herb Chambers Tower and how it will shape the future of cancer care, click here.
