The Winship Cancer Institute held the grand opening of the Emory Proton Therapy Center on December 6 in Midtown. More than 150 special guests were in attendance to witness the ribbon cutting for this cutting-edge facility.
The Emory Proton Therapy Center is approximately 170,000 square feet with three levels housing a cyclotron, treatment rooms, examinations rooms, and administrative space. The new facility will treat nearly 35,000 patients over the next 20 years and will further solidify the City of Atlanta’s reputation as a global healthcare destination.
Proton therapy is a highly advanced form of radiation therapy that can provide cancer patients with fewer side effects and complications and an increased likelihood of superior outcomes in comparison to surgery, chemotherapy, and other conventional radiation therapy options. The first patient was treated at the Center on December 4.
The Invest Atlanta board unanimously supported the Center by agreeing to issue up to $400 million in tax-exempt 501(c)(3) bonds, with proceeds going toward final construction costs and refinancing the project’s debt.
“The support we received from Invest Atlanta, Dr. Klementich, Alan Ferguson, and their executive and senior leadership was absolutely tremendous,” said Steve Hicks, President & CEO of Provident Resources Group.
The Center is a part of North Avenue’s expanding medical technology district and will bring 128 permanent medical jobs and a projected $500 million economic impact to Midtown. It is the first facility of its kind in Georgia and one of 25 in the United States.
The closest facility offering similar treatment was in Jacksonville, FL. Now, the Emory Proton Therapy Center is a more accessible option for local patients looking to receive advanced treatments for brain, spine, breast, and other types of cancer.
“On behalf of the City of Atlanta and the Invest Atlanta team, we are excited to have been a part of the economic impact that this will have on our city,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “But most importantly, we are excited to be a part of saving lives. We look forward to celebrating life, and longer lives, in the City of Atlanta.”