WINDBER National publicity and behind-the-scenes upgrades marked the Windber hospital and research institutes first year under new ownership.

More visible developments will come this year as Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber and Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine expand roles in their parent companys fight against cancer, said Tom Kurtz, president and CEO of both Windber organizations.

New cancer and heart programs are poised for launch at the Windber hospital, and an expanded tissue repository is already bringing additionalcancer studies to the research institute, Kurtz said.

Meanwhile, in-patient volumes are up 40 percent over the past seven months, led by a 110 percent increase in orthopedic surgery, Kurtz said.

We are looking at what is needed in the community in subspecialties, Kurtz said.

We are trying to figure out what people are having to travel out of the community for, and not just keep replicating everything here.

The former Windber Medical Center and Windber Research Institute began2016 with the news that the two nonprofits were to become part of Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiongs Chan Soon-Shiong NantHealth Foundation.

On Jan. 11, 2016, the Windber icons were in the national spotlight when Soon-Shiong announced Cancer MoonShot 2020, predicting that the joint effort of international pharmaceutical, bioscience and insurance companies, working with community-based oncologists, can shave decades off the development of effective cancer-fighting drugs.

The Windber research institute is now the central biorepository for tissue and blood samples being studied by scientistsfrom across the nation, and the Windber hospital will be joining national cancer drug trials and demonstrating the valueof bringing the programs to community hospitals.

Last month, Cancer MoonShot 2020 was renamed Cancer Breakthroughs 2020. The change better reflects progress, Soon-Shiong said.

It will also help end confusion with two other cancer moon shots: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centers Cancer Moon Shots and the national Cancer Moonshot that was also launched in January 2016 and was headed by then-Vice President Joe Biden.

Windbers cancer treatment center was to open in 2016, but has been delayed to assure a quality program, Kurtz said.

Leaders are still negotiating with larger clinical partners to help coordinate and oversee treatment and clinical trials, he said.

As part of the nationally renowned Soon-Shiong group, Windber has many options including many of the nations most-respected cancer programs.

We have a lot of different options, Kurtz said.

We want to make sure that what we do with that cancer program is right for the community.

The cancer program will open later this year, Kurtz said, adding that minimal renovations will be required to put medical oncology in either the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center building or in the former obstetrics unit of the main hospital.

The new heart program is expected to begin in April, led by longtime Johnstown cardiologist Dr. Samir Hadeed.

Hadeed, along with Dr. Cyril Nathaniel and cardiologists of Central Pennsylvania Physicians Group in Everett, will offer a full range of cardiology and vascular services.

A cardiac catheterization lab is being developed in part of the former obstetrics unit and has already been approved by the state Health Department, Hadeed said.

Although Hadeed left Conemaugh Health Systems staff in 2013, he continued his local practice at Johnstown Heart and Vascular Center at 1027 Broad St. in Johns-

town.

He has remained active at Windber and Somerset hospitals and Allegheny Health Network hospitals near Pittsburgh.

I have never been out of the game, he said.

Windbers new program brings value to the region, Hadeed said.

It gives the community options, he said

Having only one program in town is not necessarily the best for the patient or the town.

Both the heart program and the cancer program illustrate the value of Windbers partnership with Soon-Shiong and his network, Kurtz said.

But all decisions about local patient care and services are still being made in Windber, he added.

They are committed to providing some financial assistance with the cath lab and to help us with the establishment of the cancer center here, Kurtz said. Everything else is under our control.

Windber leaders originally decided to seek a national partner to help the hospital get back on its feet financially.

When Windbers board turned over the reins to NantHealth, the hospital was losing about $2.3 million a year.

Kurtz stressed that the local organization does not want to be a drain on Soon-Shiongs network.

As we made an internal decision here, Kurtz said, any kind of financial assistance made by the national organization would have a return on investment.

We have an internal goal to be totally self-sufficient in 36 months.

Along with oncology and cardiology, an upgraded and expanded emergency department remains a top priority. Kurtz said previous designs have been put in the back burner while leadership studies overall needs in light of the new programs and expanded surgical business.

We have to have a campus-wide master facility plan in place, Kurtz said.

Randy Griffith covers health care for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @photogriffer57.

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