January 23, 2007

Interior work is still underway on the new cancer center site at Emanuel Medical Center, but patients are already receiving services at the California Oncology Center of Turlock.

 

Oncologist-hematologists Mohamed Eldaly, M.D. and Christopher Perkins, M.D. have opened a temporary office in the two-story Emanuel Medical Plaza under construction on the north end of the Emanuel Medical Center campus. California Oncology’s 7,500 sq. ft. first-floor suite is due for completion in the Spring of 2007.

 

“We wanted to be in a position to meet the needs of the community as soon as possible,” says Dr. Perkins. “Beginning now, our patients will benefit from having our quality of care close to home and close to their existing network of health care providers.” 

 

With Dr. Perkins serving as the Cancer Program Director, Dr. Eldaly is leading the effort in Turlock to establish a comprehensive cancer program, including introducing the latest biological treatments. 

 

“There have been significant improvements in the treatment of cancers that were considered resistant to standard treatment,” Dr. Eldaly says. “It’s a very exciting period in oncology in which responses in survival are improving in resistant diseases such as colon, breast, lung and renal cancers.”

 

Since 1997, Dr. Perkins has been the Medical Director of California Oncology of the Central Valley, which has offices in Fresno and Turlock. After practicing oncology for 19 years, Dr. Perkins has become one of the most experienced breast and ovarian cancer physicians in the Central Valley.

 

“Working with local surgeons, gynecologists, pathologists, radiologists and hospice staff, California Oncology is committed to integrating these services and improving the quality of care across the board in the local community,” Dr. Eldaly says.

 

“Leveraging the experience from our Fresno center will support the development of a comprehensive cancer center including a multi-disciplinary Breast Cancer Program.” he adds. ”Participation in national clinical trials provides an important opportunity to patients and Turlock will benefit from this experience.”

 

For the past 15 years, Dr. Eldaly has practiced as a hematologist-oncologist in Greenfield, Mass. Most recently he was on staff at Baystate Affiliated Practices and was the Director of the Medical Oncology Clinic at Franklin Medical Center. 

 

“The wonderful thing about this new opportunity,” he says, “is that I will be part of a program that comprises a cooperative effort between us and Emanuel Medical Center and its affiliated services.

 

“We follow a simple rule,” says Dr. Perkins. “We treat the whole patient – not just the disease. Our hands-on philosophy means that patients will receive the comprehensive, collaborative cancer care they need in a clinical research environment right here in Turlock. For the patients and their families, our ‘high touch’ approach means that their emotional as well as physical needs will be met in ways that go far beyond standard oncology practices without traveling far from home. California Oncology is an extraordinary practice with extraordinary people.”

 

California Oncology of Turlock is located in the Emanuel Medical Plaza at 880 E. Tuolumne Rd., Suite 103, and can be reached at (209) 669-8300. 

 

                            ### END ###