For 75 years, Dana-Farber has been at the forefront of blending exceptional cancer care with leading-edge, transformative science.
Now, delivering on our long-held vision, Dana-Farber announced a collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a Harvard-affiliated academic medical center, and its affiliated physician group, Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (HMFP).
Together, we proposed a new adult inpatient hospital, dedicated exclusively to the needs of cancer patients.
Dana-Farber Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Collaboration Announcement
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) announced plans for a comprehensive future collaboration to advance the future of cancer care and build the region’s only independent, free-standing inpatient hospital for adult cancer patients.
The Dana-Farber Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Collaboration will advance Dana-Farber's long-term goal of creating a fully integrated oncology campus for adult inpatient and outpatient care, as well as research. The freestanding, state-of-the-art facility will be owned and operated by Dana-Farber. Located on the current site of the Joslin Diabetes Center, the proposed new hospital will be adjacent to both BIDMC and Dana-Farber, creating an interlocking campus and a seamless patient experience from outpatient to inpatient care. The proximity to our outpatient and research facilities in Longwood supports our continued bench-to-bedside research model.
When all you do is cancer, patients benefit. The new inpatient building will offer:
Every day, our clinicians and researchers discover important new approaches to prevent, treat, and cure cancer. This new collaboration ensures that our inpatient facilities and clinical collaborations will be designed and positioned for the future of cancer care.
BIDMC shares our vision to create a forward-looking model of cancer care that further advances the patient and caregiver experience, expands access to value-driven care and fosters scientific discovery. Their shared vision and legacy of excellence makes them a terrific partner for us. Our world-leading discoveries will best serve patients in a state-of-the-art hospital, equipped to adapt to rapidly changing technology and designed solely to support cancer patients. With our plans for a new adult inpatient cancer hospital, Dana-Farber and Beth Israel together will be able to manage all aspects of cancer care for our patients and their loved ones in the Longwood Medical area.
We anticipate several years of careful planning to finalize our model, obtain regulatory approvals, and build the new inpatient hospital.
Here's what you can expect as we transition to this new patient care model.
Common Questions About Our Proposed New Cancer Hospital
Dana-Farber’s Craig Bunnell, MD, MPH, and Anne Gross, PhD, RN, address some common patient questions about Dana-Farber’s proposed adult inpatient cancer hospital.
There will be no changes in patient care at this time. Dana-Farber's current collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital for adult inpatient medical and surgical oncology care will continue for several more years.
This is an unprecedented opportunity to create a world-class inpatient adult cancer center and will be the only independent cancer hospital in the region. It is the right care model for the future of cancer care and will allow us to best care for our patients for years to come. Based on published data and our own research, we believe that patients in dedicated cancer centers have better outcomes and a better patient experience than those cared for in general hospitals. When cancer is all you do, that focus provides unparalleled expertise that benefits patients. In a dedicated cancer hospital the people, facility design, resources, technology, the data collected – all the collective energy is focused exclusively on cancer and cancer patients.
The new clinical collaboration with BIDMC will give our patients the best of both worlds – dedicated cancer care and immediate access to the surgical and other non-cancer specialties of BIDMC, a world-class, Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital, and its Harvard faculty physicians.
No. Nothing is changing today. Dana-Farber's current collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) for adult inpatient medical and surgical oncology care will continue for several more years.
Dana-Farber and BWH are committed to providing the same excellent care we provide now throughout the duration of our current collaboration.
The inpatient facilities and clinical collaborations that are in place today through our relationship with BWH provide excellent patient care and outcomes. We have deep respect and profound appreciation for our Brigham and Women's Hospital colleagues, and, together, we are committed to providing the same excellent care we provide now throughout the duration of our current collaboration.
Once Dana-Farber’s clinical collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess is operational, patient care will continue to be led by Dana-Farber clinicians, with inpatient care delivered in the proposed new hospital.
Patient care remains the same today. We do not expect any changes for several years. Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are committed to providing the same excellent care we provide now throughout the duration of our collaboration.
Patients can always choose their provider. Many hospitals and doctors in the region and around the world refer their patients to us. That won’t change and patients will always have the option of choosing their doctor.
While it is several years before our future collaboration goes into effect, we are working now to set up patient-oriented communications and access for all care team members to your latest information. When the future collaboration goes into effect, we will ensure a seamless integration of patient records and a consistent flow of information, for both our patients and your care teams.
No. Our future collaboration with BIDMC only applies to the Longwood Medical Area and Chestnut Hill locations. There are no planned changes to our regional campuses in Brighton, Weymouth, Foxborough, Milford, Merrimack Valley, or Londonderry.
No. Patients who receive outpatient care at our Yawkey Center or Chestnut Hill locations will continue to do so without interruption.
Our joint program for pediatric cancer care with Boston Children's Hospital will continue without change or interruption.
Pending regulatory approvals, the proposed new inpatient hospital will be located on Brookline Avenue at the current site of the Joslin Diabetes Center across the street from Dana-Farber’s Yawkey Center. It will be a brand new building, and will be adjacent to both Dana-Farber and BIDMC Longwood campuses.
Dana-Farber and Beth Israel Deaconess will remain fully independent organizations, with separate boards of trustees, leadership, and fundraising. All philanthropic contributions to Dana-Farber will continue to fund Dana-Farber initiatives.
More information for donors and supporters
Oct. 10, 2023 - Notice of Intent: Public Announcement Concerning a Proposed Health Care Project
News | CommonWealth Beacon
Feb. 17, 2024
News | Boston Globe
Oct. 25, 2023
Dana-Farber offers sneak peek of plans for 300-bed hospital in new filing
News | Boston Globe
Oct. 15, 2023
Boston needs its own cancer center. Dana-Farber, BIDMC will create it.
News | Boston Globe
Sept. 14, 2023
Dana-Farber, in break with Brigham and Women’s, will build new cancer center with Beth Israel
Thank you for your trust in Dana-Farber. It is our mission of caring for you, your family, and our community that inspired this visionary collaboration with BIDMC. We will continue to update this page with details as our plans progress.
