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Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette Logo Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette

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Construction of new Regional Cancer Care Center begins

(June 15, 2017) With the groundbreaking of the John H. “Jack” Burbage Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center in Berlin last week, Worcester County is about to move forward in the fight against cancer.
“It’s a new beginning for cancer care in the community, and a culmination of dreams of community leaders and hospital staff,” Atlantic General Hospital President and CEO Michael Franklin said during the groundbreaking ceremony on June 7.
“This continues the journey we started years ago with our first facility, by further expanding quality of care to those facing an cancer diagnosis.”
The 18,000-square-foot center is slated to be built on the Atlantic General Hospital Campus on the corner of Route 113 and Route 346 by spring 2018. The facility will provide one location for treatment of patients with cancer and blood disorders.
The cancer center will also feature radiation oncology, PET imaging and community education and support groups.
Other amenities such as hair and skin services will be available for patients who face issues such as hair loss.
Telemedicine technology will also be included at the center, so patients and physicians can quickly contact other care experts.
“Until now, the lack of available of convenient quality care in our community has led to unnecessary costs and unnecessary suffering for our friends, family and neighbors,” Franklin said. “In Worcester County, statistics show the death rate for cancer is 10 percent higher than rest of the state within the United States. Our vision [with the future center] is that cancer deaths will no longer be higher here than other places.”
The cancer facility is one of many projects included in the Atlantic General Hospital’s Campaign for the Future, which is led by Michelle Fager and Jack Burbage.
The goal is to raise $10 million to complete $35 million in capital projects, including completion of a women’s health center in West Ocean City, renovation of existing surgical facilities and expansion of AGH’s emergency services.
To date, Campaign for the Future has secured about $3 million in pledges, commitments and grants.
Burbage, who is the CEO of Blue Water Development Company, has deep roots in the community, starting with his father, John Howard Burbage, who was mayor of Berlin for 20 years. He also serves on several boards, including Taylor Bank and Diakonia.
Burbage also was touched by cancer at a young age – his mother died from bone cancer when he was 11 years old.
“It’s an honor to have something so important to my family named after me,” Burbage said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “If you ever consider doing anything for us, consider being a part of this cancer center and buy into it. I want you to walk by this place and say ‘that screw, I paid for it.’
“It’s going to be one of the most fantastic centers that we could expect because of you,” he continued. “It can’t be done without you.”