Mary Bird Perkins Excellence

New leading-edge technologies and therapies. New locations. New expansions and growth. New opportunities to serve communities across Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. But with the same mission: to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer.  

As we look forward to 2026 and the opportunities that lie ahead, we invite you to review some of the year’s most notable achievements, thanks to our providers, team members, donors and many others. 

Bringing a global technology conference to Baton Rouge

• In March, Mary Bird Perkins hosted Elekta’s North America Elekta Unity Users Meeting, a prestigious gathering of some of our continent’s foremost experts in medical physics and radiation therapy. This gathering was the first of many working group meetings that will take place at the Cancer Center over the coming years. 

Leading the way in new services, therapies and treatment 

• Mary Bird Perkins added patient navigation services to its  Breast Specialist Program on the Northshore. Breast cancer patients in the area are now able to take full advantage of a breast specialist navigation team, with navigators offering personalized care and wrap-around services to offer patients the most supportive experience possible.  

• The Cancer Center continued making strides in as we grow new programs and services, such as: cellular therapy, thernostics, breast surgery and urology. 

• Mary Bird Perkins became the first center worldwide to enroll and treat a patient in an exciting new phase 3 clinical trial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This trial is investigating a promising new targeted therapy aimed at a specific mutation that is relatively common in NSCLC. It builds on an earlier phase 1 trial, in which Mary Bird Perkins also plays an active role, highlighting our continued leadership in leading-edge cancer research. 

Earning recognition by prestigious Commission on Cancer 

• Mary Bird Perkins was accredited by the CoC earlier in the year, reaffirming its status among the United States’ most notable cancer centers.  

Expanding to meet the needs of the future 

• In September, Mary Bird Perkins’ leadership, donors, local elected officials and members of the Gonzales community gathered to cut the ribbon on the comprehensive, expanded site. The 6,000-square-foot facility expansion features a 2,500-square-foot infusion suite with 14 semi-private infusion bays and one private room, a state-of-the-art lab, a retail pharmacy, new exam rooms and more. This expansion more than tripled the Gonzales Cancer Center’s capacity, allowing it to now serve over 300 patients each month. 

• Similarly, in October, the Metairie expansion consisted of a two-story suite across the atrium from the existing clinic at the Cancer Center’s Veterans Memorial Boulevard location. New services available include an infusion suite with eight chairs and one private bed, a full pharmacy and a retail pharmacy, five exam rooms, a nurse navigator, a social worker, phlebotomists and clinical trials. 

Engaging in new partnership to serve the Winnsboro community 

• In May, Mary Bird Perkins and Franklin Medical Center teamed up to open a new clinic in Winnsboro, Louisiana. With cancer mortality rates remaining high in rural parishes across Louisiana, this partnership is a strategic step toward addressing disparities in cancer outcomes.  

Raising awareness about representation in clinical trials 

• Mary Bird Perkins’ focus on providing cancer education and services to local minority populations and underserved communities reached new heights this year in the area of clinical trials. This year, we worked to raise greater awareness and spark conversations about the importance of representation in clinical research and unveil a large-scale mural in North Baton Rouge to bring attention to this important issue.  

Introducing new treatments make Louisiana debut at Mary Bird Perkins 

• Dr. Scott Delacroix, a urologic oncologist at the Metairie location, recently delivered Louisiana’s first (and the United States’ third) Inlexzo (TAR-200) treatment for bladder cancer. For patients with a certain stage bladder cancer in whom prior intravesical treatment (BCG) has failed, Inlexzo offers an alternative to invasive surgery, potentially helping preserve the bladder while still fighting the disease.  

Offering life-saving cancer screenings to our communities most in need 

• In 2025, through the dedication of the Cancer Center’s Prevention on the Go (POGO) team and through the philanthropic support of the community, nearly 1,200 free cancer screenings were provided through our signature Live Well events. The POGO team also hosted a series of Barbershop Bash events to raise awareness of the dangers of prostate cancer and colorectal cancer and highlight the importance of getting screened, especially among African American men.  

These are just some of the highlights of 2025. To read patient stories and learn more about the Cancer Center’s impactful year, visit our blog page here, or visit marybird.org.