GONZALES, La. – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has completed the renovation and expansion of its Gonzales location. On September 22, Mary Bird Perkins’ leadership, donors, local elected officials and members of the community gathered to cut the ribbon on the comprehensive, expanded site and conduct tours of the updated space.
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. Patients will also gain access to enhanced programs and resources, including a patient navigator, a dietitian, palliative care specialists and clinical trials. This expansion will more than triple the Gonzales Cancer Center’s capacity, allowing it to serve over 300 patients each month.
“We are excited to unveil this beautiful new space for our community here in Gonzales,” said Jonas Fontenot, PhD, MBA, president and CEO, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “With the area’s growing population, along with an increasing demand for cancer care and treatment, this expansion comes from many years of collaborating with Ascension Parish residents and providing for their needs. We know this space will offer the proximity and clinical quality that patients have wanted, and in most cases they will be able to access cancer services in a comfortable setting, close to home, where they have the support of nearby family members and friends.”
Mary Bird Perkins has served Ascension Parish for over 15 years, thanks in large part to community support. Generous donors have made it possible to provide local residents with the latest technology, early detection and screening programs, and prevention, survivorship and other key services.
This facility renovation and expansion was made possible through organizational investment, support from the Gonzales Area Foundation and generous members of the community who contributed to the Cancer Center’s Invest in Ascension campaign.
“With our community continuing to grow, high-quality cancer services are needed more than ever,” said DeEtte DeArmond, founding member of the Gonzales Area Foundation. “The expanded resources provided by Mary Bird Perkins will make a huge difference to many in the Ascension Parish area. It gives us great joy to contribute to the Invest in Ascension initiative and position our community for a healthy future.”
The Cancer Center is located at 1104 W. Highway 30 in Gonzales. To learn about Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales, visit marybird.org or call (225) 644-1205.