UH Cancer Center, Queen’s Health Systems partner on Hawai‘i’s first on-campus cancer clinical center

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

Naoto T. Ueno

Darlena Chadwick

Link to video, sound, and photos (details below): https://bit.ly/3QsCKKy
*Suggested VOSOT script below*

Honolulu, Hawai‘i — Two of Hawai‘i’s leading cancer care organizations, the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center and The Queen’s Health Systems, are teaming up to take cancer care for Hawai‘i patients to a new level.

The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop oncology clinic space at the UH Cancer Center’s facilities in Kaka‘ako. This collaboration will integrate Queen’s oncology services into the UH Cancer Center’s cutting-edge research space, providing comprehensive cancer care and early phase clinical trial research and treatment under one roof. The addition of Queen’s operations on the third and fourth floor of the UH Cancer Center’s ‘ewa wing will mark the first time that the University of Hawai‘i will offer an on-campus location providing clinical services for cancer patients.

Queen’s will lease this newly expanded clinic space from the UH Cancer Center to provide patients with medical oncology, surgical oncology, and chemotherapy infusion services. Integrating Queen’s oncology services with the UH Cancer Center’s existing research facilities will enhance medical care and health outcomes for Hawai‘i’s cancer patients.

In parallel, Ho‘ōla, Hawai‘i’s first early-phase clinical research center for cancer, is currently under construction on the first and second floors of the ‘ewa wing of the UH Cancer Center and is set to be completed by the end of the year. This is a collaborative project with the Hawai'i Cancer Consortium. Consortium partners, including Hawaiʻi Pacific Health and Queen’s, will work with the University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi to bring early-phase clinical trial treatments to the islands so that cancer patients and their families do not have to travel to other states to receive these cutting-edge treatment options.

The agreement between the UH Cancer Center and Queen’s is a win-win for both. It benefits cancer patients and their families by leveraging the two world-class organizations’ expertise and renowned high quality, compassionate care.

In September 2024, the UH Cancer Center renewed its prestigious distinction of being designated by the federal National Cancer Institute, maintaining its position as one of the nation's top-4% cancer centers. This recognition reflects its ongoing commitment to rigorous state-of-the-art research and care standards, focusing on Hawai‘i’s uniquely diverse population, including Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos. As part of its mission, the UH Cancer Center will begin early-phase clinical trial cancer treatments later this year, marking a milestone as the first center in Hawai‘i to offer such trials.

The Queen’s Medical Center has received numerous awards, including being named the #1 hospital in Hawai‘i in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Hospitals rankings. The Queen’s Medical Center also received approval with commendations from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation Program. Receiving care at a CoC-approved cancer program ensures patients have access to comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment.

“As a member of the Hawai‘i Cancer Consortium, The Queen’s Health Systems has always been one of the state’s most powerful allies in the fight against cancer,” said Dr. Naoto T. Ueno, director of the UH Cancer Center. “This agreement builds on our mutually beneficial collaboration as we continue to save lives, and help ensure patients in Hawai‘i and the U.S-Affiliated Pacific Islands can continue to benefit from cancer research that yields better preventive care, earlier detection of different types of cancer among different ethnicities, and improved treatment options for cancer patients.”

“We have always valued the high level of expertise of the UH Cancer Center’s team of researchers and clinicians,” said Darlena Chadwick, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Queen’s Health Systems. “We are honored to bring our oncologists to the UH Cancer Center campus to create a better experience for patients. This memorandum of understanding will allow Queen’s to expand our commitment of providing comprehensive healthcare services, including specialized oncology services, to improve the well-being of all of Hawai‘i’s people, particularly Native Hawaiians.”

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Link to video, sound, and photos (details below): https://bit.ly/3QsCKKy

VIDEO

B-ROLL (trt: 3:11)
-Various exterior and interior shots at the UH Cancer Center (see folder for full shot list)

SOUNDBITES

Naoto T. Ueno, UH Cancer Center Director and two-time cancer survivor

(Timestamp: :49)  

“The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center is very much excited working with Queen’s Health Systems, because now we have signed the memorandum of understanding which allows us to have Queen’s Health Systems oncology service, such as surgery or medical oncology, to be coming to the third and fourth floor. Now this actually gives opportunity of collaboration, of the best standard of care and clinical trials working together. On the first floor, we have Early Phase  Clinical Research Center, which is also a collaboration with Hawaii Pacific Health and Queen’s Health Systems, and this will be an all-star effort to make a difference for our patients in Hawaiʻi.”

Ueno  (1:37)

“So this new development is very exciting, because it gives hope to the entire cancer community. And what this means is about really having what we call multidisciplinary care in cancer care. So this is a team approach. And you want to have this one-stop shop that allows us for everybody to receive seamless care. And that's something that you see on the continent. And our ultimate goal is all our patients in Hawaiʻi do not have to leave the state of Hawaiʻi.”

Darlena Chadwick, The Queen’s Health Systems Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

(2:18)

“This will provide them one stop, to be able to come and see their physician, for example. They'll be able to see their medical oncologist, their surgical oncologist, they'll be able to get their infusion treatment right there. And then if they're enrolled into a clinical trial, we're able to get them onto the clinical trial. And if they're on an early phase trial, they'll go downstairs to the early phase trial unit. So it's really looking at their care and improving that by doing a one stop.”

Chadwick (2:49)

“I think that it's very important for all of us to come together for cancer care. This isn't a competition. And this isn't something anyone should see as that way. In the state of Hawaiʻi, we really need to come together to make sure we take care of our cancer patients. And we only do that by partnerships.”

VOSOT SCRIPT (1:00)

INTRO

The University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center and The Queen’s Health Systems have announced a historic new partnership, and it’s expected to benefit cancer patients in Hawaii.

The two have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop oncology clinic space at the UH Cancer Center in Kaka‘ako. This will be the first time that UH will offer an on-campus location for clinical services for cancer patients.

Queen’s will operate on the third and fourth floor of the UH Cancer Center’s ‘ewa wing. This will be just upstairs from Ho‘ōla, the cancer center’s early phase clinical research center. That piece is already under construction and set to open later this year. 

SOT

Darlena Chadwick, The Queen’s Health Systems Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

“They'll be able to see their medical oncologist, their surgical oncologist, they'll be able to get their infusion treatment right there. And then if they're enrolled into a clinical trial, we're able to get them onto the clinical trial. And if they're on an early phase trial, they'll go downstairs to the early phase trial unit. So it's really looking at their care and improving that by doing a one stop.”

Naoto T. Ueno, UH Cancer Center Director and two-time cancer survivor

“This new development is very exciting, because it gives hope to the entire cancer community. And what this means is about really having what we call multidisciplinary care in cancer care. So this is a team approach.”

VO

Hawaiʻi has more than 70,000 people living with cancer, and more than 2,300 people in the islands each year die of the disease.

About the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center
The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center is dedicated to saving lives in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific and inspiring hope by conquering cancer. The flagship priority is to understand and address cancer health disparities. The center strives to achieve this through research, education, patient care, and community outreach, focusing on the unique and diverse ethnic, cultural, and environmental characteristics of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

The UH Cancer Center contributes more than $57 million to Oʻahu's economy through scientific research, clinical trials, and other activities. It is one of only 72 institutions designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the only NCI-designated cancer center in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, representing a significant mark of excellence.

As part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the UH Cancer Center operates out of facilities located in Kakaʻako. The center directly employs more than 300 faculty and staff, with an additional 200 affiliate members and cooperative agreements with organizations that are part of the Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium. The consortium includes The Queen’s Health Systems, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Kuakini Medical Center, Adventist Health Castle, Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), and the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), all working together with the UH Cancer Center to advance cancer research and treatment in the state. Learn more at UHCancerCenter.org  Facebook | Instagram | X | LinkedIn

About The Queen’s Health Systems
The Queen’s Health Systems (QHS) is a nonprofit corporation established in 1985 to provide expanded health care capabilities to the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Basin. It is Hawaii’s preeminent family of health care-related companies, and has more than 9,500 employees and more than 1,800 affiliated physicians and providers in its statewide network. QHS consists of The Queen’s Medical Center (Hawaii’s oldest hospital founded in 1859), The Queen’s Medical Center – West O‘ahu, The Queen’s Medical Center-Wahiawā, The Queen’s Medical Center-Kahi Mohala, Molokai General Hospital, Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital, The Queen’s Health Care Centers, Queen’s Island Urgent Care, Queen Emma Land Company, Queen’s Development Corporation, Queen’s Insurance Exchange, Queen’s Clinically Integrated Physician Network, and Queen’s ‘Akoakoa, and has ownership interests in CareResource Hawaii, Hamamatsu/Queen’s PET Imaging Center, Diagnostic Laboratory Services, and EmPower Health. Learn more at www.queens.org   Facebook | Instagram | X | LinkedIn

For more information, visit: http://uhcancercenter.org