New Tulsa cancer center expands access to advanced care for northeastern Oklahomans

A new state-of-the-art facility at the University of Oklahoma (OU) – Tulsa campus will soon expand access to advanced, research-driven cancer care and clinical trials for patients across northeastern Oklahoma, bringing life-saving treatment closer to home while strengthening prevention and early detection efforts in a region significantly affected by cancer.

The facility, an expansion of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City, is funded in part by a $20 million investment from the Oklahoma Legislature through the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA-SLFRF). The project is a key component of a broader, statewide strategy to strengthen cancer care infrastructure and improve outcomes for patients across Oklahoma.

On Nov. 13, state leaders, health care professionals and community members gathered in Tulsa for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Stephenson Cancer Center expansion. During the event, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) recognized the University Hospitals Authority and Trust (UHAT) for its leadership in advancing access to high-quality cancer care and innovation for residents in the region.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, cancer is the state's second-leading cause of death, and rankings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show Oklahoma has the fourth-highest cancer death rate in the country. Nationally, two in five people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Once complete, the Tulsa facility will provide patients access to National Cancer Institute-designated care without requiring travel outside the region.

The new Stephenson Cancer Center is designed to support patient-centric care, multidisciplinary collaboration and research-driven therapies, with a focus on complex, rare and treatment-resistant cancers that disproportionately impact northeastern Oklahoma.

The 176,100-square-foot facility will include:

• 70 exam rooms, with space for future expansion, and four specialty exam rooms.
• 45 infusion spaces, including private rooms, bays and fast-track chairs.
• A radiation oncology suite featuring three linear accelerators, a high-dose-rate brachytherapy suite, a CT scan simulator, an MRI scanner and four theranostics rooms.
• Advanced imaging capabilities, including CT, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT), X-ray and ultrasound.
• Dedicated clinical trial and pharmacokinetic laboratory space.
• Support services such as phlebotomy, a centralized infusion pharmacy, staff lounges and administrative offices.

The expansion of the Stephenson Cancer Center to Tulsa represents a significant milestone in reducing barriers to research-driven cancer care and expanding access to advanced treatment options for patients in northeastern Oklahoma.

For more information, visit stephensoncancercenter.org.

The Grants Management Office, a division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, serves as the central administering entity of the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for the State of Oklahoma. The office partners with state agencies to maximize the impact of ARPA-SLFRF investments and support agencies in achieving their project goals. For more information on Oklahoma’s ARPA-SLFRF progress, visit oklahoma.gov/arpa.

The University Hospitals Authority (UHA) and University Hospitals Trust (UHT), collectively (UHAT), were created to operate the University Hospitals on the Oklahoma Health Center campus in Oklahoma City and to ensure that the hospitals support the teaching and research missions of the University of Oklahoma. Together, they support the patient care, research and educational missions of various entities such as the University of Oklahoma, OU Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Hearts for Hearing and the Oklahoma Dental Foundation. In 1997, legislation was enacted to privatize the operations of the hospitals via the University Hospitals Trust (UHT).