Here stands a beacon of hope. This is the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. It stands as Washington’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. It serves as the research engine for MedStar Health. It also is Georgetown University’s clinical partner.
Established in 1970, Georgetown Lombardi is named for legendary football coach Vince Lombardi. He received cancer treatment at Georgetown University Hospital. What started as a small clinic has grown. It now houses more than 240,000 square feet of clinic and research space.
In 1974, Georgetown Lombardi became the 16th National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the country. Today, it remains the only center with this designation in the Washington, D.C., area.
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center seeks to prevent and treat cancers. It aims to cure them by linking scientific discovery. Expert patient care, quality education and community partnership are also important. This is guided by the principle of cura personalis or care for the whole person.
Georgetown University Medical Center adjoins Georgetown University Hospital. It encompasses four sectors of medical education and research. These are: Georgetown University School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and Health Studies, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization.
Lombardi receives over $100 million in grant funding for research purposes. These grants support initiatives like the Breast Cancer Research Program. Also supported are the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, the Experimental Therapeutics Program, and the Molecular Oncology Program.
Designated centers at Lombardi include the Ruesch Center for gastrointestinal cancers. Others are the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research. There is also the Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics. The Fisher Center for Hereditary Cancer and Clinical Genomics Research is here too. So is the Center for Drug Discovery. The Capital Breast Care Center and the John Theurer Cancer Center are located offsite.
Georgetown Lombardi is a modern patient-focused facility. It is situated on the Georgetown University and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital campuses. It offers patients access to the latest diagnostic technologies. These diagnose, stage, and monitor cancers. These include high-resolution spiral CT, MRI, and PET scans. There are also state-of-the-art pathology services.
Treatment options include chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Monoclonal antibody therapy and radiation therapy are available. Cutting-edge clinical trials are also here. They also provide comprehensive education and support services. These are integral components of patient care at Georgetown Lombardi.
The Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program promotes cura personalis. It cares for the whole person. This is for MedStar Georgetown University Hospital patients. It includes family members, caregivers, medical staff, and visitors. It uses programs of music, expressive writing, dance, and visual arts. These therapeutic art modalities encourage a creative response to illness.
The breast imaging center here has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. It is the only breast imaging center in the Washington, DC, area with this designation.
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is the first and only hospital in Washington, DC, to attain Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This recognizes hospital-based nursing teams that meet the highest standards.
Many Georgetown physicians are frequently listed among the Top Doctors year after year. They constitute an all-star list. The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center remains a place of hope, research, and compassionate care.