JOPLIN, Mo. – For fourteen years, Freeman Cancer Institute has led the way in diagnosing, treating, and managing lifestyles of cancer patients in the Four States. Since opening in 2001, this state-of-the-art facility has provided the region with comprehensive care featuring the most advanced cancer-fighting tools and therapies available.
Now, thanks to a $3 million gift from the Cornell-Beshore family, Freeman will be able to improve cancer treatment facilities and upgrade technologies to benefit patients with cancer. In honor of this gift, Freeman will change the name of Freeman Cancer Institute to Cornell-Beshore Cancer institute. Under the umbrella of Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute, Freeman will soon open a radiation oncology center at Freeman Hospital East. It will include a world-class linear accelerator for pinpoint treatment of hard-to-reach cancerous tumors.
“Freeman is honored to receive this extremely generous gift from Mr. and Mrs. Cornell and Dr. and Mrs. Beshore. We are proud of the life-saving work Freeman Cancer Institute has performed over the years, and we look forward to meeting the needs of our patients and their families in an even greater way through Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute,” said Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula F. Baker.
“We believe in the work being done at Freeman. There is no higher quality of cancer treatment available in the area than the services provided by Freeman. That’s why we want to put our resources into expanding those services to help ensure the people of the Four States have access to world-class care through Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute,” said Dr. Lance Beshore, Chairman of the Freeman Health System Board of Directors and Corporate Vice President of Leggett & Platt, Inc.
Representing the Cornell-Beshore family, Harry M. Cornell, Jr.; Erin Cornell; Dr. Lance G. Beshore; and Sharon Beshore presented a check to Paula Baker during a ceremony on Wednesday, April 29 at Freeman Hospital West.
Freeman Health System – Celebrating 90 Years of Service
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2014, Freeman earned 90 individual awards for medical excellence and safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman #1 Hospital in Southwest Missouri in 2014-15, and The Leapfrog Group gave Freeman the highest grade possible in the Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo. #FreemanTurns90