Friends of Tuba CityFebruary 19, 2019

Cancer Treatment Center Opening On January 11, 2019, Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) made history by celebrating the unveiling an oncology center at Tuba City Hospital that will soon be the first to ever deliver local cancer treatment on an Indian Reservation. “TCRHCC is is proud to launch an oncology center right here in Tuba City! The Specialty Care Center will provide Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute cancer patients and their family’s treatment locally so they don’t have to travel hundreds of miles off the Navajo reservation for cancer care,” said Lynette Bonar, CEO of TCRHCC.

Elected officials -  including Navajo Nation President Jonathon Nez -  past and present Board Members, esteemed members of the community and staff gathered to celebrate this milestone.

“Today marks the culmination of the vision, mission, and work of improving access to care,” said Joette Walters, COO of TCRHCC. “It is impossible to find a person here that has not been touched by cancer—whether as a patient, survivor, caregiver, or healthcare provider.  Such was the case, in my family. I am thankful that I am here today to welcome you to our Cancer Center, where we can bring cancer care closer to home.”

Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology Site Visit

On January 29, 2019, leadership from the University of Pennsylvania Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology at Abramson Cancer Center visited Tuba City Hospital to explore bringing radiation oncology to the Navajo Nation.

Dr. Jim Metz, Dr. Bill Levin, Susan Niskey Popp and Michelle Sparrow met with TCRHCC leadership to share expertise and vision from one of one of the most advanced integrated cancer treatment centers in the world.

Penn Radiation Oncology is dedicated to serving both the local and global community through its mission of cutting edge and compassionate clinical care; pioneering scientific breakthroughs; and premier educational and training programs for oncology scholars of all disciplines and backgrounds. Lynette Bonar and her team strategized with Dr. Metz and his team about ways to harness technological innovation to make the best cancer treatment available to patients of TCRHCC.

Penn Medicine's Dr. James Metz, Michelle Sparrow, Susan Niskey Popp and Dr. William Levin.

The Penn Medicine team’s site visit to the Navajo Nation ended with a traditional feast of roasted mutton at the Phelps family ranch. Former Navajo Nation Council Delgate W a l t e r P h e l p s h o s t e d t h i s unforget table evening, where strangers strangers gathered as friends and all were treated like family.

Dr. William Levin, Michelle Sparrow, Dr. James Metz, Brandy Tomhave, Susan Niskey Popp, and Kim Thiboldeaux on the Phelps ranch.