Laying the Foundation for Cancer Care in Anne Arundel County
North Arundel Hospital's Community Cancer Program receives its first accreditation from the American College of Surgeons on May 18, 1999. This three-year accreditation recognizes the excellent quality of care and service provided by our physicians and team members to our cancer patients, their families and the community.
In 2000, University of Maryland Medical System acquires North Arundel Hospital.
North Arundel Hospital kicks off construction of its new comprehensive community cancer center on October 3, 2001.
On December 28, 2001, Kathy McCollum is named the Vice President and Executive Director of the cancer center.
In September 2002, North Arundel Hospital names its comprehensive community cancer center after community philanthropists Creston and Betty Jane Tate and it becomes the Tate Cancer Center.
Year One in Review
The Tate Cancer Center sees its first patients on February 24, 2003.
In March 2003, the Tate Cancer Center accepts the first patients needing radiation treatment, increasing its caseload by 30%.
The Healing Garden is completed in the summer of 2003, offering patients and their care partners a peaceful retreat where they can relax in between treatment and care appointments.
Later in 2003, the Tate Cancer Center begins a coordinated thoracic oncology program, involving pulmonologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, thoracic surgeons and nurses. The program enables patients to visit the Tate Cancer Center and be evaluated by the appropriate specialists in one day and provides a nurse coordinator to help guide the patient.
Bringing Advanced Technology and Treatment to Cancer Care
The Aiello Breast Center, a component of the Tate Cancer Center and named for Joseph and Doris Aiello, opens in 2005 to provide all-encompassing breast care, including breast cancer care, to women throughout the region. Cynthia L. Drogula, MD, is brought on as the Aiello Breast Center's medical director.
In 2008, UM BWMC becomes the first hospital in the Baltimore region to offer treatment using the da Vinci S HD System. This system integrates 3D high-definition endoscopy and state-of-the-art robotic technology to virtually extend the surgeon's eyes and hands into the surgical field.
In the fall of 2008, UM BWMC becomes the first hospital in Maryland to offer the Calypso 4D Localizing System, also known as GPS of the Body®, that uses satellite GPS to remove tumors without damaging the healthy tissue surrounding them.
The Tate Cancer Center begins treating prostate and gynecologic cancers in 2009.
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) equipment is added to the Tate Cancer Center in 2010. This high-tech instrument enables pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons to see through the bronchial walls and into lung tissue. The technology helps oncologists biopsy lymph nodes and masses deep within the chest without the use of large incisions or radiation, making the procedure safer for patients and decreasing their recovery time.
In December 2011, UM BWMC completes a $5.6 million, 2,900-square-foot expansion to the facility. As part of this expansion, the Tate Cancer Center adds the Trilogy System linear accelerator, the latest technology for radiation treatment that allows physicians to target small tumors with large doses of radiation and minimal impact on surrounding, healthy tissue.
The Tate Cancer Center first participates in the LiverMetSurvey research study in 2011. This study reviews the surgical management of patients who have hepatic colorectal metastasis. There are only nine sites in the United States that participate in this international clinical research study.
The Tate Cancer Center begins offering a low-dose lung screening CT for patients who are at high-risk for developing lung cancer in 2012.
In 2012, UM BWMC is the first hospital in the state to perform a robotic whipple as well as a robotic hepatectomy.
Bringing Academic Medicine Closer to Home
Then assistant professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Chief of Surgical Oncology at UM BWMC, Cherif Boutros, MD, MSc is named Medical Director of the Tate Cancer Center in 2013.
UM BWMC is the first hospital in the state to perform a robotic esophagectomy in 2013.
Then clinical assistant professors of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Poornima Sharma, MD and Harvinder Singh, MD join the Tate Cancer Center team in 2013 and begin its new medical oncology department.
The University of Maryland Cancer Network launches in 2014, formalizing the affiliation between the Tate Cancer Center, the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center and cancer programs across the University of Maryland Medical System.
In October 2014, the Tate Cancer Center establishes a comprehensive Survivorship Program to provide thorough follow-up care to patients who have completed treatments at the Aiello Breast Center for breast cancer.
In September 2015, the Tate Cancer Center receives accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program (ACAD). ACADs are cancer centers that provide post graduate medical education, accessions more than 500 newly diagnosed cancer patients each year, offer a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, and participate in cancer related clinical research. Only two other programs in Maryland held this honor in 2015.
The Tate Cancer Center becomes the fifth hospital in the United States to offer cold cap therapy with DigniCap in December 2015. The DigniCap system helps patients keep their hair during chemotherapy treatments.
The Tate Cancer Center hosts its first annual Cancer Survivors' Day on June 9, 2015. This important celebration of the Tate Cancer Center's community of survivors takes place annually.
The Tate Cancer Center team holds the inaugural Minimally Invasive Cancer Care Symposium in 2017 to share innovations in application and technology related to minimally invasive cancer care.
In early 2017 Clinical Research and Cancer Registry departments combine and increase clinical trial accrual from 2.8% to 13.2% annually. Cancer centers have to accrue at least 6% to be recognized as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
The Tate Cancer Center is nationally recognized as an approved NPF Clinical and Academic Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation in 2021. NPF Centers are awarded after a rigorous audit review to determine that an institutions focus is on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatitis, treating the "whole patient" with a focus on the best possible outcomes and an improved quality of life.
In 2022, physicians begin treatment of bladder cancer with latest Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview, a system that highlights bladder tumors for better targeting and removal.
In May 2022, the Tate Cancer Center is reaccredited as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program, a status awarded to only 13 percent of cancer programs nationwide.
