Prebys Cancer Center Construction Milestone Marks Progress

Prebys Cancer Center Construction Milestone Marks Progress

Scripps celebrates bringing new cancer center to San Diego 

Thomas Buccholz, MD, and John Engle stand near the forthcoming cancer center in San Diego at the topping-off ceremony.

Construction on the Prebys Cancer Center at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego reached a milestone recently as its final beam was lifted into place. 


The topping-off ceremony for Scripps Cancer Center’s second, state-of-the-art cancer care hub looked a little different due to social distancing safeguards, but Scripps officials and representatives from the estate of the late Conrad Prebys were still able to add their names and well wishes to the beam before it was hoisted to the top of the four-story, 40,000-square-foot structure.

Prebys donation allows for cancer care expansion

Shortly before his death in 2016, Prebys pledged $20 million toward the outpatient center, which will expand the leading-edge cancer care Scripps is known for to more patients in central and south San Diego County. His longstanding philanthropic presence is seen throughout the Scripps system, including at the Conrad Prebys Emergency and Trauma Center (also at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego) and the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.


John Engle, Scripps corporate senior vice president and chief development officer, whose relationship with Prebys dated back many years, says the new center is “just what Conrad envisioned.”


“I think that he would be so pleased to be able to see that this project is actually finally coming to fruition, that his resources are what’s making it happen, and that this building is going to stand for many years to come,” says Engle. “It’s going to provide outstanding care for people Conrad never even knew.”

Donors are key part of cancer care team

Once completed in 2022, the Prebys Cancer Center will become a healing environment with leading-edge radiation therapy technology, a 20-chair infusion center and spaces for treatment planning, patient exams and consultations, physician offices and patient support services.


“The best cancer care comes from a team — a team that’s integrated and working all in the same direction with the patient as the North Star,” says Thomas Buchholz, MD, medical director of Scripps Cancer Center. “This team includes medical professionals like surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, nursing, social work, genetic counselors — everybody chips in. But it also requires the community. It requires generous people like yourselves to donate their resources, their time, their effort to get behind helping cancer patients in their time of need.”


*This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.

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