A Singular Focus on Cancer at MSK Westchester

Its gleaming exterior is just the beginning. MSK Westchester — a 114,000-square-foot facility that’s home to a staff of 140 cancer surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and other healthcare professionals — is a modern, intuitive space designed to maximize patients’ comfort. No detail has been overlooked: Amenities include valet parking, Wi-Fi, a grab-and-go fresh food counter, and a peaceful outdoor garden.

“MSK Westchester enables us to further extend the reach of our unparalleled cancer care, bringing the expertise and dedication of our staff to patients where they live and work — in a serene, beautiful, and patient-friendly environment,” says Craig B. Thompson, MSK President and CEO. “We look forward to creating strong, long-lasting relationships with the community.”

MSK has been serving residents in the Westchester area since 1995 at our facility in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and MSK Westchester will allow for even more residents to access our care. Our other outpatient locations in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and on Long Island in Commack, Rockville Centre, and Hauppauge complete our suburban network.

Less Travel, More Convenience, Same Expert Care

MSK Westchester provides care that is exactly the same as patients would receive if they were treated at any other MSK facility. Specialized disease management teams offer diagnostic, treatment, and support services to people with a range of cancer types, including breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, lung, and urologic cancers. MSK’s world-class surgeons are on-site to provide all pre- and postsurgical care, and patients receive the latest chemotherapy treatments and the most advanced radiation therapies.

“If we can decrease the burden of travel, patients will spend less time commuting and more time in the comfort of their own homes, which is important in the healing process,” explains Richard R. Barakat, Deputy Physician-in-Chief for MSK’s Regional Care Network and Cancer Alliance.

Other offerings for patients include genetic counseling, nutrition consultations, and social-work support. And a wide range of clinical trials — including early-stage studies of novel targeted anticancer drugs, specialized on-site staff, and dedicated lab space — allow patients to receive new treatments and schedule their follow-up appointments at MSK Westchester.

“Clinical trials are critical for translating scientific discoveries into new treatments that improve patient care,” says Ephraim Casper, Medical Director of MSK’s Regional Care Network. “For many, clinical trials offer the most promising treatment options available. The opportunity to participate in our trials is one of the special benefits of treatment at MSK, and patients who live in Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and [southwestern] Connecticut will have access to the latest clinical trials close to home.”

In addition, MSK Westchester provides a spectrum of sophisticated imaging technologies including MRI, CT, PET, ultrasound, and mammography for the diagnosis and staging of cancer, as well as a state-of-the-art radiation treatment planning and delivery system with two linear accelerators (the machine that creates the high-energy radiation used to treat cancer).

A team of MSK interventional radiologists perform breast biopsies and place ports to deliver chemotherapy, among other specialized procedures.

A Total Patient-Centered Experience

From the moment patients and caregivers enter MSK Westchester , their experience is designed to be as streamlined and stress-free as possible.

Breast cancer patient Kelley Hebert spoke about the convenience of MSK Westchester in West Harrison for residents of the Hudson Valley and the surrounding area. She has her first appointment at MSK West Harrison with her medical oncologist, Chau Dang, in November.

Broadcaster, cancer survivor, and MSK patient Stacey Sager posed with her surgeon, Dr. Barakat. She also spoke during the morning reception, later tweeting about the event, “Better way to spend a morning? W/ Dr who saved my life!”

Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Honorary Chair of MSK’s Boards, chatted with President Thompson and Executive Vice President and Chief Hospital Operating Officer Kathryn Martin during a reception following the ribbon cutting.

MSK Westchester in West Harrison staff, including Administrator Nancy Diamond (center), shared a few laughs during the conversation with Dr. Thompson.

Dr. Dang, chief of medical oncology at MSK Westchester in West Harrison, welcomed community members to the new facility during an evening open house. Dr. Dang lives in Harrison with her family, and will continue to see patients in Manhattan one day a week.

TV personality, author, and Westchester County resident Rene Syler spoke to the nearly 200 open house guests about her decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy with reconstruction at MSK. Her plastic surgeon, Joseph Disa, sees patients for surgical consultations at MSK Westchester in West Harrison.

Alessandro Ricciarelli, a music therapist on the Integrative Medicine Service, invited guests to experience the relaxing benefits of music therapy in the lobby of the lower concourse.

Massage therapist Kriota Willberg drew a crowd in the media room with her demonstrations of massage techniques. The media room provides ample space for support groups and community events.

One aspect of that added convenience is an innovative partnership with the nationally recognized multispecialty Mount Kisco Medical Group (MKMG). Patients receiving treatment for cancer at MSK Westchester can make appointments with MKMG physicians for non-oncology care, including cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, infectious disease, and internal medicine services — all without leaving the building.

The new facility also uses technology to add another level of comfort. A special tag given to each patient upon check-in uses real-time GPS technology to pinpoint where a patient is sitting, whether in a common area, a waiting room, or even in the outdoor garden. This allows people to move freely around the campus before seeing a physician or receiving a test result.

Private chemotherapy suites are flooded with natural light and have ample space for visitors. Patients can control the room temperature and lighting, and each suite has individual entertainment devices that can be used to video chat with friends during treatment, order food from local restaurants, or watch educational videos on health and wellness.

Many of Our Doctors Live in the Community

“When we began thinking about clinicians who might want to work in West Harrison, rather than thinking only about hiring new people who may not be familiar with the MSK culture, we came up with a new model,” Dr. Barakat says. “We have physicians and surgeons who have been at MSK — in some cases for many years — and even chiefs of services, who live in the community and who will be working at West Harrison. This allows us to truly infuse the MSK multidisciplinary culture into this new facility.”

Physicians and surgeons who practice at MSK’s Manhattan locations but reside in the Hudson Valley are extending their practices into their own community. “MSK doctors, nurses, and support staff will be seeing patients not only professionally but also as part of their daily lives,” Dr. Barakat observes. “They’ll be running into these same people in their churches, their temples, at the grocery, at social events. We are already full participants in the life of the community and are here to help.”