New facility will serve as a destination for comprehensive cancer care, outpatient services and surgical procedures for the Central Valley community
MODESTO, Calif. — Sutter Health leaders, physicians, care teams and community officials broke ground today on the new Advanced Cancer Center and Care Complex in Modesto. The estimated $380 million project is key part of the not-for-profit health system’s multi-year commitment to expand health care services and enhance patient access to innovative, high-quality outpatient and specialty care for Central Valley residents.
Read The Modesto Bee’s in-depth coverage, and see how CBS News Sacramento is spotlighting the story as well.
The new center, located at 1800 Coffee Rd. on Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center campus, will feature four stories and 165,000 square feet of modernized, patient-centered space. When scheduled to open in 2029, it will feature approximately 120 physicians and 400 team members who will serve tens of thousands of patients annually. It will bring together multiple specialties, outpatient services and advanced diagnostic capabilities, supporting patients’ ability to access care closer to home.
“Sutter is advancing a comprehensive and forward-looking strategy to improve access and convenience for patients across the region. We’re investing in new and enhanced care sites, adding more physicians and expanding pathways for the next generation of caregivers,” said Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Sutter Health. “This new complex will serve as a destination for care in the Central Valley, offering advanced cancer services alongside outpatient care and a surgery center. It ensures patients can count on coordinated, high-quality care across multiple specialties all in one location. It also helps patients experience fewer sleepless nights knowing they can access treatment faster soon after their initial diagnosis.”
The Modesto Care Complex, estimated to open in 2029, will include:
- A New Standard in Advanced Cancer Care: Spanning the first and second floors, this center will further elevate top-tier cancer care services in the region. As part of Sutter’s Integrated Network Cancer Program designated by the Commission on Cancer, it will meet the high demand for advanced cancer care, serving patients from San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties and beyond. The center will be an all-inclusive location offering clinic visits, access to numerous cancer screenings, infusion and radiation therapy, imaging, lab, pharmacy and multiple complementary therapies. The center will also feature greater access to approximately 150 clinical trials. By centralizing all services, patients can access all their care in one place. This center will also connect patients with additional advanced Sutter cancer specialists in the Bay Area and greater Sacramento area as needed.
- Expanded Surgical Options: Located on the third floor, the ambulatory surgery center will include four operating rooms, four procedure rooms and additional space for future expansion, helping support efforts to meet the community’s evolving needs. This will be the first Sutter ASC in Modesto, offering patients a trusted nearby option for high-quality outpatient surgery, connected to Sutter’s larger integrated system.
- Enhanced Outpatient Clinics: The fourth floor will be designed to feature more than 25 clinicians and 50 exam rooms, supporting continued growth in outpatient and clinical care, and increasing capacity to serve the region for future generations.
“Patients and families will really benefit from having outpatient and specialty care services in one centralized location,” said Dr. David Peterson, chief medical officer of Gould Medical Group. “The center’s design is a great example of how connected care can help us diagnose and treat patients more efficiently, reduce delays and improve outcomes.”
Center Leads with Advanced Cancer Care
Sutter Health is a recognized leader in cancer care that is driven by expert teams, advanced technologies and pioneering research. By expanding access and investing in innovation, including much of this new center, Sutter is redefining advanced cancer care from prevention to survivorship. The new cancer center will open new doors to new options through a depth and breadth of advanced cancer care services, adding speed and access to the most advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities, including those through Sutter Health’s partnership with GE Healthcare for advanced, AI-powered Imaging. It will bring together numerous cancer care specialists to perform advanced diagnostic testing and treatments, including molecular testing, specialized surgeries, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and other advanced cancer therapies.
Stanislaus County’s 2025 Community Health Assessment illustrates the need for more cancer support in the Central Valley. As reported by The Modesto Bee, the county’s cancer mortality rate of 157 deaths per 100,000 population is higher than both the state and the nation, which is 32.7 per 100,000 and 146 per 100,000, respectively.
Leadership estimates that the Advanced Cancer Center will help further expand capabilities, serving even more patients and helping reduce wait times for appointments. Sutter teams in the Central Valley cared for nearly 2,000 patients with cancer in 2024. On average, Sutter Health’s not-for-profit health system cares for more than 17,000 patients a year across the state diagnosed with cancer.
“We’re advancing a unique model of comprehensive, integrated and connected care right here in the Central Valley,” said Dr. Alex Garcia-Young, a Gould Medical Group radiation oncologist and Sutter Health Cancer Service Line Clinical Council Member. “We will meet the evolving needs of those living with cancer while offering guidance, reassurance and support.”
Philanthropy will also play a meaningful role in the project, with support from donors helping bring the vision to life.
“I see firsthand how deeply our community cares about access to exceptional cancer care,” said Clarence Abid, board chair of Memorial Hospital Foundation. “This is more than a building. It’s a legacy. By joining us, donors have the chance to be part of history in the greater Central Valley, creating a true center of excellence that delivers better outcomes with fewer barriers to care for generations of families right here in Modesto.”
Long-Term Connections and Commitment to Central Valley and the State
Sutter Health continues to lead the charge in creating greater access to healthcare services. The Advanced Cancer Center and Care Complex in Modesto is the latest example of the continued investment in new and enhanced care facilities for the Central Valley. In 2025 alone, Sutter opened new care centers in Lodi, Manteca, Modesto, Tracy and Turlock.
Additionally, Sutter launched nationally accredited Family Medicine and Internal Medicine residency programs this past July in Modesto. These programs play an essential role in broadening career pathways for more physicians to help care for patients locally. Sutter Health’s goal is to train more than 18,000 residents and fellows over the next 20 years by adding more nationally accredited graduate medical education programs throughout its system.
“We appreciate all the ways Sutter Health continues to invest in the health and well-being of our community,” said Sue Zwahlen, mayor of the City of Modesto. “These commitments go beyond bricks and mortar or additional clinicians. They represent a promise to improve lives for generations through expanded access to care and support.”
“Our collective efforts are rising tides, helping meet the growing needs of our community,” said Gino Patrizio, president of Sutter Health’s Greater Central Valley Division. “Teams across our system, and right here in the Central Valley, are helping transform the modern health care experience so it is more personal, more connected and more accessible than ever.”
