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Building the New Cancer Center
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| Drs. Judy Dierkhising & Maury Coyle |
Hope. Trust. Excellence. That’s what we’re here to give,” says Dr. Maury Coyle. “Those three words are the hallmark of the new cancer center.” They also describe a lot about Maury. Since the 1970s, he has been a leading force in advancing Providence’s capacity for excellent and compassionate cancer care. Now retired, the former chair of radiology hasn’t slowed down. He is lending his experience and leadership to establishing the new Providence Cancer Center.
There’s no better man for the job. After three decades of caring for patients in Alaska, Maury has a good sense of the challenges they encounter—not just medically, but also emotionally, spiritually and financially. “When patients are diagnosed with cancer, they are the most vulnerable, and need the most help,” he says. That’s part of the reasoning behind centralizing care under one roof and providing specially trained navigators to guide patients.
“We must focus on three things—the patient, the patient, the patient,” says Maury. “More content, more at-peace and more knowledgeable patients mean better outcomes for them and their
loved ones.”
To that end, Maury has helped identify a range of services and programs that integrate the best in care while respecting the individual needs of each patient. He has traveled to cancer centers in the Lower 48 to seek out the latest in cancer care practices. On one of those trips, he met Dr. Judy Dierkhising. Judy directed the cancer center at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri, and has worked in numerous cancer centers around the country. Maury and Chief Executive Al Parrish proceeded to invite Judy to Alaska. After a consultation visit, she agreed to direct the new center at Providence. “Judy is simply a marvel,” says Maury.
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