Northwell Cancer Institute Unveils $14M Center for Women's Cancer, Creating an Integrated Care Model With Comprehensive Services in One Location

The Northwell Cancer Institute unveiled its Center for Women's Cancer at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center. The $14 million, 21,000-square-foot facility is Long Island’s first dedicated cancer center for women, representing a major transformation in delivering specialized care at every stage. The outpatient center integrates breast surgery, gynecologic oncology, medical oncology and comprehensive support services in a single location, addressing the interconnected nature of women's cancer risks and providing services focused on women and their unique care needs.

The Center for Women’s Cancer addresses a critical gap in cancer care delivery by recognizing the genetic and clinical connections between breast and gynecologic cancers, particularly for patients with BRCA gene variants and other hereditary cancers. This integrated approach positions Northwell Health at the forefront of precision oncology for women.

The facility features 26 state-of-the-art exam rooms, 10 consultation rooms, two procedure rooms, an onsite laboratory and a tranquil healing garden. Patients have easy access to other services, including infusion therapy, radiation medicine, plastic surgery, genetic counseling, genomic testing, imaging and clinical trials, which are just steps away in the same building and on the same cancer campus.

"This new center represents our commitment to precision oncology and the recognition that women's cancers require specialized, coordinated care," said Richard Barakat, MD, MBA, physician-in-chief and executive director of the Northwell Cancer Institute. "By unifying our expertise in breast and gynecologic malignancies, we're not just enhancing convenience—we're creating a new approach where genetic counseling, surgical intervention, medical therapy and psychosocial support come together seamlessly, ultimately improving survival rates and quality of life for our patients."

The Center for Women’s Cancer at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center will significantly increase Northwell’s ability to serve women diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancers. In 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates there are about 311,000 new invasive breast cancer cases and 117,000 new gynecologic cancer cases in the United States each year.

The Center for Women’s Cancer connects the Northwell Cancer Institute and the health system’s Katz Institute for Women's Health (KIWH), therefore strengthening clinical synergies. More than 20 physicians and teams from multiple specialties will collaborate daily, enabling real-time multidisciplinary care planning and accelerated treatment protocols. The KIWH provides women’s health care across all stages of life through clinical care, research, education and advocacy.

Clinical Excellence and Collaboration

"Patients going through their cancer journey will benefit from being on the same campus for their surgery as well as for their medical therapy," said Karen Kostroff, MD, chief of breast cancer surgery at Northwell Health. "The center’s design also allows physicians in related specialties to dialogue with each other more easily."

Dr. Kostroff emphasized, "It was natural to bring together the specialists treating patients with breast and gynecologic cancers. Variants in the BRCA and other genes can increase risk for these patients. Also, patients can access everything they need on our expansive cancer campus on the Nassau-Queens border, which can also alleviate some of the stress of having to travel from place to place for consultations, imaging and treatment."

Veena John, MD, system head for gynecologic medical oncology at the Northwell Cancer Institute and medical director for the Center for Women’s Cancer, noted the operational advantages: "The center makes it easier for us to develop care plans with our colleagues and manage our patients as one team.

"Whether it is a medical oncology trial, a radiation medicine trial or a surgical trial, they will all be available to patients in the same building, limiting the need to go to different sites to enroll," Dr. John added. "Particularly for patients with recurrent disease, we have ongoing trials that offer unique therapies that are otherwise not available, and we expect that the number of trial opportunities will continue to grow."

Transformative Patient Experience Model

Rita Mercieca, RN, MBA, senior vice president and chief administrator of the Northwell Cancer Institute, highlighted the center's transformative approach. "We're not just treating cancer; we're honoring the entire woman—her health, her responsibilities, her life journey. This center represents a transformative approach to women's cancer care,” she said. Women from our community have helped us shape a care model that sees beyond medical protocols – recognizing women as complex, resilient individuals with multifaceted lives.”

The Center for Women’s Cancer has a patient-centered design. Through the Northwell Cancer Institute, patients have access to nurse navigators who can coordinate care and guide patients through every step of their journey, from consultation, treatment and survivorship. The center features navigators who are fluent in nine languages including Armenian, Cantonese, Hindi, and Spanish.

The center provides comprehensive support services including oncology nutrition, social work, financial counseling, pharmacy services and integrative medicine. Complementary therapies will include meditation, yoga, reiki, exercise therapy, tai chi and more.

E4H Architecture, headquartered in Boston, designed the Women’s Center for Cancer. The company is the largest architecture & interior design firm dedicated to healthcare & health science.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact Cancer Care Direct to talk with a nurse navigator at the Northwell Cancer Institute: 833-292-0219 (833-CWC-0219).