Construction is underway on a regional cancer center and medical office building at Community Hospital in Grand Junction.

The 130,000-square-foot James Pulsipher Regional Cancer Center and medical office building is set for completion in 2023 and expected to cost about $53 million.

“We are extremely proud of this project,” said Chris Thomas, president and chief executive officer of  Community Hospital. “This project is our hospital’s commitment to our partners to build a state-of-the-art regional cancer center and continue to develop our highly sought-after cancer treatment program with the best possible medical and radiation oncologists in the region.”

Dr. JoAnne Virgilio, medical oncologist at Community Hospital’s Grand Valley Oncology, also praised the effort. “Building the new regional cancer center has been a dream of ours since joining Community Hospital in 2014. Our oncology team is extremely humbled by the overwhelming support of our community. To see this project finally come to fruition is very exciting, and we look forward to serving cancer patients in the Grand Valley and surrounding areas for many more years to come.”

James Pulsipher, owner of Fidelity Mortgage in Grand Junction, donated $1 million to the project, the single largest contribution in the more than 30-year-old history of the Community Hospital Foundation. Pulsipher said residents and members of the business community have a stake in ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care.

Thomas said construction constitutes the next phase of a lengthy planning process as well as a promise to provide more space and resources for Grand Valley Oncology and patients in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah.

“In less than 10 years, Grand Valley Oncology has become the premier cancer center on the Western Slope because of the incredible leadership of JoAnne Virgilio and the stellar team of medical and radiation oncologists and dedicated staff,” Thomas said.

Operated by Community Hospital, Grand Valley Oncology offers a range of cancer treatment options including medical and radiation oncology, gynecological oncology, genetic counseling, social services, clinical trials and a survivorship program.

Grand Valley Oncology received the highest level of accreditation through a national quality assurance program. The National Committee for Quality Assurance awarded the Patient Centered Specialty Practice accreditation.