Business Partnership Celebrates Steeplechase 10th Anniversary

The Somerset County Business Partnership paid well-deserved tribute to the Steeplechase Cancer Center for the organization’s contributions to the community in the first decade of serving Somerset County and the region with world-class cancer care.

Hosting a networking event at the facility located at 30 Rehill Avenue in Somerville on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, the Partnership drew more than 125 visitors and staff to the Center, many enjoying tours of the state-of-the-art healing and research facility.

Located on the campus of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (RWJUH), Steeplechase serves as a clinical research affiliate of The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The Center provides comprehensive cancer services of the highest quality within a calm, compassionate, patient-focused environment. The three-story, 63,000-square-foot outpatient facility includes the latest technologies to treat cancer, providing a variety of educational and support programs related to cancer and wellness. Services include complementary medicine programs, including tai chi, meditation, yoga, reiki, massage and image recovery, the Sanofi US Wellness Boutique and a Resource Library for patients and their families.

Business Partnership President/CEO Mike Kerwin spoke about the importance of the connection between the Steeplechase Center, RWJUH Somerset, and the local and regional community. “The Steeplechase Cancer Center has contributed to Somerset County’s reputation as a prime healing destination for people to live, work, play, and learn,” he stated. “Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Steeplechase are internationally known and respected for their accomplishments in research and treatment. Somerset County is proud to have them as neighbors and contributors to our remarkable quality of life.”

He further noted that on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Center, a new and more powerful connection to the community will begin immediately. “We are proud of our community hospital and the Business Partnership will continue to broadcast that positive message to the business and residential communities.”

Somerville Mayor Brain Gallagher added, “Helping the hospital to build a stronger connection to the community starts in Somerville.” He added that the efforts of the Business Partnership to bring the public, private, non-profit, and government sectors together will further enhance relationships for the good of the community.

He further noted that RWJUH has recently been ranked among the region’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in the publication’s 2017-18 ranking of the region and nation’s best hospitals. RWJUH is ranked third in New Jersey and eighth among all hospitals in the New Jersey- New York region.

Tony Cava, Chief Administrative Officer at RWJUH Somerset expressed his appreciation for how the medical center has been embraced by the community, stating, “With the continued faith and support of the community we will expand our world class health and healing services.”

Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Medical Director of the Steeplechase Center thanked everyone in attendance for their “continued faith and support,” noting that “it takes a village to care for a cancer patient” and that the turnout at the event shows that the local “village” strongly supports Steeplechase programs.

Business Partnership member Shirley Perlinsky of S&G Cleaning Services in Manville, NJ expressed by example the important connection between the medical center and the community by explaining her company’s participation in the “Cleaning for a Reason” program. Working with staff at the Steeplechase Center, S&G provides no cost home cleaning services for cancer patients in need.

The Center is named in honor of the Far Hills Race Meeting, one of the nation’s most prestigious steeplechase races. Since the 1950s, the race meeting has raised more than $17 million for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.