{"id":303900,"date":"2025-11-20T20:54:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T20:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/303900\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T20:54:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T20:54:28","slug":"a-ribbon-cutting-full-of-hope-welcomes-orange-countys-first-cancer-specialty-hospital-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/303900\/","title":{"rendered":"A ribbon cutting full of \u2018hope\u2019 welcomes Orange County\u2019s first cancer specialty hospital \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

In front of City of Hope Orange County\u2019s sprawling new $452-million cancer specialty hospital,<\/a> Annette Walker delivered an ambitious promise to an attentive crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cLives are going to be extended and many, many lives are going to be saved. This hospital is going to change the trajectories of families through generations,\u201d Walker, the president of City of Hope<\/a> Orange County, said during the hospital\u2019s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 19.<\/p>\n

The six-story hospital will officially open its doors to patients on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n

Located on City of Hope\u2019s emerging 72-acre academic research campus in Irvine, the hospital is now connected to the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, an outpatient facility that opened in 2022<\/a>. Overlooking the Irvine Great Park, it will be Orange County\u2019s first hospital exclusively dedicated to cancer care and the second comprehensive cancer center for City of Hope in California. The expansion into Orange County<\/a> has seriously cut the commute for patients in this region who had been driving to its founding campus in Duarte.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, this moment is deep and personal,\u201d said Joanna Mendez, an endometrial cancer survivor who is now on the path to healing from thyroid cancer after having been recently diagnosed at City of Hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to think cancer marked the end of a story, but here,\u201d Mendez told the gathered crowd Wednesday, \u201cI learned that it was just the beginning of a new one filled with strength, purpose and healing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Visitors<\/p>\n

Visitors tour part of a patient-family suite that has a hospital room and separate-but-connected guest room accommodations for family at the City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Visitors<\/p>\n

Visitors to a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"La<\/p>\n

La Palma councilwoman Janet Keo Conklin reacts while Hannah Huff takes her picture after she wrote a message for people impacted by cancer before a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Messages<\/p>\n

Messages for people impacted by cancer before a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Robert<\/p>\n

Robert Stone, chief executive officer of City of Hope, during a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/p>\n

Dr. Edward S. Kim, physician-in-chief & senior vice president of City of Hope Orange County, during a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Robert<\/p>\n

Robert Stone, chief executive officer of City of Hope, left, Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, center, and Dr. Edward S. Kim, physician-in-chief & senior vice president of City of Hope Orange Coiunty, after they cut a ceremonial ribbon opening City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Annette<\/p>\n

Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, during a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Annette<\/p>\n

Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, left, hugs cancer survivor Joanna Mendez after Mendez addressed visitors to a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Annette<\/p>\n

Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, blue dress, joins Robert Stone, chief executive officer of City of Hope, holding scissors, and Dr. Edward S. Kim, physician-in-chief & senior vice president of City of Hope Orange Coiunty, right, with other dignitaries as they cut a ceremonial ribbon opening City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Annette<\/p>\n

Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, during a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Cancer<\/p>\n

Cancer survivor Joanna Mendez dances to music playing as she is introduced while addressing visitors to a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mayor<\/p>\n

Mayor Larry Agran during a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Annette<\/p>\n

Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, during a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A ceremonial ribbon cutting for the opening of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Robert<\/p>\n

Robert Stone, chief executive officer of City of Hope, center, Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, Dr. Edward S. Kim, physician-in-chief & senior vice president of City of Hope Orange Coiunty, right, and cancer survivor Joanna Mendez, far left, after they cut a ceremonial ribbon opening City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 17<\/p>\n

Visitors tour part of a patient-family suite that has a hospital room and separate-but-connected guest room accommodations for family at the City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a>
\nWhat\u2019s to come<\/p>\n

When the 174,000-square-foot hospital opens its towering sliding glass doors to cancer patients next month, it will have 73 beds and a staff of more than 700 people solely focused on treating cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single aspect of this hospital was built with a purpose and intention,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n

The first of the hospital\u2019s six floors will have an eight-bed evaluation and treatment center \u2014 essentially an urgent care \u201copen 24\/7, 367 days for when patients have any issue related to their cancer,\u201d Walker said during a recent tour of the space.<\/p>\n

The new hospital also features two family suites designed to offer additional space for loved ones to stay while they support patients hospitalized for extended treatment. The suites include their own connected rooms for visitors, dining areas and private bathrooms.<\/p>\n

Each inpatient room offers a view of the Great Park, Shady Canyon or the Santa Ana Mountains and features pullout beds where family members and visitors can stay the night and artwork donated by a local Orange County artist. And each floor has its own terrace that opens up to sweeping views.<\/p>\n

Walker said the hospital was built with these views in mind, as to better facilitate healthy healing.<\/p>\n

The whole building, Walker said, was also built with feng shui in mind; a specialist was hired to work with the architect.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll notice a feng shui element of the metal on the floor by the elevators, the way the doors are oriented, we did a lot of things with feng shui because this community has a great appreciation for feng shui design,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n

And along the lines of catering to the cultural diversity of the area, the hospital offers an immersive healing space<\/a> that uses technology to transform into sacred spaces representing the world\u2019s largest faith traditions \u2014 Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Or into one of several nature settings.<\/p>\n

The cancer specialty hospital was seven years in the making, a journey that started in 2018 when City of Hope accepted an invitation from FivePoint to come to the county. That invitation spurred a $1.5 billion investment by City of Hope and its donors to build a cancer care campus in Irvine.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of all this, my family and I are among those that Annette described,\u201d Mendez said, in her closing remarks. \u201cTogether we are looking to a future where hope shines brightly \u2014 more birthdays and holidays to celebrate, more time to share, more memories to make.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In front of City of Hope Orange County\u2019s sprawling new $452-million cancer specialty hospital, Annette Walker delivered an…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":303901,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[2356,687,108754,1075,97,252,253,78660,3,6011,452],"class_list":["post-303900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health-care","tag-california","tag-cancer","tag-city-of-hope","tag-community","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-healthcare","tag-irvine","tag-news","tag-orange-county","tag-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303900"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303900\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/303901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}