Cooley Dickinson Marks 10 Years of Cancer Care Collaboration with Mass General Brigham

NORTHAMPTON — Among its milestones of 2025, Cooley Dickinson Hospital marked 10 years since welcoming the first patient to its state-of-the-art cancer center and a decade that Cooley Dickinson and Mass General Brigham have been providing cancer care to the Pioneer Valley community.

“This is a tremendous milestone for Cooley Dickinson, Mass General Brigham, and the thousands of patients and families who have benefited from this exceptional collaboration,” said Kevin Whitney, president and chief operating officer of Cooley Dickinson Hospital. “We are committed to combining the personal care of a community hospital with access to world-renowned medical experts. That is the promise of offering Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute care here at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.”

Ahmad Daniyal Siddiqui, medical director of Medical Oncology at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, explained that the majority of cancer care is provided in the community setting.

“Patients who need chemotherapy or radiation therapy have access to Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute experts right here in the community, who follow same treatment regimens, protocols, and safety guidelines as the experts in Boston. Treatment is coordinated by a collaborative Mass General Brigham cancer team that enables patients to remain close to home, surrounded by family and friends, and in a familiar environment.

“In some cases, it does make sense for people to go to Boston for care, and in those instances, we make sure that patients receive the right treatment in the right place,” Siddiqui added. “We coordinate their care with subspecialty physicians at Mass General Brigham and provide local support as seamlessly as possible.”

For patients who need to see experts in Boston, Cooley Dickinson offers a free round-trip, daily shuttle service to Mass General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Mass Eye and Ear in Boston.

“Local residents have repeatedly told us about the challenges and worries of getting to and from medical appointments at our academic and specialty hospitals,” Whitney said. “Making access easier to these hospitals, for care related to cancer treatment or other needs, is one of our top priorities.”