SANTA MONICA (May 25, 2021) — Providence Saint John’s Health Center and the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC today announced their affiliation, a move that will elevate cancer care and research across both organizations and Providence Southern California’s 11 hospitals.

The Ellison Clinic and Saint John’s Cancer Institute’s physicians and research teams joined forces with the goal of revolutionizing cancer treatment. The affiliation brings together great scientific minds focused on high-level cancer research, innovation, diagnostics and technology across a range of cancers.

At the heart of both Providence and the Ellison Institute is the focus on the patient as an individual to provide personalized care.

“The Ellison Institute is renowned for its relentless pursuit to transform cancer care by embracing diverse scientific disciplines that advance research, treatment and whole person care,” said Michael Ricks, Saint John’s chief executive. “Saint John’s experts welcome the Ellison team and together we will broaden world-class cancer care in the communities Providence serves and beyond.”

“Our new alignment with Saint John’s marks an evolution for both our organizations in our joint pursuit of science and technology to drive new treatment and cures,” said Ellison Institute founding director and CEO David B. Agus, M.D., a professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. “We both envision a world in which cancer is managed as a chronic condition and trust that by utilizing our greatest strengths we will meet the challenges to make that a reality.”

The affiliation is designed to streamline clinical operations locally and to expand upon shared expertise across the 52-hospital Providence system. Recently, five Providence hospitals in the Los Angeles Area, including Saint John’s, jointly earned a three-year accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer as an integrated network cancer program. To earn accreditation, cancer programs must meet 34 quality care standards, be evaluated every three years and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.

“We welcome the Ellison Institute across Providence, confident this affiliation will result in better treatment and outcomes for our patients in the seven states we serve,” said Erik G. Wexler, Providence president operations & strategy – South. “The Ellison Institute’s commitment to the multi-disciplinary process and the new collaboration with the Saint John’s physicians will lift our expertise to new heights, benefitting our patients and generations to come.”

###

About Providence, Southern California

Providence Southern California is a not-for-profit Catholic health network with 11 hospitals, approximately 90 clinics, TrinityCare Hospice and its TrinityKids Care pediatric hospice, Providence High School, home health care services, eight wellness centers and numerous physician groups in its Southern California Region. Together these ministries, including secular affiliates and some representing other faiths, generate $7.5 billion in net revenue and have approximately 35,000 employees – called caregivers – and nearly 5,200 physicians on staff.
Providence, Southern California is part of Providence, a health system of 111,000 caregivers serving in 52 hospitals, 829 clinics and a comprehensive range of services across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Providence strives to increase access to health care and bring quality, compassionate care to those we serve, with a focus on those most in need.

About Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC

The Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine was founded to leverage technology, spark innovation, and drive interdisciplinary, evidence-based research to reimagine and redefine cancer treatment, enhance health, and transform lives. Under the leadership of Dr. David B. Agus, M.D., the Ellison Institute was designed to tackle the difficult questions in health care and research to push the boundaries of medicine forward. The objective of the Ellison Institute is the rigorous and rapid translation of novel technologies into practice for use in clinical, diagnostic, and laboratory settings. The Institute is comprised of dedicated clinicians, experts and thought leaders from disparate backgrounds who have come together to make a meaningful, positive impact on the lives of patients. This one-of-a-kind Institute hopes to serve as a powerful catalyst for innovation and reimagining the status quo in medical research and cancer treatments.