Allegheny Health, Johns Hopkins Cancer Center to Affiliate

Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh and Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a formal affiliation between Allegheny and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

The two organizations expect to finalize the details of the five-year affiliation within the next few months, according to a news release. Under the agreement, it's anticipated the Kimmel Cancer Center will provide continuing medical education opportunities to Allegheny physicians and nurses. Furthermore, Johns Hopkins expects to offer physician-to-physician consulting concerning rare cancer cases and novel treatments. 

The two organizations plan to collaborate on projects to improve the quality and safety of cancer care. The affiliation would also include the establishment of a fund for cancer care research at both Johns Hopkins and Allegheny.

"This collaboration would provide us with new opportunities for cancer research within a broad-based western Pennsylvania health system that already has strength in a wide range of cancer treatments and research programs," William Nelson, MD, PhD, director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, said in the release. "In the changing landscape of healthcare services, innovative initiatives like this will keep us at the forefront of discovery and patient-centered care."

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