Affiliated Oncologists Celebrates 50 Years of Cancer Care
October 20, 2023
(CHICAGO RIDGE, IL) OCTOBER, 2023 – Affiliated Oncologists is celebrating 50 years of outstanding advancement in comprehensive cancer care and exceptional contributions to cancer research.
On Friday, October 20th, 2023, the organization kicked off its landmark anniversary at The Odyssey Venue in Tinley Park, IL. The celebration gathered founders of the practice, current practicing physicians, community colleagues and partners, and all Affiliated Oncologists staff.
The anniversary celebration will continue throughout the end of 2023 and 2024 at all AO offices and by highlighting it’s new Cancer Center opening in Orland Park, IL. In addition, the celebration has included 50th-anniversary web content, social media content featuring historical moments, and a 50th-anniversary video. We hope you will follow along as we recognize and celebrate the organization’s achievements and milestones of the past half century.
“In 1973, it began with Dr. Thomas Hoeltgen at Christ Hospital. Dr. Hoeltgen came in and started a practice, was very dedicated and saw patients until late evening hours. In 1998, I joined him, we were 2 physicians, 5 nurses, 2 receptionists – the rest is history. We started growing the practice, merged independent oncologists in the territory and added more physicians. In 2013, we merged Radiation Oncologists, in 2020 Alpha Med joined, and in 2022, we partnered with Gynecologic Cancer Institute of Chicago. Those are our landmarks,” says Dr. Amar Hamad, Oncologists and Practice President. “We’re not a typical community practice, we’re a hybrid – academia and community. We do teaching with residents and students with Christ Hospital and local medical schools. We’re part of Clinical Trial groups, and we have access to more than 400 protocols through the US Oncology Network.”
Today, Affiliated Oncologists has 33 Physicians, 17 Advance Practice Providers, over 200 employees with 14 locations the South suburbs of Chicago. The physicians are very well rounded in their areas of expertise specializing in cancer care across several disease sites. Affiliated Oncologists is rooted in the community and easily accessible.
“It is not your typical private practice, it’s really diverse in every aspect and that is why we are successful. We are heavily entrenched in the community, easily available, treating patients locally, with the best outcomes, cutting down on the costs, yet heavily involved in academia and research so that is why we keep thriving and growing – building programs with other hospitals locally in the Chicagoland area” says Dr. Hamad.
In 2005, Affiliated Oncologists began the breast multidisciplinary clinic and grew to become the second largest in terms of volume in the Chicagoland area. In conjunction with the local hospital, they began thoracic oncology, GI, hematologic malignancy, head and neck, bone marrow transplant, and genetic multidisciplinary tumor conferences.
Affiliated Oncologists is committed to providing first-in-class quality care for our patients and is proud to celebrate this historic moment. The mission is: to provide superior treatment and compassionate care for those diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders by offering a dedicated environment of wellness through patient education, innovative treatment options and ongoing emotional support for our patients and their families.
Media Contact: Theresa Gubala, [email protected]