This year marks 20 years since the Marjorie E. Radin Breast Care Center opened its doors on the Clovis Community Medical Center campus. Recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, the focus is on prevention, early detection, advanced treatment and compassionate care.
Multidisciplinary care all in one place
Marjorie E. Radin Breast Care Center was created as a response to the need for a higher level of care in the Central Valley. For years, Community Health System physicians saw patients leaving the region to get care they believed wasn’t available here.
“I think what we saw was a gap in care, but also the fact that people were leaving the Valley trying to get the care they thought they could get elsewhere,” said Dr. Vassi Gardikas, one of several doctors who helped establish the breast care center.
At that time, patients had to visit specialists in multiple practices and locations, often going weeks or even months in between appointments.
“We wanted patients and families to be able to come to one place and meet with multiple specialists and come away with hope, knowing there were multiple care providers to give them support,” said Dr. Deborah Gumina.
That meant offering imaging, diagnostics, surgery, pathology and emotional support all under one roof — with one care team coming together to coordinate a customized treatment plan for each patient. It’s this holistic approach that makes Radin Breast Care Center the only clinic of its kind in the Fresno area.
“I think the biggest thing I’m proud of is that we meet on each patient to talk about their case,” said Dr. Brent Kane. “I truly feel the collaboration is much improved.”
A transformational gift
Named for the late philanthropist Marjorie. E. Radin, the breast care center was funded by a generous gift from the Radin Foundation. Marjorie and her husband, H. Marcus Radin, created the foundation in 1971, which has been helping Central Valley patients receive access to state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging ever since.
Earlier this month, Community honored Jason and Anne Liao of the Radin Foundation at our Valley Pink Patch kickoff event to thank them for all the foundation has done for Community’s patients.
Looking to the future
Drs. Gardikas, Gumina and Kane are proud to be a part of Radin Breast Care Center’s beginning.
“I think we knew it was going to be successful. I don’t think we knew to the extent what programs we would have, but I think we knew it was going to be great,” said Dr. Gumina.
She looks forward to seeing what the future holds for the center.
“I think from a surgical standpoint there’s going to be so many changes,” said Dr. Gumina. “Robotics will be involved. AI will be involved. It’s just progressing and it’s very exciting.”
