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Plans outlined for cancer center at Austin Pike, I-75

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By Kristin McAllister, Staff Writer Updated 10:51 PM Friday, March 5, 2010

With the bulk of private investors in place and Dayton-area contractors being lined up, the owner of a new proton therapy cancer treatment center planned for the Austin Pike interchange is laying out the details of the project in upcoming meetings with local officials.

Jon Slater, president and chief operating officer of the privately-owned Loma Linda, Calif.-based Optivus Proton Therapy Inc., and Miami Twp. officials have held close to the vest details of the coveted project since last fall’s announcement.

“There are hosts of communities that I will be meeting with on various trips in the coming months,” Slater said. “There’s been a tremendous, warm reception from people I’ve been able to meet with.”

For months, details have been scant about the $170-million project being built on 23 acres in Miami Twp. But Slater and township Trustee Deborah Preston and administrator Greg Hanahan said they are looking forward to informal meetings with folks throughout the area.

“There are a lot of positives to it for not just the interchange area, but for the entire region,” Preston said.

Bryan Bucklew of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association said he hasn’t yet heard from anyone connected to the project and is anxious to hear the details.

Bucklew said physicians from hospitals within the membership have talked with Slater, but that hospital officials, such as administrators, have not.

“We would love to talk with them about how it will impact the delivery of health care here,” he said. “It’s critically important that we have that discussion.”

Hanahan said the township has just been trying to adhere to Slater’s wish of “maintaining extreme confidentiality,” particularly when Slater was working on getting investors.

Slater said he plans to meet with Bucklew during his next trip to the region in late May or early April.

“Our goal is to develop business relationships with physicians and hospitals, not necessarily only one physicians group or one hospital,” Slater said. “Every physician I’ve talked to in the area, so far, is jumping up and down for joy, reaching out to me asking, how can I get involved?”

Meantime, he’s building a list of local governments, hospitals, academics and businesses with whom he plans to meet in upcoming trips here and already has met with Montgomery County regarding the project.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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