MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center opened its long-awaited $60 million Women’s Health Pavilion earlier this month.
The three-story, 42,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground in 2022, is the result of a vision shared by physicians at MemorialCare to have one place where women could go to for all their needs, according to Saddleback Medical Center Chief Executive Marcia Manker.
“Instead of being given a diagnosis and saying, ‘Now you’re on your own to go find a breast surgeon,’ we can actually walk them right upstairs,” Manker told the Business Journal.
The facility is directly across the street from MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills.
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, ranked as the ninth largest hospital in Orange County according to Business Journal data, reporting $429 million in revenue for the 12 month period ended September 2023.
Making Patients Feel at Home
Manker said the Women’s Health Pavilion was designed to be a “spa-like environment” with natural lighting and views of Saddleback’s mountains.
“You really want patients to be relaxed and feel at home,” Manker said.
The facility has nurse “navigators” that support new patients emotionally through their diagnosis and healthcare journey.
“They provide concierge service to our patients because there’s nothing more frightening than getting a diagnosis and not being sure what happens next,” Manker said.
There is a cancer-care boutique on the second floor selling products to “help women look and feel their best during and after cancer treatment,” such as post-mastecomy bras and swimwear.
Also on the second floor is a community education center that hosts support groups for patients and new mothers, as well as yoga classes led by breast oncologist Dr. Bhavana Pathak.
Two Sisters Inspired By Grandfather
Occupying more than 20,000 square feet of the Women’s Health Pavilion on the first floor is the Sarah & Taylor Nederlander Breast Center.
MemorialCare said it’s the only breast center in the region to have breast radiologists, breast surgeons and breast medical oncologists solely focused on diagnosing and treating breast cancer.
The center features advanced screening technology including 3D mammography for precise imaging, ultrasound-guided breast biopsies and cryoablation treatments to freeze and destroy early-stage tumors.
“Philanthropy has enabled us to purchase MRI equipment that’s dedicated to breast care patients here in this new building,” Christy Ward, president of MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Foundation, said.
Sisters Sarah and Taylor Nederlander donated $2.5 million for the breast center in 2022 through the Harry J. Nederlander Charitable Foundation, which was founded by their grandfather.
“We know that if he were here today, he would be filled with pride and joy seeing this center and its potential to change lives,” Taylor said during the ribbon cutting.
The topic of breast cancer is a personal one for the sisters. Growing up, they witnessed the impact of the work of their stepfather Dr. Gary Levine, medical director of MemorialCare Breast Centers, and his colleagues.
“We saw they cared for patients, not just physically but emotionally … how they treated each person as a whole, understanding that compassion and support are just as important as medical treatment,” Sarah said.
“Their work instilled in us a deep desire to contribute, and we knew that whatever we did had to reflect that same level of care and commitment.”
