1st phase opens for (The) University of Kansas Cancer Center at Liberty Hospital
This article was first published in the Courier-Tribune on June 12, 2025.
The new cancer center at Liberty Hospital opened June 10 in Medical Plaza East.
By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com
LIBERTY — The first phase of The University of Kansas Cancer Center in Liberty opened Tuesday, June 10.
The cancer center is officially open for medical oncology exams and treatments. Construction continues for the remaining cancer center space, including radiation oncology.
Dr. Raghu Adiga serves as the chief executive officer, Liberty Market, The University of Kansas Health System. He recently spoke about the new facility.
“This is one of the big goals we set out to achieve,” he explained. “We wanted to see a high-quality cancer care location in the Northland. We intentionally joined The University of Kansas Health System to extend the reach of the highest quality healthcare, especially nationally recognized cancer care, to the Northland and beyond.”
Liberty Hospital is one of three cancer center sites in the Northland. Medical oncology exams also will be available in Briarcliff this month, and the Green Hills location will remain open, ensuring continued access to care.
Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute exited the Liberty Hospital campus as of April 30. On May 1, construction for The University of Kansas Cancer Center in Liberty “hit the ground running.”
The center is located on the ground floor of the Medical Plaza East building, 2529 Glenn Hendren Drive.
Adiga said the staff will increase to meet the new demands including new nurses and a new radiation oncologist. The center hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New equipment will be coming as well.
“This first phase is limited capacity, but we are celebrating,” he said.
The second phase will include radiation oncology which is expected to open in September or October. Patients will have access to medical oncology exams and infusion services this summer, with radiation oncology services launching this fall.Construction should wrap up by late November or early December.
“We are excited to be able to extend our exceptional oncology care so that more people in the Northland will have access to nationally recognized cancer care close to home,” said Jeffrey Holzbeierlein, MD, FACS, vice president and physician in chief, The University of Kansas Cancer Center. “Patients in the Northland deserve to have access to the very best cancer care, so we are investing and expanding to ensure even more people in our region experience superior cancer care close to home.”
“KU Cancer Center is so well known for care and treatment,” Adiga said. “Patients from Liberty and northwest Missouri have traveled to the Kansas location for years. It’s going to cut a lot of driving time down.”
Adiga expects growth. He speculates that there could be an additional 5 to 10% growth in many departments such as diabetes and heart care as other specialties are part of the cancer care.
“I expect use of the TreeHouse to grow as well,” he said.
When speaking about “exceptional care,” Adiga said the standard care is performed in high-level facilities with top caregivers and each patient is seen as a whole person.
“Until you ring that bell, your concerns will be taken care of,” he said. “At Liberty, we are doing that while maintaining being the hometown hospital.”
He hopes that early cancer diagnosis will take place as screenings will be more convenient for people, including screening colonoscopies.
“We are hoping to see increased volumes in these important preventative screenings,” he said.
Other future growth will include clinical trials.
“At this time, we do not offer access to clinical trials at the cancer center in Liberty. But at some point, we will,” he said.