History
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Mary Brown Stephenson, mother of
CTCA founder Richard J Stephenson.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) has served cancer patients throughout the central United States for more than 20 years.
CTCA was founded in 1988 by Richard J Stephenson, in honor of his mother, who lost her battle with cancer in 1982. He was challenged to create a better experience for cancer patients that empowers them to participate in their treatment. Stephenson’s commitment to the Mother Standard® became the organization's guiding principle. It is a nurturing approach carried out by all CTCA employees. The Mother Standard® reflects how they would want their mothers, fathers, brothers or sisters to be treated if they had cancer.
CTCA formally opened its second hospital on May 7, 1990. The Tulsa, Oklahoma location quickly established CTCA as a premier center of hope and healing in the Southwest. The hospital was located in the CityPlex Towers, which were constructed by Oral Roberts as part of the City of Faith hospital.
On April 29, 2005, CTCA opened a brand new, state-of-the-art Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa. The stunning, 195,845-square-foot hospital is Oklahoma's only major hospital totally focused on treating cancer.
Watch the Grand Opening Video >>
Southwestern Regional Medical Center's Grand Opening (Format: Windows Media Player, Time: 3:27 minutes)
More than 100 CTCA cancer patients, along with their family members and caregivers, were involved in the design of Southwestern Regional Medical Center. They made suggestions on nearly every detail of the hospital's creation, from the initial building plans to all of the architectural elements, such as exterior appearance, interior design, lighting and colors.
CTCA at Southwestern Regional Medical Center was granted approval by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons in April 2006. The Commission recognized the hospital as "offering the very best in cancer care."
