Oct. 23, 2025: As the sun illuminated the October morning skies, Lakewood staff, board members and special guests gathered outdoors to celebrate a milestone moment — the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the new Lakewood Cancer Center in Staples.
Lakewood President/CEO Lisa Bjerga spoke about the deeper meaning behind today’s celebration.
“The Lakewood Cancer Center represents what’s possible when a community comes together for something bigger than itself. It’s not just a building — it’s hope, compassion and personalized care, close to home.”
Bjerga shared that bringing the Lakewood Cancer Center to life has been a true team effort and began by thanking Lakewood’s oncology staff and providers.
“A special thank you to First International Bank & Trust for helping secure financing, BWBR for designing this beautiful space, and Nor-Son Construction for bringing it to life,” said Bjerga, who also thanked several team and board members during her speech.
The ceremony also featured remarks from Dr. Christine Albrecht, chief medical officer; Dr. Sheilaine Mabanta, radiation oncologist; Dr. Emily McGovern, oncologist/hematologist; and Matt Jensen, director of marketing & foundation, who served as emcee. Each reflected on teamwork, dedication and community support that made this day possible.
Adding a deeply personal touch, oncology patient Brad Cantleberry shared his gratitude to the Lakewood oncology team who cared for him during his treatment last year. He expressed how meaningful it is to see this new cancer center open — a place where future patients will receive care and support close to home.
“To see this unfold here at home is life changing for this community. And these people behind me here, their commitment, their passion for caring is unmatched. And they put everything into you. I've said this before, but there are literally hundreds of people in care here. And the way they’ve made me feel is like I was the only one,” said Cantleberry.
As the program ceremony concluded, Lakewood district and system board members and oncology staff formed a long line to cut the orange ribbon which was followed by cheers and applause.
Building on a foundation of community
Groundbreaking for the Lakewood Cancer Center took place on June 24, 2024, marking the start of construction on the 19,270-square-foot addition located on the southwest corner of Lakewood’s Staples clinic.
The new facility includes:
• a dedicated reception and waiting area designed for comfort and calm;
• 14 infusion bays;
• 10 medical oncology and 2 radiation oncology exam rooms and procedure room;
• In-house PET/CT and a linear accelerator for radiation treatments; and
• oncology case managers located within the space for direct, easy access to patients.
Since 2022, Lakewood’s oncology department has continued to grow, expanding both its space and its team. Today, patients have access to a wide spectrum of cancer care, led by Drs. Wade Swenson, Emily McGovern, and Aquino Williams, along with nurse practitioners Mariah Couture and Jessica Nybakken.
Lakewood recently added radiation oncology with Dr. Sheilaine Mabanta and palliative care services with Dr. Nathan Dewey, which ensures each patient receives comprehensive, coordinated care at every step of their journey.
Family taking care of family
In her closing remarks, Bjerga shared how she often hears community members say how fortunate they feel to have this level of care right here at home.
“While I agree this is true, I would argue that we at Lakewood are the fortunate ones. We have the privilege to serve such a supportive community,” said Bjerga, adding, “Inside these walls, you will find it’s family taking care of family, providing personalized care for all. Thank you for being part of today.”
