Transforming Cancer Care in the North State

Enloe Celebrates the Completion of the New Cancer Center

From left to right: Hyung An, M.D., Enloe Health’s Medical Director of Symptom Management, Keith Cavaness, D.O., Medical Director of Surgical Oncology, Sam Mazj, M.D., Medical Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Leith Hathout, M.D., Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, visit the new center.

For decades, a cancer diagnosis across the North State often came with an added and exhausting reality: pursuing comprehensive, advanced care sometimes meant leaving home.

In those cases, patients and their loved ones faced long drives, time away from family, and the emotional, financial, and physical toll of navigating an already overwhelming journey far from the communities that support them. With the opening of the Enloe Health Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center in late August, that reality is changing.

The new center marks a milestone for the region. It brings together advanced technology, multidisciplinary expertise and compassionate, person-centered care under one roof. More than a new facility, it represents a long-standing vision finally realized: expanding world-class cancer care close to home.

Keeping Care Local

Sam Mazj, M.D., Medical Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Enloe Health, has been a hematology and oncology specialist in Butte County for more than 20 years.

“What excites me most is what this means for our patients and their families,” Dr. Mazj said. “I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is when someone has to leave their community to receive care. This center changes that.”

For patients, staying local means remaining close to their support systems during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. For physicians, it opens the door to a new level of coordination and continuity.

“To me, this center represents hope and progress for our entire region,” Dr. Mazj said. “For too long, patients here have faced barriers: distance, access, limited resources. This is a commitment to changing that. It says our community deserves the same level of care as major metropolitan areas, and we are investing in that future.”

Leith Hathout, M.D., Enloe Health’s Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, said cancer rates across Northern California remain among the highest in the state, making expanded access to comprehensive oncology services critical. The Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center significantly increases the region’s capacity to meet that need.

“This is a significant step forward for patients across Northern California,” Dr. Hathout said. “It increases access to advanced technology, more services and a fully integrated model of care.”

Designed With Patients & Families in Mind 

From the moment patients enter the building, they’ll be greeted with natural light and thoughtful design. The flow of the building, inspiring artwork and calming colors are intentional.

“When patients walk through our doors, they’re often facing one of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Dr. Mazj said. “The environment matters more than people realize.”

The center was designed to feel calm and welcoming, an approach physicians say directly affects how patients cope with treatment.

“Healing isn’t just about medicine,” Dr. Mazj said. “It’s about how people feel while they’re going through it. When people feel more at ease, they’re better able to tolerate treatment and stay engaged in their care.”

That emphasis on environment extends beyond patient rooms. Dedicated family areas, outdoor healing spaces and intuitive navigation help reduce stress for everyone involved.

“A cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the patient. It affects the whole family,” Dr. Hathout said. “On the first floor, patients have access to a family lounge and an outdoor healing garden. Having somewhere to step outside for comfort and peace can make a very real difference during a patient’s and family’s journey.”

Reducing Stress to Support Healing 

Navigating cancer treatment is stressful, which is why reducing stress is a priority.

“A cancer diagnosis is such a stressful event in a person’s life,” said Hyung An, M.D., Medical Director of Symptom Management at Enloe Health. “Coming to a place that’s not cramped, that’s calming and inviting, matters.”

Logistics like finding parking, bouncing between various locations or even crowded spaces can heighten anxiety. With a variety of services located in one spot paired with ample space, the new cancer center aims to mitigate those stressors.

“Imagine already being stressed, then struggling to find parking, and knowing you have an appointment,” Dr. An said. “Cancer and stress don’t go well together. Chronic stress is often discussed as a contributing factor to poor health outcomes.”

Keeping care close to home also significantly reduces physical and emotional fatigue.

“Receiving cancer treatment close to home means less time traveling and more time resting and recovering,” Dr. Hathout said. “It means keeping people connected to their loved ones and support systems throughout treatment.”

By bringing more services to Chico, the new center helps reduce these compounding burdens.

“As we add new services, people in the community won’t have to drive so far for care,” Dr. An said. “People benefit not only from quality medical care, but from an environment that supports healing.”

An Integrated Model of Care

One of the defining features of the Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center is its integrated, multidisciplinary approach. Radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, dermatology, nutrition, integrative medicine, clinical trials, symptom management and patient-family support services are brought together in one coordinated setting.

“This center allows us to practice medicine the way we’ve always wanted to: collaborative, coordinated and patient-centered,” Dr. Mazj said.

Physicians say the model reduces fragmentation and allows teams to collaborate in real time.

“As a surgical oncologist, I’m constantly coordinating with multiple specialties,” said Keith Cavaness, D.O., Enloe Health’s Medical Director of Surgical Oncology. “Historically, that happened across different locations. This center allows those interactions to happen seamlessly.”

For patients, that means fewer delays and clearer communication.

“When services are spread out, it can slow things down and create unnecessary complexity,” Dr. Cavaness said. “Having several services in one place improves decision-making and creates a more streamlined experience.”

It also supports the growing complexity of cancer treatment.

“Cancer care is becoming more and more complex. It’s hard for one doctor to manage everything,” Dr. An said. “That’s why multidisciplinary teams matter.”

Symptom management clinics are common in major cancer centers and play an important role in this structure.

“Patients often open up differently depending on who they’re seeing,” Dr. An said. “When visits are tightly focused on treatment, it’s hard to address everything. Dedicated time for symptom management allows us to address quality-of-life concerns that still matter deeply to patients.”

World-Class Care, Close to Home 

Continuing investment in advanced technology allows the center to deliver personalized, targeted treatments with high precision while minimizing impact on healthy tissue.

“In the most direct sense, investing in state-of-the-art technology allows us to deliver more targeted, personalized radiation treatments with high efficacy and less impact on surrounding healthy parts of the body,” Dr. Hathout said.

The expanded space also allows the center to serve more patients across a wide geographic area — making advanced care accessible without requiring travel to major metropolitan centers.

“This center represents a renewal of dedication to this community,” Dr. Hathout said. “It strengthens our ability to serve patients across Northern California and helps attract top specialists to our region.”

Receiving care locally also improves consistency.

“When patients have to travel long distances, it adds fatigue and logistical strain — not just for the patient, but for their entire support system,” Dr. Cavaness said. “Over time, that can affect outcomes. When care is local, patients are more likely to stay engaged.”

A Community Achievement Years in the Making 

The opening of the Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center is also the result of strong community support and partnership. Dan and Dawn Gonzales contributed 13 acres of land in the Meriam Park community for the center.

“This gift was never about having our name on a building. It is about giving back to a community where we raised our four children, built our lives, and found opportunity and support,” Dan Gonzales said.

Dawn Gonzales said her hope is for everyone who enters the new cancer center to find strength, comfort and hope.

“Like so many others, we have felt the reach of cancer. In those moments, we are all the same — in hope, in fear and in need of compassionate care. We are grateful to contribute to a place dedicated to healing and possibility,” Dawn Gonzales said.

Judy Sitton, Bill Carriere and Sierra Grossman served as the tri-chairs for the Enloe Health Foundation Comprehensive Cancer Campaign. In addition to the gift of land, the campaign raised more than $21 million in cash from across the region to support the construction of the new cancer center and the creation of the new Enloe Health Supportive Therapies program supported by the Aaron Rodgers Foundation.

Seeing the finished center is a full-circle moment for the tri-chairs. In June, a celebration was held specifically for those who donated to support the project.

“Enloe’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center is a powerful representation of what our community and region can accomplish together,” Sitton said. “It reflects a shared commitment to hope, healing and excellent care.”

For Carriere, whose family has deep roots in the North State, the center carries personal meaning.

“It means so much to our family, our business, our employees and our community to have a state-of-the-art cancer center right in our backyard,” he said. “It’s comforting to know patients can receive leading-edge care close to home, surrounded by friends and family.”

Grossman echoed that sentiment. “I love our community, and it gives me peace knowing we now have the same level of care available as larger cities,” she said. “Cancer impacts us all. This center represents people coming together to support the ones we love.”

“Our campaign leaders and committee volunteers poured their hearts and souls into this effort for more than three years,” said Jolene Francis, Enloe Health’s Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “It was an honor to work alongside each of them as we met and ultimately surpassed our fundraising goals. We are forever grateful for their work.”

Looking Ahead 

For physicians who grew up in the region, the center represents both progress and promise. “I was born at Enloe and grew up in this community,” Dr. Cavaness said. “This isn’t just about today. It’s about building a system that continues to improve cancer care for years to come.”

Leaders expect the center will improve outcomes through earlier detection, coordinated care and expanded access to evidence-based treatments.

“I truly believe this center will transform cancer care in our region,” Dr. Mazj said. “But beyond the numbers, it’s about something bigger. It’s about giving people more time, more moments with their families and more reasons to be hopeful.”

The Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center’s target opening date is Aug. 24.

By the Numbers 

The Enloe Health Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center offers approximately 101,000 square feet for care. When it opens, the facility will house:

• 18 doctors 
• 14 advanced practice providers 
• 51 infusion treatment spaces 
• 14 consult rooms 
• 6 cancer departments 
• 3 linear accelerators 
• 1 specialty pharmacy 
• 1 on-site laboratory 
• And more 

Inside, patients can visit the Aaron Rodgers Foundation Supportive Therapies Suite to access a:

• Health & Wellness Resource Center 
• Quiet Room 
• Patient & Family Lounge 
• And more