In September 2023, the University of Chicago Medicine broke ground on a new, freestanding cancer pavilion—a destination facility that will significantly enhance the medical center’s ability to provide transformative research, new diagnostic innovations, and leading-edge therapies. An early commitment to the pavilion came from Medical Center Trustee and Regal Rexnord CEO Louis Pinkham, through the Regal Rexnord Charitable Foundation on behalf of its associates.
Regal Rexnord has associates throughout the region, including manufacturing facilities in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, and a regional office in Rosemont, IL. The Regal Rexnord Foundation made the gift to benefit its associates, ensuring that they would have a place to turn to for exceptional cancer care.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the US, with an estimated two million new cases diagnosed last year alone. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention predicts a 50 percent increase in new cancer cases between 2015 and 2050.
“Cancer is very personal, and we have thousands of associates across the region, many of whom have been impacted by cancer,” said Pinkham. “This gift is so meaningful to us as an organization, because we know it will benefit our communities overall and, very likely, our Regal Rexnord associates and their families.”
When the cancer pavilion opens in 2027 on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus, it will be the first freestanding center for cancer care in the state. In Illinois, cancer incidence rates are higher than the national average, and on the South Side of Chicago, cancer incidence rates are twice the national average. UChicago Medicine leaders invited feedback from hundreds of key stakeholders, patients, and community members as they refined the facility’s designs and programs.
“To have a facility in our region of this caliber that could benefit our Regal Rexnord associates, with top physicians and researchers working together to deliver transformational cancer care and treatment, is truly inspiring,” said Pinkham.
The cancer pavilion will be home to multidisciplinary research, personalized therapies, and clinical trials, but will also support a suite of services for patients and families, ranging from screenings and cancer prevention to lifestyle classes, nutrition education, and survivor support. The new pavilion is designed to dramatically improve cancer patients’ experience, while reducing health disparities in underserved communities.
“A facility like this brings cutting-edge research and cancer care to people in the heart of Chicago’s South Side community, providing a wonderful opportunity to reach more patients who otherwise may not have access to this level of care. Additionally, having a world-class cancer care facility is a tremendous benefit to the region overall, providing care and treatment options closer to home for many,” said Pinkham.
“It is inspiring to see a company with deep ties to our region invest in the future of cancer research, treatment, and care. Regal Rexnord’s gift will have a meaningful and lasting effect on cancer care for patients from Chicago’s South Side community and other communities in the region,” said Barry E. Fields, chair of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees.
“Regal Rexnord associates are passionate, committed people who are determined to be a powerful force for good in the communities where we live and work, so our associates were thrilled to hear about this gift,” said Pinkham.
