February 24, 2025 – The Cherokee Nation celebrated Thursday an investment of up to $8 million each in strategic partnerships with Mercy in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the University of Oklahoma Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Tulsa. The contributions will support state-of-the-art cancer treatment centers, providing critical care closer to home for Cherokee Nation citizens and others being diagnosed or battling cancer in the region.
The Cherokee Nation’s contributions are part of its larger initiative to improve cancer care access for its citizens. The effort aligns with the tribe’s mission of gadugi, the Cherokee value of working together for the benefit of everyone.
Mercy’s expansion of cancer services in Fort Smith will provide high-quality care to thousands of Cherokee Nation citizens in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. The tribe’s $8 million contribution will support Mercy’s capital campaign to create expanded patient access to screenings, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Cherokee Nation’s $8 million investment in OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center will support the development of its new facility in Tulsa. This expansion will extend the advanced, research-driven care provided at the National Cancer Institute-designated center to residents of northeastern Oklahoma, where cancer mortality rates are among the highest in the state.
Patients at the new center will have access to hundreds of clinical trials and innovative treatments for cancer, significantly improving outcomes.