At Fox Chase Cancer Center, every advancement begins with a single focus: the patient. On Friday, June 13, 2025, Fox Chase officially opened the new Oncology Satellite Pharmacy—a facility built to dramatically increase the speed and safety with which life-saving medications reach patients.
Spanning more than 3,000 square feet, the new pharmacy in the lower floor of the West Building triples Fox Chase’s previous capacity, allowing the Center to prepare over 500 intravenous chemotherapy treatments each day. The new $3.98 million pharmacy will better serve patients at the main campus, as well as Fox Chase’s satellite facilities in Buckingham, East Norriton, Chestnut Hill, and Rockledge.
“This is more than a pharmacy,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center. “It’s a promise—to our patients, our community, and our future. A promise that we will always push the boundaries of what’s possible to deliver world-class cancer care.”
The new facility also sets the stage for the forthcoming Advanced Treatment Center in the West Building, which will completely upgrade the current Infusion Room, increasing capacity while improving the patient experience.
A Commitment to the Community Brings a Commitment from the Community
The ribbon cutting drew state and local leaders, including State Representative Sean Dougherty, a representative of State Senator Joe Picozzi, and State Senator Christine Tartaglione, whose support helped secure a $1.5 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
“No matter where I go, when I tell people I’m from Fox Chase, the first thing they say is Fox Chase Cancer Center,” said Dougherty, whose district office is just a quick walk to the Fox Chase campus. “As your representative, I am looking to do everything I can to not just maintain the excellence here but continually improve and build upon what you do for the community.”
While Picozzi could not attend the event, his staff representative, Sean Roche, conveyed the state senator’s remarks. “This project shows what is possible when we invest in the science and technology of Northeast Philadelphia—this community has the talent, workforce, and heart to lead in medical innovation,” said Picozzi. “Fox Chase Cancer Center is a beacon of hope and healing.”
While demographic changes have moved Fox Chase’s physical campus out of her district, Tartaglione remains, in the words of Uzzo, a “steadfast champion of Fox Chase and a strong advocate for patients and staff; she continues to be our champion.”
“This place means a lot to me, not just as a legislator, but as a person. My sister came here for breast cancer treatment, and I have never forgotten what that fear feels like and what Fox Chase meant for us,” said Tartaglione. “This is a place worth fighting for, and the Oncology Satellite Pharmacy is more than just capacity—it is people. More patients that won’t need to wait for treatment and more families that will sleep a little easier tonight.”
“That’s public investment that saves lives, and I’ll keep doing my part,” Tartaglione said. “So congratulations, Fox Chase, and keep moving forward.”
Built for Patients, Backed by Innovation
Fox Chase’s Senior Director of Pharmacy, Dapo Amosu, MS, PharmD, DPLA, led officials and media on a tour of the facility. He shared how years of preparation led to the development of the new pharmacy space and honored the legacy of pharmacy leadership at Fox Chase—including former director Dwight Kloth, PharmD, FCCP, BCOP, and former assistant director Dawn Elliott, RPh, MBA, both in attendance—whose work laid the foundation for this next chapter.
The new, modern pharmacy owes its location to Fox Chase’s recent adoption of digital file management. The transition to Epic electronic health records freed more than 3,000 square feet of precious storage space. While previous plans envisioned entirely new construction and an expensive refitting of current spaces, Amosu explained, this extra benefit of the Epic move saved additional millions while putting the new pharmacy as close as possible to the pending new Advanced Treatment Center.
Outfitted with six biological safety cabinets, three laminar flow hoods, and a next-generation IV Workflow Management System, the Oncology Satellite Pharmacy represents the gold standard in sterile compounding and hazardous drug handling, meeting all the requirements of United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 797 and 800 standards. A powerful new HVAC system, nestled in a corner of the adjacent West Building Garage, provides security and safety for drug and hazardous material storage, as well as two cleanroom facilities—one for compounding drugs and one for radiological materials—that see their air replaced twelve times every hour.
Additionally, the Oncology Satellite Pharmacy has allowed Fox Chase to be certified as Philadelphia’s first institution of theranostic excellence. This builds upon Fox Chase’s investments in theranostic technology, which combines the power of targeted therapeutics and radiological medicine.
“It’s not just about technology—it’s about trust,” said Amosu. “Every dose prepared here will support a patient in their most vulnerable moments, and every system in place ensures that support is delivered with absolute accuracy and care.”
A Story of Growth—and Momentum
The new pharmacy is just one chapter in Fox Chase’s larger story of expansion and excellence. In the past five years alone, the Center has:
- Nearly doubled its new patient volume
- Tripled its chemotherapy compounding capacity
- Boosted clinical trial participation by 29%
- Achieved a Top 35 national ranking in cancer care from U.S. News & World Report
In 2025, Fox Chase also renewed its NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation, earning top marks across every reviewed category—a testament to the unwavering dedication of its people.
“Today is the culmination of years of hard work—a day of celebration and hope,” Uzzo said. “But while we celebrate the Oncology Satellite Pharmacy, we do not rest, because we know that it is just the prelude to more advances to come at Fox Chase.”