A crowd of public officials, hospital personnel and community supporters were on hand to turn the first shovelfuls of dirt for the Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center Wednesday.

Plans for the Cancer Center, envisioned as a one-stop, world-class treatment and research facility, have been years in the making. Officials praised area residents, who voted in 2007 to redirect the hospital’s 2003 bond millage to fund the center’s construction.

“We have been in planning meetings for the last two years on this project, and we have finally come to the day when we start construction,” said Larry Englande, former chair of the SMH Board of Commissioners. “We’re so proud the citizens allowed us to do this.”

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The cost estimates on construction and equipment for the 51,000-square-foot facility stand at just over $19 million, about $3 million under its initial budget. It will feature an outpatient facility, cancer physicians on site, and advanced treatment and diagnostic technology.

Much of that technology is already in use, but scattered in various parts of the current hospital. The Cancer Center will bring together under one roof such systems as the Varian Image-guided Radiation Therapy system, digital mammography, CT scanners and a new GE Lightspeed 16-slice CT Scan simulator.

Matt McElveen, the new medical director of the Cancer Center, said that by doing so, it would help instill in patients one of the most important elements of cancer care: confidence.

“The Cancer Center will bring state-of-the-art care, organization of disciplines and simplicity of use,” said McElveen. “That will also bring confidence to our patients, and therefore its greatest benefit.”

According to the National Institutes of Cancer, 95 percent of all cancers are more effectively treated in a local high-quality cancer center than by traveling hundreds of miles for treatment in a large facility. This is largely due to the importance of having a support network of family and friends nearby.

Slidell Mayor Ben Morris cited multiple benefits to locating the Cancer Center here.

“This is a great opportunity for Slidell Memorial and for the city to become a major health care hub,” said Morris. “It’s going to bring highly-skilled doctors and technicians here, and provide a great economic boon to our city.”

Hospital CEO Bob Hawley struck an emotional note as he addressed the crowd, remarking on family members often dwell on “lost opportunities” when faced with cancer.

His family felt such a loss when his brother died at age 24 from Hodgkin’s disease.

Hawley, an avid baseball fan, then donned a Cleveland Indians baseball cap as he described the attributes of a great team or a great organization.

“Practice hard, be a team player, eliminate mistakes, and when the ball comes your way, take the opportunity to field it,” said Hawley. “The people here took advantage of the ball being hit their way, and my hat is off to you for a job well done.”

Architect for the Regional Cancer Center is AE Design of Marietta, Ga., and Citadel Builders of Metairie has been named as the general contractor. The project will create approximately 200 construction jobs. Located adjacent to the SMH Founders Building on Robert Boulevard, the facility is expected to open in late 2010.