St. Jude Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic celebrates completed renovations at Niswonger Children’s Hospital

Niswonger Children’s Hospital celebrated the opening of a completely redesigned St. Jude Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic, bringing a more comfortable experience for children receiving cancer treatment and their families.

The renovations were fully funded through more than $550,000 in philanthropic support from local donors. Designed to create a welcoming, child-friendly environment, the clinic was updated to feature a safari theme, including a waterfall feature in the hallway. The renovations also added a self-service drink and snack station, a counseling room and a music therapy room, along with two extra-large exam rooms to accommodate larger families.

“We are so appreciative of our community. This is a project that was initiated when a local philanthropist simply observed a need and asked how they could help,” said Chris Jett, chief executive officer of Niswonger Children’s Network. “Without this clinic, families would have to travel outside the region, sometimes as far as Memphis, to get the oncology care their children need. We’re incredibly grateful that families can access truly world-class care right here in Johnson City.”

Pediatric oncology and hematology became available for the region in 1990, when East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine opened its pediatric hematology/oncology practice. This program became a formal St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital affiliate in 1999 and continues providing advanced cancer care for children to this day. The program has evolved to provide comprehensive care for children with cancer, including child life services, social services, counseling and music therapy, and all the services available at Niswonger Children’s Hospital, where the clinic is located.

“This clinic has become such an important staple in the region and now serves families across the Appalachian Highlands,” said clinic director Kate Strickland. “These changes have already improved visits for our patients, who are facing some of the most uncertain and frightening times of their lives. Even just changing the décor to be more kid-friendly has made a huge difference, which means the world to our patients and their families.”

“These renovations have been possible because of the generosity of our fellow community members,” Jett said. “Our region is extremely blessed to have this clinic, and we’re grateful that our donors made it possible to complete these updates and totally reimagine the experience for our patients and their support systems.”

Learn more about the St. Jude Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic at Niswonger Children’s Hospital.

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