UCSF Radiology Services at the New UCSF Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building (PCMB)

In 2017, construction began on the six-story, 170,000-square-foot UCSF Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building (PCMB) on UC San Francisco's Mission Bay campus, situated within steps of the UCSF Bakar Cancer Hospital and the Mission Bay research building for the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCC). The PCMB places patients and families at the center of a new generation of precision medicine, which tailors care based on each individual's biology and life circumstances. On June 24, 2019, this new facility welcomed it's first patients.

"The PCMB embodies the most advanced and compassionate model of translational medicine available and represents UCSF's commitment to patient-centered care," says Mark Laret, president and CEO of UCSF Health. "By bringing together researchers, clinicians and staff to provide supportive care in a building where we will offer immunotherapy, molecular profiling, and genetic counseling, we are setting a new standard for personalized cancer care and research in the Bay Area."

"Diagnostic and interventional imaging at PCMB is state of the art, enabling us to provide the highest possible level of care in radiology for our patients with cancer. The world's best oncologic radiologists are a critical element of the world's best cancer diagnostic techniques and treatment paradigms," says Christopher Hess, MD, PhD, chair of UCSF Radiology.

Indeed, radiology, clinics, infusion and pathology will now all be under one roof. Colleagues who were once spread across San Francisco will now be as close as across the hall. This proximity will ignite new collaboration and make even better, more coordinated care possible. Radiology services offered at the PCMB include computed tomography (CT), bone density scanning (DXA or DEXA), interventional radiology, breast ultrasound, breast mammogram (diagnostic), breast mammogram (screening), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and x-ray.    

For patients and their families, this patient-centered concierge approach to cancer outpatient treatment encompasses convenience (centralized registration, even for multiple appointments), warmth (rooms with natural light, a welcome and easy-to navigate layout, and easy access to services that care for the whole patient), and coordination and collaboration between multiple departments.

"UCSF is a world leader in precision medicine, which aims to yield new discoveries, better outcomes, greater value and equity to improve health for all. UCSF also is home to some of the world's most talented cancer experts," says Alan Ashworth, PhD, president of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCC) and senior vice president, Cancer Services, UCSF Health. "The PCMB creates a new space that allows them to do their best work, while offering patients seamless and integrated support during an especially challenging time in their lives."

Learn more about the Precision Cancer Medicine Building (PCMB) on their website.