GIST Support WikiHuntsman Cancer Institute is one of the NCCN Comprehensive Cancer Centers. main website: http://www.huntsmancancer.org/
Sarcoma services webpage: http://www.huntsmancancer.org/group/sarcomaPCMC/introduction.jsp
Physicians in the sarcoma service: http://www.huntsmancancer.org/group/sarcomaPCMC/staffProfiles.jsp
FROM WIKIPEDIA: Huntsman Cancer Institute is a research center in the University of Utah designed to research, learn about, treat, and prevent cancer. It was founded with a pledge, including $100 million of personal wealth, from Jon Huntsman, Sr., a philanthropist and businessman. Since then Mr. Huntsman has donated $250+ million dollars of his own wealth
I know of 2 Gisters who go to the Hunstman Cancer Institute in SLC, UT
Dr. Lei Chen at the Huntsman Cancer Institute has a lot of GIST experience. Before she came to Huntsman, she was at M.D. Anderson.
For a relatively "simple" surgery, I would probably head back to the University of Utah Huntsman Clinic, and my wonderful surgeon there, Dr. Stevenson, because he is wonderful.
Dr. Chen, from MDA is now there too. Besides, Huntsman is the most wonderful "clinic" anywhere. It was designed and paid for by a very wealthy cancer patient, who wanted cancer patients treated well, in comfort.
Seating is comfy, plush "living room" furniture in private groupings. No cheap musak either, and you sink into the carpets. In addition, all personnel are trained to treat patients as people, with hope, with respect. There isn't a florescent light in sight. It's a very comforting place to be, and you feel, and are treated, as valuable, precious friends, not numbers. It's unique, and it's wonderful.
When you walk in there, everything is designed with the patient in mind, it's hard to explain it really. I believe they are working on an actual hospital wing as well.
Bev