Dear Patients and Friends,

COVID-19 is not stopping the critical cancer care that Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara provide to our community. We continue to work together to guide, fund, develop and provide care at what is the premier regional resource for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer. As we navigate the impact of this coronavirus pandemic, the health and safety of our patients and our staff is of the utmost importance. We are sending this special online edition of OnCenter, to keep you informed of how we are managing the COVID-19 situation and to share some heartwarming stories and helpful articles.

We have taken precautionary measures like screening everyone at our entrance, limiting visitors, requiring masks for staff and patients at all times, employing additional cleaning services and enacting hygiene and social distancing guidelines. Another way we are offering patient care in addition to in-person visits is via our Telehealth program. Our oncologists and some clinical staff are conducting many Telehealth virtual visits by phone and video while patients stay safely at home. If you are a current Ridley-Tree Cancer Center patient and are interested in a Telehealth appointment, please reach out to your provider to determine if it is a medically appropriate option for you. To learn more about Telehealth at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and Sansum Clinic, please visit our website. The easiest and safest way to access Telehealth is through MyChart.

Ridley-Tree Cancer Center's Breast Surgery Team

Self-care and attention to emotional and physical health are even more important during this difficult time. In an effort to continue to provide these important services while also preventing viral spread, we are now offering many of our longstanding wellness classes online. We invite you to participate in these new courses from many of the instructors who we have all come to know and love. To learn more about the classes available or to sign up, please visit calendar.ridleytreecc.org.

Finding Joy Through Painting, a virtual, weekly art class led by Rick Stich

Wellness programs are one of the many ways that the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara supports Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Cancer Foundation raises millions of dollars each year so that we can continue to deliver excellent medical care on par with renowned cancer centers in the United States. If you are interested in supporting cancer care in our community, click here to make a tax-deductible gift to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. To learn more about the Cancer Foundation, visit cfsb.org.

We are ever mindful of our more than 70-year history in the community and how the important values we hold will continue to lead us into a new era. The ties to our community are strong and this dedicated partnership has helped us to become a world-class destination for cancer-fighting technology and treatment, while still maintaining the compassionate, personalized care our patients deserve. Your support means the world to us and we thank you for it.

Sincerely,

Lori Willis and Matthew Kunkel