Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) have announced the beginning of a collaboration aimed at improving patient access to the latest and most effective cancer treatment advances and highest-caliber cancer care.

Leaders from both institutions gathered Aug. 4 to mark the first step in announcing a recently-signed agreement for LVHN to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance.

The MSK Cancer Alliance was established in 2013. In September 2014, Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute became MSK's first Alliance member.

"For more than a century, Memorial Sloan Kettering has been delivering exceptional, patient-focused cancer care and has generated the scientific discoveries necessary to further develop effective new treatments," said Craig Thompson, MD, President and CEO of MSK.

"Memorial Sloan Kettering chose Lehigh Valley Health Network because of our dedication to delivering high-quality, consistent cancer care across the region, and because of the proven expertise of our physicians and medical teams," said Brian Nester, DO, President and CEO of LVHN.

MSK's desire to create and grow this Alliance was fueled in part by a 2013 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report that described the challenges of delivering high-quality cancer care as a "national crisis."

The IOM noted that by 2030, new diagnoses are expected to reach 2.3 million a year as the country's population ages, and that there are simply not enough oncology specialists to care for patients.

During the next several months, MSK will guide LVHN toward strengthening its patient care and clinical cancer research programs. Teams of physicians and other healthcare providers from both institutions will work side by side to ensure that resources, capabilities, and standards of care are in line with the highest and of the MSK Cancer Alliance.

Additionally, LVHN physicians will have opportunities to visit MSK's Manhattan facilities to observe new techniques, and both institutions will share educational resources and begin the process of putting into place the infrastructure necessary to measure outcomes data.

"We are excited to work alongside MSK and the future members of the Alliance to discover new, innovative cancer treatments," said Suresh Nair, MD, director, LVHN cancer program.

While this intensive review period occurs, some LVHN physicians will also have the opportunity to meet with and discuss their more complex cancer cases with MSK physicians, who have experience in treating different forms of cancers and related blood disorders, including rare cancers that are simply not often seen in a community setting.

Central to the MSK Cancer Alliance is creating a strong foundation and system for the expansion and integration of MSK's clinical trials program into LVHN's community and surrounding region.

With more than 800 clinical trials available at its facilities, MSK is leading the nation's effort in seeking new and better ways to treat cancer, and being able to provide LVHN patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials not previously available.

Memorial Sloan Kettering is the world's oldest and largest private cancer center, home to more than 14,000 physicians, scientists, nurses and staff.

Lehigh Valley Health Network's (LVHN) cancer program is the only one in the region to be selected a National Cancer Center Community Cancer Centers Program, and was responsible for the care of 3,200 newly-diagnosed cancer patients in 2014.

LVHN includes five hospital campuses: three in Allentown, one in Bethlehem and one in Hazleton; 13 health centers in five counties; primary and specialty-care physician practices in the region; pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services, and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.