Peninsula Radiation hosts 2nd Annual Patient Appreciation Luncheon

Peninsula Radiation hosts 2nd Annual Patient Appreciation Luncheon

Thursday, September 8th marked the second Patient Appreciation Luncheon hosted by Peninsula Radiation Oncology Center. All area cancer patients and survivors were invited to the luncheon held in the Denali Room of Central Peninsula Hospital. All patients, cancer survivors and a guest were invited regardless of where the patient received treatment. Being able to receive treatment locally has been a great improvement to the quality of life for residents of the Kenai Peninsula. Denise Gerlach who heads up marketing for the group came up from Tennessee for the event and told the Dispatch, “Our Company’s signature is gratitude. We are grateful to be able to provide the services to help patients here locally. So as an example of that we hold this event yearly to say thank you to the patients that have entrusted their care to us. Additionally it’s an opportunity to make friendships and share with those who have been through the same treatment. Patients are here for several weeks and we get to know them and they become like a second family so it’s kind of like a family reunion,” said Gerlach.

Dr. Jamie Blom recently moved to the Peninsula to join Dr. John Halligan at Peninsula Radiation Oncology Center and is a board certified radiation oncologist with over 14 years’ experience in the treatment of all types of cancer with radiation therapy. Dr. Blom came to Alaska from the hills of east Tennessee, where he was in private practice for many years. He was on hand at the luncheon to greet his patients and said, “I came here seven years ago to join Dr. Halligan. He and I were Army doctors together at Walter Reed back in the nineties and when the opportunity came to join him here in Alaska I jumped at it because there is no one I’d rather work with. He’s a wonderful man and wonderful physician. We opened this facility to meet the need. It made sense to have a doctor here for all the patients rather than have all the patients have to travel to Anchorage. We been blessed to have been so well received by the community as evidenced by the hundred some patients that came out today for the luncheon. One of the reasons we love what we do in radiation oncology is that we get to see these patients every day for weeks and weeks and we cultivate relationships with them and it’s fun to see them come back and stay in touch after their treatment is completed and heartwarming to see them doing well and outside of a clinical situation where we can share a meal,” said Dr. Blom.

According to Dr. Blom cancer treatments are improving rapidly, “I’ve been doing this for 22 years now and the way we treat cancer now is completely different than we did when I trained everything is an evolution and there is always for hope for changes and it always comes, how and when it comes we just don’t know, but it does,” he said. For more information about the Peninsula Radiation Oncology Center call 907-262-7762 or check out peninsularadiation.com.

Peninsula Radiation hosts 2nd Annual Patient Appreciation Luncheon
Peninsula Radiation hosts 2nd Annual Patient Appreciation Luncheon
Peninsula Radiation hosts 2nd Annual Patient Appreciation Luncheon

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof to close Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read