Cancer & Hematology Centers Expands into Urology, Forging New Integrated Care Model in Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – February 26, 2026 – The Cancer & Hematology Centers (CHC), Michigan's largest physician-owned oncology and hematology practice, has announced a significant expansion of its services, adding a urology specialty to its offerings. The move brings a team of highly respected specialists to its Lansing-based clinic, signaling a strategic push towards a more integrated and comprehensive model of community-based patient care.

This expansion includes the addition of four experienced physicians and four advanced practice providers, creating a multidisciplinary team designed to streamline treatment for patients with cancer and complex urological conditions. The initiative aims to challenge the traditional, often fragmented, patient experience by bringing key specialties under one operational umbrella.

A Powerhouse of Expertise Joins Lansing Clinic

The core of the expansion is the recruitment of four seasoned physicians who are well-established in the Mid-Michigan medical community. Urologists Dr. Rafid Yousif and Dr. Robert Dimitriou, both formerly of the Lansing Institute of Urology, will now lead CHC's new urology division, which will operate under the name The Urology Institute. With a combined experience of approximately 60 years, Drs. Yousif and Dimitriou bring a wealth of expertise and a large existing patient base. They will continue to see patients at their primary clinic in East Lansing while also extending their services to other physician offices in Mid-Michigan and Grand Rapids, significantly broadening the new institute's geographic reach.

Strengthening the oncology side of the equation are two new radiation oncologists, Dr. Edward Lee and Dr. Michael Cardenas. Dr. Lee, a veteran physician with over 45 years of experience, previously treated patients at the Compass Cancer Center in Lansing. His extensive background includes board certifications in Radiation Oncology, Family Practice, and Public Health Medicine, offering a uniquely broad perspective on patient wellness. Dr. Cardenas, also from Compass Cancer Center, is a board-certified radiation oncologist with expertise in treating a range of cancers, including prostate and lung cancer. Together, they dramatically enhance CHC Lansing's capacity to provide comprehensive radiation oncology services, a critical component of modern cancer treatment.

The Integrated Care Advantage for Patients

This strategic merger of specialties is about more than just adding new doctors; it represents a fundamental shift toward a patient-centric, integrated care model. For patients, particularly those navigating a complex cancer diagnosis that involves urological issues like prostate or bladder cancer, this approach promises a more seamless and less stressful healthcare journey. Instead of scheduling separate appointments with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and urologists at different facilities, patients can now receive closely coordinated care from a unified team.

Dr. Rafid Yousif highlighted the patient-focused benefits of this model in the announcement. "By bringing medical oncology, radiation oncology, and urology together, CHC Lansing is able to offer patients comprehensive, compassionate care that is closely coordinated among specialists," he stated. "This integrated approach allows patients and their families to focus on what matters most, while receiving seamless care close to home—without the need to travel for specialty services."

This model aims to improve communication between specialists, leading to more holistic treatment plans and potentially better outcomes. It also reduces the administrative and logistical burden on patients and their families, who are often overwhelmed by managing multiple appointments and medical records across different provider systems.

Challenging the Hospital-Centric Model with Cost-Effective Care

CHC's expansion is also a significant move within the broader healthcare landscape, representing a growing trend of independent, physician-owned practices competing directly with large hospital systems. By integrating multiple specialties, these independent centers can offer a level of comprehensive care previously found only in major hospitals, but often in a more accessible and cost-effective setting.

Both CHC and its national partner, OneOncology, emphasize that specialty care delivered in independent practices often costs a fraction of what hospitals charge for the same services. This claim is supported by various healthcare economics studies, which suggest that the lower overhead and different reimbursement structures of independent clinics can translate into significant savings for both patients and insurers. As healthcare costs continue to rise, this value proposition becomes increasingly compelling for consumers and policymakers alike.

This expansion allows CHC to provide high-value specialty care that combines clinical excellence with financial prudence, offering a powerful alternative for patients in the Lansing area and beyond.

The National Network Fueling Local Growth

This local expansion is powered by a national strategy. CHC is a key partner of OneOncology, a physician services organization that supports a network of over 2,300 providers nationwide. OneOncology's platform is designed to help independent community oncology practices thrive by providing shared technology, data analytics, operational support, and the collective bargaining power needed to compete with larger institutions.

The addition of Drs. Yousif, Dimitriou, Cardenas, and Lee is a direct result of the value created by this partnership. The OneOncology platform facilitates the integration of different specialties, like urology and oncology, enabling practices like CHC to grow their service lines and enhance their care delivery models. This support system allows local physicians to retain their autonomy and focus on clinical care while benefiting from the resources of a large national network, ultimately helping to preserve the viability of community-based medicine.

Founded in Grand Rapids in 1979, CHC has grown from a local practice to a statewide force in specialty care. With this latest expansion, the organization now operates ten medical specialty clinics with forty physicians serving patients throughout Michigan, including in Big Rapids, Flint, Metro Detroit, and now an even stronger presence in Lansing.