The Gacioch Center for Spiritual Care and Reflection
A Place of Healing and Hope for Roswell Park Patients and Families
When patients turn to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center for hope, they need more than medical support. The Gacioch Center for Spiritual Care and Reflection is here to ensure that the whole person is cared for. In addition to providing spiritual, mental and emotional support during a time when many people turn to their faith to seek solace, help and counsel, the art gallery and the Balbach Family Art Studio will offer opportunities to heal through the arts.
The Vision for The Gacioch Center for Spiritual Care and Reflection
Thanks to donor support, a state-of-the-art center for spiritual care and reflection will soon be under construction.
The two-story, 4,865 square foot facility will be nestled in the corner of Kaminski Park and centrally located for patients, caregivers, visitors and employees. The Gernatt Family Spiritual Reflection Floor will span the first floor and offer critical interfaith resources, while an art gallery and studio will fill the ground floor with programming from the Roswell Park Creative Arts Team, offering a spacious reprieve with vibrant lighting for those who need it most.
Roswell Park will be the only freestanding cancer center in the United States with a dedicated building like this. Construction is slated to begin in early 2027 and last a year.
Special thank you to all our donors who have made this new center possible!
Why the New Center Matters
At Roswell Park, we believe in treating the whole person. That includes caring for their unique mental, emotional and spiritual needs in addition to addressing their physical health.
It’s been proven that access to spiritual resources and art can dramatically improve health during times of stress. While a previous space for these services has been donor-funded for years, the spaces have been limited and poorly lit.
The new Gacioch Center for Spiritual Care and Reflection will allow the Spiritual Care and Creative Arts teams to expand, making it possible to reach more patients, caregivers and staff in a meaningful way while they face cancer.
New Era Cap Foundation Elevate Salon
This specialized space provides wigs, hats and head coverings for adult and pediatric cancer patients across Western New York.
The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center
This comprehensive resource center offers patients and their caregivers a reprieve from treatment. Here, they can find an educational library, specialty support kits for all patients in treatment, inpatient birthday celebrations and a space to relax away from the hustle of the hospital.
Older Adult Oncology Program
This program launched in 2024 and offers focused evaluations for patients aged 65 and over, promoting the use of physical therapy, nutrition assistance and complex decision-making support to optimize their cancer care journey. This is particularly important considering that 70% of people with cancer are 65 or older and have complex medical needs like mobility issues, multiple medications and more.
Cancer Coach Program
Through Roswell Park’s cancer coach program, patients are matched with people who have survived a similar diagnosis or experience. A cancer coach can provide a unique level of empathy and understanding.
Snapshot of services:
- Provide community denominational and non-denominational services support for all religions and faiths
- Include an expanded art studio, providing opportunities for patients and caregivers to come together in an uplifting environment and make art through larger workshops and classes
- A community Rabbi and Jewish Chaplain to help with rituals and traditions of the Jewish faith as scheduled
- A Spanish-speaking protestant chaplain to attend to Spanish-speaking patient and caregiver needs
- 30+ clergy and religious leaders of varying faith traditions
- Roman Catholic chaplains with Mass Monday and Wednesday
- Protestant chaplains with monthly communion
- Prayer and worship services, Bibles, prayer leaflets and religious articles
- Have an expanded art gallery, featuring professionally curated exhibitions of art by local artists and allowing for larger and more visually compelling exhibitions
- Dedicated space for Muslim prayer facing the Qibla Direction of 235.01° with a clear view across Kaminski Park, prayer rugs and an area to wash their feet before entering the sacred space
- Offer support groups for patients and caregivers at various stages throughout the cancer journey, including a monthly group, caregiver group, young grieving spouse group, bereavement group and more
- Continue palliative care chaplain services, working with patients and families making end-of-life decisions in a private meeting space for these difficult conversations.
Interested in Supporting this New Space?
Contact Jennifer Seth-Cimini, Director of Individual Giving, for opportunities
- 716-845-3872 (office)
- 716-698-9247 (mobile)
- Jennifer.SethCimini@RoswellPark.org