(September 4, 2025) MUSC Health begins construction on Nexton hospital and ambulatory cancer facility

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Sept. 4, 2025) - The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) leaders, dignitaries and partners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the MUSC Health Nexton Medical Center. On the same campus a new ambulatory cancer facility, associated with the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated facility on the pensinsula of Charleston, was part of the same groundbreaking. These facilities will increase access to care and bring medical specialties closer to Berkeley County and surrounding areas.

"The groundbreaking for this new hospital and medical facility represents MUSC's commitment to this community," said David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, president of MUSC. "We are proud to be a trusted partner to deliver the highest quality innovative health care for the greater TriCounty region.

A large percentage of MUSC's adult inpatients originate from Berkeley County area. The 70-bed medical center will consist of a mix of inpatient and acute care beds (ICU) and will offer MUSC expertise to the greater Charleston metro area and beyond.This hospital will bring general medicine, general surgery, orthopedics, women's health and cardiology services to this underserved market.

"This new hospital will provide access to the best comprehensive care possible, enabling patients to receive life-saving treatment close to home," said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO, MUSC Health and executive vice president for Health Affairs, University.

The new 30,000-square-foot outpatient ambulatory cancer facility on the same campus will provide comprehensive medical and surgical oncology services, featuring an advanced infusion suite with an on-site compounding pharmacy and cutting-edge radiation therapy technology. This facility will work closely with the NCI-designated Hollings Cancer Center on the Charleston peninsula as well as the recently announced new MUSC Health cancer hospital to be built in downtown Charleston.

The Nexton cancer facility is expected to open in summer 2027, and the Nexton hospital in summer 2028.

Photo attached from left to right: Leaders break ground at the MUSC Health Nexton Center. Russ Touchberry, mayor of Summerville; Saj Joy, M.D., chief executive officer of MUSC Health Charleston division; Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., director, Hollings Cancer Center.; Barbara Johnson- Williams, MUSC Board of Trustees; W. Melvin "Mel" Brown III, M.D., vice chairman, MUSC Board of Trustees; The Honorable Johnny Cribb, Berkeley County supervisor; Cole; Cawley; Donald R. Johnson II, M.D., MUSC Board of Trustees; Michael Stavrinakis, MUSC Board of Trustees.

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About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state's only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates over 3,300 students in six colleges and trains more than 1,060 residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal, National Institutes of Health and other research funding. For information on our academic programs, visit MUSC.edu.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2025, for the 11th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit MUSCHealth.org.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $8.3 billion. The nearly 34,000 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research and patient care.