Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital Opens Cancer Center in Chippewa Falls

Nov 4, 2025

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – November 4, 2025 – The Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital (CVCH) has opened its new Cancer Center, located in the renovated former St. Joseph’s Hospital campus in Chippewa Falls. The Cancer Center began seeing patients on October 13 and began medical oncology treatments on November 3, closing a critical gap in cancer treatment care that was created when HSHS shuttered its cancer center in 2024.

The Cooperative’s new Cancer Center is part of the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative’s plan to reopen the former hospital as an interim full-service facility while it builds its permanent, community-owned hospital in Lake Hallie by 2028.

Restoring a Critical Lifeline for Cancer Patients

When Hospital Sisters Health Systems (HSHS) exited Western Wisconsin in March 2024, more than 300 patients in active cancer treatment were displaced. While other local cancer treatment facilities did their best to accommodate these patients, the vast majority were forced to travel 1 ½ to 3 hours one way for their treatments, lab work, checkups, and follow-up care. Since then, hundreds of other cancer patients have not been able to access the care they need close to home.

Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital Cancer Center

Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital Cancer Center

“It’s been very hard for hundreds of Chippewa Valley cancer patients over the last 18 months who couldn’t get the care they need close to home,” said Angela Quick, Director of Cancer Services for the Cooperative Hospital. “Some have been traveling hundreds of miles each week while fighting cancer. Bringing these services online in Chippewa Falls means a lot to our patients and their families – it restores significant access to care for the region and dignity and community for our patients.”

Dr. Mihailo Lalich, Medical Director of CVHC Cancer Center

Dr. Mihailo Lalich, Medical Director of the Cooperative Hospital’s Cancer Center with Jennifer Palmer R(T)(T), Hailey Poeschel BSN OCN, Jessical Gugel MSN OCN, Jordan Rieter RT (T)

Mihailo Lalich, MD, serves as Medical Director of the Cooperative’s Cancer Center.He previously served in a similar role at the Prevea Cancer Center at Sacred Heart Hospital.

In addition to Dr. Lalich, the Cancer Center has a staff of 12 oncology professionals, including oncology-certified nurses, pharmacists, navigators, and patient support specialists, with additional hiring planned as services expand.

“Our mission is simple,” said Dr. Lalich. “To ensure that no one in the Chippewa Valley has to leave home to receive the excellent care they deserve. We’re combining clinical excellence with compassion, and local access and accountability.”

The new Cancer Center will provide:

  • Medical oncology and infusion therapy
  • On-site specialty oncology pharmacy
  • Coordinated laboratory for faster care
  • Patient navigation and survivorship programs
  • Radiation therapy is being fast-tracked for 2026.

Modern Care in a Renewed Facility

The Cancer Center occupies a completely renovated area of the former hospital. The Cooperative moved quickly after it purchased the facility in July to build out the new center with significant infrastructure and patient care upgrades, including:

  • A full interior remodel with new infusion bays, procedure rooms, and nursing stations
  • Upgraded air handling and electrical systems for modern medical equipment
  • New patient family areas designed for comfort and privacy
  • Refreshed interiors, reflecting the Cooperative’s commitment to healing spaces

The Cancer Center is about more than cancer treatment, according to Quick.

“The Cooperative is rebuilding a place of hope. We’ve created a healing environment where patients will feel seen, supported, and cared for right here at home,” she added.

 

First of Many Health Care Services at the Cooperative Hospital

The Cancer Center is the first department to open in the Cooperative Hospital’s phased reactivation of the former facility. Work is underway now to open additional services this year. Full hospital services, including inpatient care, emergency, surgery, and labor and delivery are scheduled to launch in 2026.

Ultimately, the Cooperative Hospital in Chippewa Falls will employ over 300 medical professionals. More than 100 board-certified physicians have committed to caring for patients in the Cooperative Hospital.

A Community-Owned Model for the Future

The Cooperative Hospital is a service of the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative, a nonprofit, community-owned healthcare organization governed by local members. The Cooperative’s model ensures that healthcare decisions remain local, resources are reinvested into patient care here, and long-term stability replaces corporate cost-cutting.

“Restoring cancer care, and other critical health services in the Chippewa Valley is exactly why the Cooperative exists,” said Robert Krause, Chair of the CVHC Board of Directors. “We can do amazing things quickly when a community comes together. We solve problems, we bring care back home, and we do it with compassion and accountability.”

 About the Cooperative

The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative is a community-owned healthcare organization accountable to the people of Chippewa Valley and dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality medical services to residents of the Chippewa Valley region. Any resident in the 18-county Chippewa Valley region at least 18 years can join the Cooperative here.

 

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Kamal Thapar

Kamal Thapar, MD, PhD., FRSC, FAANS, FCNS

is widely respected by patients, their families, and their doctors. Dr. Kamal Thapar has served the region for more than two decades. He maintains one of the largest private neurosurgical practices in Wisconsin and provides the full spectrum of advanced neurosurgical care. Dr. Thapar has held leadership roles at Marshfield Clinic, Sacred Heart Hospital, and Chippewa Valley Orthopedics. He specializes in minimally invasive and reconstructive spine surgery, brain tumor surgery, pituitary tumor surgery, and skull base surgery.
Erik Dickson

Eric Rygg

President of 4th generation Silver Spring Foods and Huntsinger Farms, lives in Eau Claire with his wife and three children. Among his volunteer community service, Eric has served as Host and Executive Committee member for the 2021 Wisconsin Farm Days, and currently serves on Eau Claire Confluence Arts/Pablo Center, and the Culinary Advisor Committee for Chippewa Valley Technical College. He earned his BA from Middlebury College, and an MBA, Food Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University – Erivan K. Haub School of Business.
Erik Dickson

David Nelson

Retired after 30 years as a health system finance administrator with five national and regional health systems and five years in public accounting focused on healthcare companies, Dave Nelson dedicated his career to not-for-profit organizations providing health services for local communities. Active in the community, he has served on numerous nonprofit and private boards of directors, including as the Past Chair and Emeritus Board member of the American Red Cross of NW Wisconsin. He is also Disaster Assistant Director for the Red Cross, responding in leadership roles to over 25 disasters.
Erik Dickson

Mickey Judkins

is the CEO of Details, Inc. and a recognized business and entrepreneurial consultant. She has served on many boards in the Chippewa Valley and Madison, including as President of the Eau Claire Economic Development Corporation, and as a director of the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce board. She also served on Business Forward’s Local Leadership Council in Washington, D.C., working to bring the small business perspective to the President’s policy making. She was active on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Advisory Board for Chancellors Mash and Levin-Stankevich. In 2007, Governor Jim Doyle appointed Mickey Executive Director and Administrator of the Investment and Export Division of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. She graduated magna cum laude from UW-Eau Claire with a BA in Sociology. She lives in Eau Claire with her husband Jeff Rochon.

Erik Dickson

Peter Hoeft

is CEO and Owner of Hoeft Builders Inc, a 40-year-old construction management firm he has led for the last 20 years. Raised in Eau Claire, Peter attended Regis High School, where he met his wife, Jill; they have twin boys. Peter has served on many community boards including Chippewa Valley Airport Commission (current), WNB Bank (current), Children's Museum of Eau Claire, Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, and the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Committee. He holds a B.S. in Construction Management from Colorado State University.

Erik Dickson

Erik Dickson, MD

has provided medical care to the people of Chippewa County for more than 25 years, his entire career has been dedicated to this community. As a family medicine physician at OakLeaf Clinics in Chippewa Falls and medical director for our Urgent Care locations in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Menomonie, I’ve worked on the front lines of local healthcare—helping families through everyday challenges and urgent needs alike. I also work as a first responder and EMS Medical Director in Chippewa County. In addition to my clinical practice, I serve as the medical director for several area nursing homes, where I work closely with our senior population to ensure continuity, compassion, and dignity in care. My affiliations with organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the National Association of EMS Physicians reflect my deep commitment to best practices and physician leadership. I am board-certified in Family Medicine with the American Board of Family Medicine.

Robert Krause

Kyle Dettbarn, MD

has called the Chippewa Valley home for more than two decades. Since moving here in 2003, he has served this community as a physician specializing in pulmonary, critical care, internal medicine, and sleep health. Today, he serves as Board President of the Oakleaf Medical Network—a network that has remained committed to patient-focused care for over 30 years.

Robert Krause

Patti Darley

Vice Chair
retired, from Xcel Energy’s Customer Service Department and before that Cray, Inc.’s Technical Training Department. Patti is a long-time resident of Chippewa Falls, and is well known for her volunteer service in the community. She has been an elected or appointed member of the board of directors of HSHS St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart Hospitals, the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, and Give Chippewa County, as well as in many other volunteer organizations. She has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University.