Pella and Knoxville Hospitals Launch $14.3M Radiation Center Campaign

The Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign aims to construct a new radiation treatment facility in south central Iowa.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:59pm

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An extreme close-up X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal components of a radiation therapy machine, conceptually illustrating the advanced medical technology that will be available at the new South Central Iowa Radiation Center.A new radiation treatment center aims to bring specialized cancer care closer to home for south central Iowa residents.Pella Today

The Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Foundations have announced the public launch of the Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign to raise funds for a new $14.3 million South Central Iowa Radiation Center. The campaign has already secured over $10.5 million in commitments from local and regional donors, and the foundations are now seeking additional public support to reach their fundraising goal.

Why it matters

The new radiation center will provide critical cancer treatment services to residents of south central Iowa, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for this specialized care. The campaign represents a collaborative effort between the two hospital systems to improve healthcare access and outcomes for the region.

The details

The Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign aims to raise the majority of the $14.3 million needed to construct the new South Central Iowa Radiation Center. The foundations have already secured over $10.5 million in commitments from more than 275 local and regional businesses and individuals. Pella Regional Health Center CEO Bob Kroese emphasized the importance of both funding and community awareness to the success of the project.

  • The Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign was publicly launched on Thursday, April 11, 2026.
  • The projected cost for the South Central Iowa Radiation Center is $14.3 million.

The players

Pella Regional Health Center

A healthcare provider serving the Pella, Iowa community.

Knoxville Hospital & Clinics

A healthcare provider serving the Knoxville, Iowa community.

Bob Kroese

CEO of Pella Regional Health Center.

Katrina Nelson

Foundation Director at Knoxville Hospital and Clinics.

Jenny Hesseltine

Foundation Coordinator at Pella Regional Health Center.

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What they’re saying

“First and foremost, we are so grateful to both communities. We have a committee that's made up of key people from both Knoxville and Pella who are dedicated to trying to help raise funds and awareness for this program. It's not just the funding that is important, it's the awareness too, and they're doing a great job. Now we want to open it up to the general public as well.”

— Bob Kroese, CEO, Pella Regional Health Center

What’s next

The Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign will continue to seek additional public donations to reach its $14.3 million fundraising goal for the South Central Iowa Radiation Center project.

The takeaway

The collaborative effort between Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics to construct a new radiation treatment facility demonstrates the hospitals' commitment to improving cancer care access and outcomes for residents of south central Iowa.