SHREVEPORT, La. — Ochsner LSU Health – Feist-Weiller Cancer Center and the LSU Health Sciences Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony May 5 for renovations to the historic McDade Hospitality House, a facility intended to provide lodging and support for cancer patients traveling for treatment.
The McDade House originally opened in February 1985 as Louisiana’s first hospitality house and the 10th in the United States. The facility has been closed since 2013. In 2024, the cancer center and foundation launched a fundraising campaign to support renovations and reopening efforts.
Officials said the renovated facility will provide patients undergoing treatment at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center with access to lodging near the medical center, reducing travel-related financial and logistical burdens.
“The renovation of the McDade House is a fundamental shift in how we support our patients during their most challenging moments,” Dr. Richard Mansour, director of Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, said in a statement. “By removing the logistical and financial burdens of travel, we are ensuring that healing remains a patient’s primary focus.”
The project also is expected to support the expansion of advanced oncology treatments in North Louisiana, including cellular therapies such as CAR-T treatment, according to the organizations.
Greg Sonnenfeld, assistant vice president of the cancer service line for Ochsner LSU Health, said the facility will help improve patient access to specialized oncology care throughout the region.
“For many, the barrier to receiving life-saving treatments isn’t the technology — it’s the logistics of staying close to the clinical team,” Sonnenfeld said. “This facility removes that barrier, making the highest level of oncology services accessible to patients across the entire region.”
The original McDade House was established through donations from the McDade family, whose descendants continue supporting the project. Gary Moore, a McDade descendant and Louisiana regional executive and market president for Argent Financial, said the family views the facility as a source of comfort and support for patients and their families.