At Dignity Health’s Mission Hope Cancer Center- Arroyo Grande we believe that Cancer care requires a personalized approach. Mission Hope offers advanced cancer care, leading-edge technologies,access to clinical trials, social support services, nutrition counseling, social work and spiritual care and is accredited by the Commission on Cancer. Mission Hope Cancer Center Medical Oncology has its primary location in Santa Maria along with the location in Arroyo Grande at the Matthew Will Memorial Building adjacent to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital. In addition to Medical Oncology and Hematology we offer Gynecological Oncology, and breast surgery and breast cancer management, Advanced Endoscopy and Colorectal Surgery. Mission Hope also offers radiation oncology. For more information visit Mission Hope Cancer Center.
Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Kennedy provides compassionate care for patients at Mission Hope Cancer Center, and works collaboratively with all departments to provide patients with all aspects of cancer care. Dr. Kennedy is able to offer patients the most advanced treatment with enrollment in cutting edge clinical research studies. She has years of experience in the treatment and diagnosis of all cancers and provides her patients with individualized care for the best possible outcomes.
An educator at heart, Dr. Kennedy has a passion for teaching her patients about their disease and how their treatments work. Understanding a disease is empowering for the patient and can remove some of the fear associated with a cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Kennedy received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of California Davis, and Hematology-Oncology fellowship program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center-Stephenson Cancer Center.
As an experienced principal investigator on numerous clinical trials for cancer therapies, Dr. Kennedy has published her findings in national medical journals, and puts her research knowledge into practice when treating patients.
Dr. Keith Ayrons grew up on Long Island, New York, and completed his bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Albany while volunteering at the local hospital in the Pathology department. His passion for science and early learnings in the experimental and clinical based approach inspired him to complete first, a Master’s in Microbiology from Adelphi University and then his medical degree from Wayne State University. He then completed his Internal Medicine residency, and combined fellowship in Oncology and Hematology at Stoney Brook University.
In 1995, Dr. Ayrons joined a growing oncology and hematology practice in Gastonia, North Carolina, where he was a partner for 23 years. He is Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine and served as past president of the Internal Medicine department. For 25 years he developed excellent patient and family relationship skills that created a loyal patient following.
In 2018, Dr. Ayrons relocated to the Central Coast and is excited to be a part of the Mission Hope Cancer Center where he can continue to fulfill his passion of serving the community through providing quality care.
There is ample free parking in the parking lot right out in front of the clinic.
A Medical Oncologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic therapy, and targeted therapy.A Hematologist treats blood disorders and blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. The Oncologist/Hematologist is the main healthcare provider for someone who has cancer.
Pacific Central Coast Health Centers contracts with most health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, and provides health care services that fit your health plan benefits. If you have questions about the health insurance plans we accept, contact the office where you would like to be seen and our staff would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
At Mission Hope Cancer Center we pride ourselves in offering an excellent team of physicians and medical staff to work together with patients on their Cancer journeys. Just like people, each cancer is different. When dealing with a cancer diagnosis, you may be overwhelmed by the disease process and the myriad of treatment options. Here at Mission Hope our goal is to provide all-encompassing care for our patients through the integration of today’s foremost resources. We utilize the most advanced conventional medical technology and information, along with complementary therapies leading to a compassionate and personalized treatment experience that addresses not only the physical but also the psychosocial and spiritual facets of healing and survivorship.
Video: Cancer Rehab at Mission Hope
Dr. April Kennedy
Video: Obesity and Cancer Risk
Dr. April Kennedy
