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Founding oncologist Dr. Paul Koch, second president Dr. Jules Blank, and current president Dr. David Groteluschen reflect on 50 years of Green Bay Oncology. They look back on the practice’s journey from a single physician working out of a hallway office in 1976 to a team of more than 90 employees caring for patients across 12 locations in Northeast Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.
From transporting chemotherapy in the trunks of cars to offering cutting-edge clinical trials, immunotherapies, and offering specialties like radiation oncology and breast surgical oncology close to home, the group shares how the focus has always been on doing what’s needed to help patients. They also share personal memories, lessons in leadership and the core values that have kept Green Bay Oncology independent and patient-centered since day one.
“Patients are the most important thing. Caring, giving them good care, being their advocates. And then one thing that we might forget sometimes, but your most important feature of your clinic are the people that work for you. They are the face of Green Bay Oncology.” – Dr. Paul Koch
On this episode of Cancer Covered, you’ll learn:
- 50 Years of Caring Close to Home: How Green Bay Oncology grew from Dr. Koch’s solo practice in 1976 into a multi-location community practice dedicated to sparing rural cancer patients long drives for treatment.
- The Evolution of Cancer Therapies: How treatment shifted from early cytotoxic “cell poisons” that arrived once every five years to today’s rapid pipeline of targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and pre-market clinical trials.
- Collaboration Over Ego: Why open dialogue, physician collaboration and hiring talented team members have been essential to managing complex cases and navigating rapid medical advancements.
- Balancing Independence and Growth: How leadership adapted the business structure to keep the practice independent while expanding into advanced research, radiation oncology and breast surgical oncology.
- Uncompromising Patient Advocacy: Why putting patients first, fostering strong staff relationships and doing the right thing remain the guiding principles for the next 50 years.
