After more than six years of planning, community leaders, healthcare professionals, project partners and supporters will gather Sunday afternoon in Chillicothe to mark the official groundbreaking of the Great Seal Medical Campus, a major development intended to expand access to advanced medical care for Chillicothe, Ross County and the broader South Central Ohio region. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 25, at 110 Cohen’s Way, also listed as 1290 River Road, with a ceremonial groundbreaking scheduled for approximately 3:45 p.m.
Founded by Dr. Brian S. Cohen of Cohen Orthopedic, the campus is planned as an approximately 83,000-square-foot medical facility. At its core will be advanced surgical care, diagnostic imaging, urgent care, rehabilitation services and multispecialty physician offices under one roof, according to project details released ahead of the groundbreaking.
The plans outline three main components: a 20,000-square-foot surgery center featuring three advanced operating rooms and a cardiac catheterization laboratory; approximately 10,000 square feet dedicated to diagnostic imaging and urgent care, providing access to MRI, CT, vascular and cardiac testing and urgent care services; and 53,000 square feet of multispecialty medical offices intended to house physicians and specialists in orthopedics, total joint surgery, spine care, hand surgery, ENT, vascular surgery, general surgery, cardiology, physical and occupational therapy and additional services.
Patient safety is described as a central priority in the project, with plans calling for advanced infection-prevention technologies, innovative operating-room design and specialized systems aimed at reducing contamination risks and supporting surgical efficiency. Together, the components are intended to bring a broader range of specialized services closer to patients in South Central Ohio.
For more than six years, Great Seal Medical Campus has been more than a vision. It has been a commitment, Cohen said — a commitment to make healthcare better, safer, more accessible and closer to home. Cohen, who has cared for patients throughout South Central Ohio for more than 25 years, said the project reflects a belief that the region’s future should include advanced medical technology, specialized expertise and patient-centered care without requiring residents to leave their community.
Organizers say greater local access could reduce the need for residents to travel outside the region for certain procedures, diagnostic tests and ongoing care, allowing patients to remain nearer to family and support networks. The development also carries broader support: state officials previously awarded the Ross County project a $5 million tax credit through the Transformational Mixed-Use Development Program, and county commissioners signed the project’s development plan earlier this year, including a tax abatement and support for a joint economic development district.
Sunday’s program will include a dedication from Cohen, special messages and community remarks, recognition of those who have contributed to the project, and the ceremonial groundbreaking. Today, we break ground on buildings, but what we are really building is trust, opportunity, access, and a healthier future for generations of families, Cohen said in remarks released ahead of the event.