CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — After more than six years of planning, the Great Seal Medical Campus will break ground Sunday, Oct. 25, in Chillicothe, a project organizers say will expand access to advanced medical care for Ross County and the wider South Central Ohio region. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. at 110 Cohen’s Way, listed as 1290 River Road, with community leaders, health care professionals, project partners and supporters expected to attend.
The campus is planned as an approximately 83,000-square-foot facility bringing services that are now spread out together under one roof. Founded by Dr. Brian S. Cohen of Cohen Orthopedic, the development will include advanced surgical care, diagnostic imaging, urgent care, rehabilitation and multispecialty physician offices, according to details released ahead of the groundbreaking by the project and reported by local outlets.
At the center of the plan is a 20,000-square-foot surgery center with three Aspire Integrated Surgical Environment operating rooms and a cardiac catheterization laboratory. About 10,000 square feet will be dedicated to diagnostic imaging and urgent care, providing MRI, CT, vascular and cardiac testing alongside urgent care services for patients who need care without traveling out of the area.
The remaining roughly 53,000 square feet will house multispecialty medical offices. The specialties listed for the campus include orthopedics, total joint surgery, spine care, hand surgery, ear, nose and throat care, vascular surgery, general surgery, cardiology, and physical and occupational therapy, along with additional medical services. Project materials say patient safety and infection prevention were built into the operating room and facility design.
For Cohen, who has cared for patients in South Central Ohio for more than 25 years, organizers describe the project as personal as well as clinical. “For more than six years, Great Seal Medical Campus has been more than a vision. It has been a commitment,” Cohen said in the announcement. “A commitment to make healthcare better, safer, more accessible, and closer to home.” He added that breaking ground is about building trust, opportunity, access and a healthier future for families.
Supporters say the local impact is the chance to keep more appointments, procedures and follow-up care close to home. Traveling long distances for specialized care can add time, cost and stress for patients and for the family members who drive and support them. A single Chillicothe campus for surgery, imaging, urgent care and specialist visits is intended to reduce that burden while keeping patients nearer their own support systems.
Sunday’s program will include a dedication from Cohen, messages and remarks from community members, recognition of those who contributed to the project, and a ceremonial groundbreaking at about 3:45 p.m. Organizers present the afternoon as the start of construction after years of difficult decisions and collaboration among physicians, health care leaders, advocates, public officials and private partners, with the finished campus aimed at serving Chillicothe and surrounding communities for years to come.