A new pediatric clinic, partially funded by the Four Diamonds Fund, opened last month at Centre Medical and Surgical Associates, 3901 S. Atherton St.

The clinic will provide consultative services by accepting referrals from local primary care physicians for children with cancer diagnoses and blood disorders. Previously, the patients had to travel to Penn State's Hershey Medical Center for treatment.

"Because of the Four Diamonds Fund, we were able to hire a few more physicians to expand programs in several areas, including outreach or satellite clinics," said Penn State graduate James Powell, a pediatric oncologist and hematologist at the medical center since July. "We hope [the clinic] will alleviate an already stressful situation," Powell said.

Powell and nurse specialist Debra Shade are running the clinic, which will open for two Mondays a month, each for half of a day. This way, the patients will not have to travel to Hershey for every single treatment.

"We live on the Altoona side of State College, so the clinic will save us about four hours of driving," said Ron Seybert, whose family has been involved with the Four Diamonds Fund since his son Matt was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

State College and surrounding areas receive around 10 to 15 new pediatric cancer cases a year, which is not enough to staff a full-time local clinic, Powell said.

Outpatient services are offered to current pediatric patients of the medical center and to any new cases in the State College area, including Penn State students, who fall within the 21-and-under age group.

"One of our goals is to identify students who have to go home for treatment or a blood disorder and let them know they have the opportunity to be seen and treated right there in State College," Powell said.

Powell, who danced in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon in 1988 and spoke at Thon this year, said he is looking forward to being able to treat Penn State students. "I'm proud of my Penn State background and want to give back what the university gave to me," said Powell, who describes his experience with Thon as planting the seed for his interest in pediatric oncology and opening the clinic.

Shade, also in charge of administrative and organizational duties at the clinic, has worked for many years with the fund. "I have nothing but praises for the Four Diamonds Fund," Seybert said. "Not just them but the whole dance marathon and all students affiliated with it. We've really been blessed by the whole experience."

According to statistics provided by the dance marathon's Web site, the money raised by Thon comprises 87 percent of the operating budget for the Four Diamonds Fund, which has helped over 2,000 families with their battle of pediatric cancer.

"The clinic is one more positive benefit being provided by the fund in order to make the families' lives just a little bit easier as they face the challenge of childhood cancer," said Linda Barry, assistant coordinator for the fund.

Powell, who saw two patients at the first clinic, said he hopes to receive more referrals from local cases.