Ridley-Tree Cancer Center

The Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, now known as the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara with Sansum Clinic, is a non-profit cancer treatment and research center in Santa Barbara, California. The center was founded in 1949 with a generous gift from Lillian Converse and her husband Elisha, following Lillian’s treatment for terminal cancer in Los Angeles.

Dr. Henry Ullmann, her physician, had a vision for a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center in Santa Barbara and the Converse’s donation made this dream a reality by purchasing one of only seven one-million-volt x-ray machines in the United States used to treat cancer at that time.

In 2012, the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara joined with Sansum Clinic to enhance oncology care on the Central Coast, and also established the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, which has been a main line of financial support for the Cancer Center since its inception. In 2017, the center received a leading gift from Philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, and the institution was renamed in her honor. The gift, alongside community support, allowed for the construction of a new facility at 540 W. Pueblo Street, within close proximity to Sansum Clinic and Cottage Hospital.

The new location centralized all outpatient cancer care under one roof, creating a seamless experience for patients. The Cancer Center is dedicated to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of cancer, and continues to reinvest its revenue into the delivery and advancement of state-of-the-art cancer care. The Center’s mission is to serve as a regional destination for oncology services, providing superior care to patients, close to home, regardless of means to pay.