CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — After more than six years of planning, partnership and persistence, community leaders, healthcare professionals, project partners and supporters will gather Sunday afternoon 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, Oct. 25, 2026, at 110 Cohen’s Way (1290 River Road) in Chillicothe. A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for approximately 3:45 p.m. Organizers describe the event as a significant milestone in a project more than six years in the making.
Founded by Dr. Brian S. Cohen of Cohen Orthopedic, the Great Seal Medical Campus is planned as an approximately 83,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art medical facility. At its core will be advanced surgical care, diagnostic imaging, urgent care, rehabilitation services and multispecialty physician offices under one roof.
“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.”
Facility plans and services
Project details released ahead of the groundbreaking outline three main components:
• A 20,000-square-foot surgery center featuring three advanced Aspire Integrated Surgical Environment (ISE) 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.
• 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 medical services.
Patient safety is described as a central priority. Plans call 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. 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.
A project years in development
The path to Sunday’s groundbreaking has not been straightforward. For more than six years, the project advanced through challenges, difficult decisions and unexpected obstacles, according to those involved. What began as a vision for a different kind of healthcare experience grew into a collaborative effort involving physicians, healthcare leaders, community advocates, public officials and private partners.
For Cohen, who has cared for patients throughout South Central Ohio for more than 25 years, the effort is personal. It reflects a long-standing commitment to the patients and families who have trusted local providers, as well as 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.
“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.
That message is expected to be central to Sunday’s program. The ceremony will include a dedication from Cohen, special messages and community remarks, recognition of those who have contributed to the project, and the ceremonial groundbreaking.
Community significance
For Chillicothe, the groundbreaking is being framed as a defining moment of progress. The campus represents an investment in the region’s healthcare future and an example of what can result when individuals and organizations align around a shared local priority. Beyond the physical construction of a new facility, the development is positioned as an opportunity to strengthen the local healthcare landscape, expand access to specialized services and support continued growth in the community.
Most importantly, organizers say, it represents a promise to the people who will one day receive care there.
Event information
Great Seal Medical Campus Groundbreaking Ceremony
Date: Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026
Time: 3 p.m. (ceremonial groundbreaking at approximately 3:45 p.m.)
Location: 110 Cohen’s Way (1290 River Road), Chillicothe, Ohio
Great Seal Medical Campus is a healthcare development in Chillicothe founded by Dr. Brian S. Cohen. It is designed to advance the delivery of patient-centered healthcare in South Central Ohio by bringing together innovative surgical technology, diagnostic services, urgent care, rehabilitation and multispecialty medical expertise. With stated priorities of patient safety, accessibility and clinical innovation, the campus is intended to raise the standard of care available close to home.
