Miami Cancer Institute Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Joining the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance
Institute currently serves as South Florida’s premier hybrid academic-community cancer center
MIAMI, FL – Dec. 28, 2017— Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, proudly celebrates its one year anniversary of joining the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance. Miami Cancer Institute marries the best elements of a community hospital with the clinical benefits of a research institution, and its membership in the MSK Cancer Alliance ensures a new level of expert care for cancer patients in South Florida, Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond.
A recent paper appearing in the peer-reviewed journal ADC Review examined several cancer center models throughout the U.S. – including Miami Cancer Institute’s – and found that hybrid academic-community cancer centers have become a burgeoning sector of the healthcare industry in recent years. According to the paper, facilities that qualify as hybrid academic-community cancer centers must adhere to the following criteria: must recruit respected, academic-clinician leaders from National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers; must be established at large, well-respected, financially secure not-for-profit regional community hospital systems; must infuse greater academic rigor into their programs, develop translational research programs, enroll more patients from their respective communities into clinical trials, and provide the best cancer care to populations not served by traditional academic centers; and finally, must have adapted existing resources through collaborative efforts.
“We’re delighted to bring this innovative cancer care model to South Florida as we continue to build one of the nation’s leading cancer centers,” said Michael J. Zinner, Founding CEO and Executive Medical Director of Miami Cancer Institute. “It is our mission to provide the community with the most cutting-edge technology, clinical research, and expert care possible to ultimately make all cancer a manageable and treatable disease.”
As a member of the prestigious MSK Cancer Alliance, Miami Cancer Institute has integrated leading community oncology practices in South Florida with MSK’s standards of care, resources, capabilities, and clinical trials – further bolstering South Florida’s emerging reputation as a sought-after cancer treatment destination. Fundamental to the MSK Cancer Alliance is a strong system to support the opening of new clinical trials at Miami Cancer Institute, which expands access to investigational therapies for cancer patients in the Miami area. The MSK Cancer Alliance also provides the opportunity for Miami Cancer Institute physicians to counsel with MSK physicians on complex cancer cases and treatment offerings.
“The enhanced treatments and clinical care we have been able to provide our patients through our collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering has been critical in our pursuit of unmatched care,” added Zinner. “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with this world-class cancer center as we redefine the standards of excellence in cancer care available to not only the South Florida community, but to our regional neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
To learn more about Miami Cancer Institute, please visit www.miamicancerinstitute.com.
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About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, compassionate patient experience, advanced clinical research and state-of-the-art technology – including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. To accelerate its mission of hope, caring and innovation, Miami Cancer Institute has joined the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a meaningful partnership that affords patients with cancer access to potential breakthrough therapies in South Florida. For more information, visit MiamiCancerInstitute.com.
Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with ten hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Bethesda Hospital East, Bethesda Hospital West, Doctors Hospital, Fishermen’s Community Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), more than 40 physician practices, 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence spanning across Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has approximately 18,500 employees and more than 3,000 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/newsroom and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.
About the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance is an initiative designed to collaboratively guide community providers toward state-of-the-art cancer care. Its overarching goal is to improve the lives of cancer patients through dynamic partnership with local care providers. For more information about the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, go to www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/msk-alliance.