Brings Benefits of Soft-tissue Targeting and On-table Adaptive Treatment to Area Patients

MIAMI, July 27, 2017— Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, announced today that it will acquire ViewRay’s MRIdian Linac System, the world’s first and only FDA-cleared MRI-guided radiation therapy system. The MRIdian system will be part of the healthcare organization’s new Miami Cancer Institute, a multidisciplinary, destination cancer center and member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. The MRIdian treatments are expected to be available for patient care in spring 2018.

Nearly two-thirds of all treated cancer patients in the United States will receive some form of radiation therapy during the course of their illness, according to estimates by the American Society for Radiation Oncology. The movement of tumors and internal organs makes precision radiation delivery a challenge, but through the use of MRI-guidance, clinicians are better able to aim radiation therapy directly at tumors while avoiding surrounding tissues.

MRIdian Linac provides a unique combination of simultaneous radiation therapy delivery and continuous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the treatment of cancer. Because MRI technology eliminates the radiation exposure associated with computed tomography (CT) scans, MRIdian Linac allows for continuous imaging during the delivery of radiation therapy, allowing physicians to directly view and target the tumor during treatment. MRIdian Linac also enables physicians to personalize the treatment based on changes in the shape or location of the tumor and surrounding tissues using on-table adaptive therapy.

Miami Cancer Institute welcomes the ViewRay MRIdian Linac to its already comprehensive fleet of highly sophisticated radiation delivery systems in the Department of Radiation Oncology, becoming the first in Florida to do so.

“By capitalizing on the improved soft tissue visualization and leveraging the real-time imaging capability of MR, radiation oncologists at Miami Cancer Institute will utilize this technology to target mobile tumors such as those located in the lung, liver and pancreas,” said Minesh Mehta, M.D., chief of radiation oncology at Miami Cancer Institute. “By having the ability to visualize tissues simultaneously during treatment delivery, which cannot easily be done on other radiation treatment machines, we are able to track these mobile tumors and minimize the exposure of adjacent, normal tissues through adaptive planning.”

Additionally, says Mehta, the reduction of “motion margin” will “decrease the volume of normal tissue irradiated to high doses, thereby providing an opportunity to decrease side effects.”

Due to the novelty of this technology, a number of opportunities present themselves to optimize the clinical applications of the MRIdian Linac. Clinical researchers at Miami Cancer Institute plan to investigate the impact of continuous, MRI-guided soft tissue tracking on margin reduction as well as investigate the need for adaptive radiotherapy when accounting for changes due to organ motion.

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 eight hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Fishermen’s Community Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), more than 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #

MIAMI, FL – June 28, 2017 – Baptist Health South Florida is pleased to announce that Donna J. Hrinak, president of Boeing Latin America, Rudy Kranys, a founding partner of Syntheon, and the Rev. Dr. William W. White, pastor at Christ Journey Church, have joined the founding board of directors of the Miami Cancer Institute, which opened in January 2017.

“With Donna Hrinak, Rudy Kranys and William White coming onto the board, the Miami Cancer Institute has assembled a group with extraordinary talent, expertise and commitment to Baptist Health South Florida’s mission to establish the top cancer care center in the region. Together they bring deep knowledge of the local community and a global perspective,” said founding board Chair S. Lawrence Kahn III, president and founder of Coral Gables-based Lowell Homes.

Donna Hrinak is a corporate vice president of The Boeing Company and president of Boeing Latin America, where she opened the company’s first three offices in the region. She oversees all aspects of operations, from commercial and defense product sales to research and technology. Previously, she was vice president for public policy at PepsiCo, and while at Kraft Foods, she managed the Latin American and European Corporate Affairs teams. She also was senior counselor for Trade and Competition at the law firm of Steel Hector & Davis.

Before entering the private sector, Ms. Hrinak was a career officer in the U.S. Foreign Service, with assignments in Latin America and Eastern Europe. She served as U.S. Ambassador in Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic as well as deputy assistant secretary in the State Department. Ms. Hrinak presently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a frequent speaker on foreign policy and women’s issues. The Pennsylvania native is a graduate of Michigan State University and attended The George Washington University and the University of Notre Dame School of Law.

Rudy Kranys has been a Baptist Health Foundation Board member since 2000, during which time he served as chair of the Foundation Board. Presently, he serves on the Board of Trustees of Baptist Health South Florida. Retired since 2003, Mr. Kranys is an engineer who attended Carnegie Institute of Technology. He began his career in the medical device industry in 1965, starting two medical companies in Pittsburgh. In 1984 he moved to South Florida to join Cordis Corp. as president of the angiographic product division. He also served as the company’s senior vice president of North American operations and vice president of worldwide research and product development. He later became a partner at Sytheon LLC, a medical device company that develops laparoscopic devices for gastrointestinal use.

Mr. Kranys is active in the community, serving on the executive committee and board of Goodwill Industries of South Florida. He has served as a chairman and board member of the Cancer Support Community of Greater Miami, on the board of Family Counseling Services and as past chair of the Children’s Home Society Foundation of South Florida. He also is a member of the advisory board of the University of Miami College of Engineering.

The Rev. Dr. William White is senior pastor since 1994 at Christ Journey Church, a congregation he grew to more than 5,000 members with church locations in Coral Gables and Kendall. The church’s online presence has an outreach in 185 countries. Dr. White is chair emeritus of the Baptist Health South Florida Board of Trustees, where he continues to have a role. He also has served on the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Ethics Committee, the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Religious Advisory Committee, the Greater Miami Religious Leaders Coalition and the Mission Miami Leadership Team. He is a lifelong member of Rotary International. Nationally, he has served on the Baptist Center for Ethics Advisory Council, the Religious Liberty Council and the Baptist World Alliance. Dr. White’s ministry has taken him to Rwanda, Lebanon, Brazil, India, Egypt, Israel, Nicaragua, Guatemala, France, England, Haiti and the Bahamas. Local nonprofit ministries he serves include the Agape Network, Touching Miami with Love, Open House Ministries and Feed Miami.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Jewell College and the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He attended Baylor University and the University of Virginia School of Medicine for additional studies.

Other board members include Secretary Phil Conway, managing director and U.S. southeast region head of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank; Treasurer Ron Shuffield, president of EWM Realty International; John Dasburg, chairman, chief executive officer and co-owner of aviation enterprise ASTAR USA; and Patrick Lee, chairman of the Patrick P. Lee Foundation, an organization committed to helping cancer patients and their families by supporting research, prevention, treatment and quality of life. He is also past chairman and chief executive officer of International Motion Control.

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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #

MIAMI, FL – May 17, 2017 – Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Miguel A. Medina III, M.D., has joined the team of cancer specialists at Miami Cancer Institute, a part of Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Medina will serve as the Institute’s director of microsurgery. He specializes in the treatment of patients requiring skilled plastic and reconstructive surgery after cancer treatments. He has special expertise in complex reconstruction and microsurgery, utilizing cutting-edge operating microscopes and precision instrumentation to perform intricate procedures such as the reconnection of nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Medina’s clinical focus includes abdominal wall reconstruction, breast reconstructive surgery including DIEP flap reconstruction, craniofacial reconstruction and head and neck reconstructive surgery. He earned his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed a surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, receiving the V.H. Kazanjian Research Fellowship in reconstructive surgery. He also completed a plastic surgery residency in the Harvard Plastic Surgery Program at Harvard Medical School, where he served as chief resident. He continued his postdoctoral training with a fellowship in craniofacial surgery and microsurgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital/R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

“It is the Institute’s mission to provide patients with personalized, comprehensive care, which includes restoring physical function and appearance as well as confidence and dignity after the surgical treatment of cancer,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “Dr. Medina has extensive training and experience in reconstructive surgery and microsurgery and will make a difference in the lives of a wide array of cancer patients, especially those with breast and head and neck cancers.”

Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute at the Baptist Hospital campus, Dr. Medina specialized in craniofacial and reconstructive microsurgery at Cleveland Clinic in Weston. He is an innovator in his field, with numerous invited national and international presentations, instructional courses and lectures. He also is an experienced clinical educator, serving as clinical assistant professor of surgery at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Dr. Medina has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and serves as a reviewer for three scientific journals, including the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional 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 announced plans to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a dynamic partnership that will ultimately enable cancer patients to access 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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #

MIAMI, FL – May 11, 2017 – Baptist Health South Florida is pleased to announce that Donna J. Hrinak, president of Boeing Latin America, Rudy Kranys, a founding partner of Syntheon, and the Rev. Dr. William W. White, pastor at Christ Journey Church, have joined the founding board of directors of the Miami Cancer Institute, which opened in January 2017.

“With Donna Hrinak, Rudy Kranys and William White coming onto the board, the Miami Cancer Institute has assembled a group with extraordinary talent, expertise and commitment to Baptist Health South Florida’s mission to establish the top cancer care center in the region. Together they bring deep knowledge of the local community and a global perspective,” said founding board Chair S. Lawrence Kahn III, president and founder of Coral Gables-based Lowell Homes.

Donna Hrinak is a corporate vice president of The Boeing Company and president of Boeing Latin America, where she opened the company’s first three offices in the region. She oversees all aspects of operations, from commercial and defense product sales to research and technology. Previously, she was vice president for public policy at PepsiCo, and while at Kraft Foods, she managed the Latin American and European Corporate Affairs teams. She also was senior counselor for Trade and Competition at the law firm of Steel Hector & Davis.

Before entering the private sector, Ms. Hrinak was a career officer in the U.S. Foreign Service, with assignments in Latin America and Eastern Europe. She served as U.S. Ambassador in Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic as well as deputy assistant secretary in the State Department. Ms. Hrinak presently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a frequent speaker on foreign policy and women’s issues. The Pennsylvania native is a graduate of Michigan State University and attended The George Washington University and the University of Notre Dame School of Law.

Rudy Kranys has been a Baptist Health Foundation Board member since 2000, during which time he served as chair of the Foundation Board. Presently, he serves on the Board of Trustees of Baptist Health South Florida. Retired since 2003, Mr. Kranys is an engineer who attended Carnegie Institute of Technology. He began his career in the medical device industry in 1965, starting two medical companies in Pittsburgh. In 1984 he moved to South Florida to join Cordis Corp. as president of the angiographic product division. He also served as the company’s senior vice president of North American operations and vice president of worldwide research and product development. He later became a partner at Syntheon LLC, a medical device company that develops laparoscopic devices for gastrointestinal use.

Mr. Kranys is active in the community, serving on the executive committee and board of Goodwill Industries of South Florida. He has served as a chairman and board member of the Cancer Support Community of Greater Miami, on the board of Family Counseling Services and as past chair of the Children’s Home Society Foundation of South Florida. He also is a member of the advisory board of the University of Miami College of Engineering.

The Rev. Dr. William White is senior pastor since 1994 at Christ Journey Church, a congregation he grew to more than 5,000 members with church locations in Coral Gables and Kendall. The church’s online presence has an outreach in 185 countries. Dr. White is chair emeritus of the Baptist Health South Florida Board of Trustees, where he continues to have a role. He also has served on the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Ethics Committee, the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Religious Advisory Committee, the Greater Miami Religious Leaders Coalition and the Mission Miami Leadership Team. He is a lifelong member of Rotary International. Nationally, he has served on the Baptist Center for Ethics Advisory Council, the Religious Liberty Council and the Baptist World Alliance. Dr. White’s ministry has taken him to Rwanda, Lebanon, Brazil, India, Egypt, Israel, Nicaragua, Guatemala, France, England, Haiti and the Bahamas. Local nonprofit ministries he serves include the Agape Network, Touching Miami with Love, Open House Ministries and Feed Miami.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Jewell College and the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He attended Baylor University and the University of Virginia School of Medicine for additional studies.

Besides Kahn, other board members are Secretary Phil Conway, managing director and U.S. southeast region head of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank; Treasurer Ron Shuffield, president of EWM Realty International; John Dasburg, chairman, chief executive officer and co-owner of aviation enterprise ASTAR USA; and Patrick Lee, chairman of the Patrick P. Lee Foundation, an organization committed to helping cancer patients and their families by supporting research, prevention, treatment and quality of life. He is past chairman and chief executive officer of International Motion Control.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional 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 relationship that enables 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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #

MIAMI, FL – March 6, 2017 – Robert Udelsman, M.D., MBA, FACS, FACE, has joined the growing team of cancer care specialists at Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida as chief of endocrine surgery and director of the Endocrine Neoplasia Institute.

Dr. Udelsman comes to Miami Cancer Institute from Yale University School of Medicine, where he served as surgeon-in-chief at Yale-New Haven Hospital since 2001. Renowned for his innovative and highly successful surgical approach to performing thyroid and parathyroid operations, he has dedicated much of his career to the development of minimally invasive endocrine procedures, performing more than 6,000 thyroid and 2,500 parathyroid procedures to date. He was one of the first in the world to perform minimally invasive parathyroidectomy and the first in the U.S. to perform thyroid and parathyroidectomies via the mouth, avoiding visible scarring. He also was an early adopter of laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Dr. Udelsman is board-certified in surgery. He completed his medical training at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and his surgical residency and chief residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He also completed three fellowships: surgical oncology at the National Cancer Institute; endocrinology at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; and gastrointestinal surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

“Dr. Udelsman is one of the most highly recognized and experienced endocrine surgeons in the world,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “His background, combined with the comprehensive resources available at Miami Cancer Institute, takes us yet another step closer to delivering on our promise to provide world-class, destination cancer care for all disease sites, close to home.”

During his tenure at Yale, Dr. Udelsman served as president of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons. His clinical research results have appeared in more than 300 publications. He has been honored with numerous awards and is a member of 30 national and international professional societies and seven scientific journal editorial boards.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional 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 relationship that enables 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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #

Comprehensive cancer center and clinical research facility will be Florida’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance and the first in South Florida to offer proton therapy

MIAMI, FL – January 26, 2017 – Today, the $430 million, 445,000-square-foot Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, has officially opened its doors. In addition, after a year-long review and collaboration process, Miami Cancer Institute has become the third full member, and the only member in Florida, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, an initiative designed to collaboratively guide community providers toward state-of-the-art cancer care.

Miami Cancer Institute features a unique, hybrid academic-community cancer center model backed by 30 years of Baptist Health’s expertise in cancer care. The facility, located on the Baptist Hospital campus, consolidates many outpatient clinical services, clinical research, and technology platforms under one roof. The Institute is home to one of the most comprehensive and advanced radiation oncology programs in the world, including South Florida’s first proton therapy center, one of under two dozen proton therapy centers in the nation, which will open later this year. The precision of proton therapy allows doctors to target cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue and vital organs.

“Miami Cancer Institute brings new treatment options, cutting-edge technology and pioneering clinical research to South Florida, including access to Memorial Sloan Kettering’s world-renowned clinical trials and standards of care,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., Founding CEO and Executive Medical Director of Miami Cancer Institute. “This collaboration – when combined with our team of preeminent cancer experts working together to develop the best care plans for each patient – establishes Miami Cancer Institute as the region’s premier, hybrid academic-community cancer center.”

“We are proud and privileged to open the doors of Miami Cancer Institute for our community,” said Brian E. Keeley, President and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida. “We thank the hundreds of people who have worked tirelessly to build this world-class destination cancer center here in South Florida. This historic milestone is not just one for Baptist Health to celebrate, but one for our entire community as we come together in the fight against cancer.”

As an MSK Cancer Alliance member, Miami Cancer Institute will share educational resources with MSK and other members, which include Connecticut’s Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute and Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Health Network Cancer Institute. The dynamic and forward-thinking relationship will enhance the Institute’s clinical research capabilities as well as its delivery of world-class, evidence-based cancer care. There are three key ways patients receiving care at Miami Cancer Institute directly benefit from this unique relationship:

• Adoption of MSK standards of care into everyday practice. By keeping up to date with the latest innovations, Miami Cancer Institute clinical experts make treatment decisions for their patients based on the best and most current evidence available.
• Integrated learning. Oncologists from both institutions regularly meet to discuss challenging cases and identify the best course of treatment for patients.
• Access to key MSK clinical trials. Cancer clinical trials can give patients the opportunity to receive drugs or therapies years before they are available anywhere else. Plans are under way to open several MSK trials at Miami Cancer Institute as early as this month. Opening these MSK trials helps speed up the data-collection process so investigational therapies can be approved faster and become available sooner to even more patients.

“For more than a century, Memorial Sloan Kettering has relentlessly sought to eradicate cancer through scientific discovery and exceptional, patient-focused care,” said Craig B. Thompson, MD, President and CEO of MSK. “This goal will only be realized through collaborative sharing of knowledge and best practices with like-minded partners, such as Miami Cancer Institute, while learning from them as well. This new model of collaboration will continue to evolve but will always benefit patients first and foremost by making the highest-quality cancer care widely accessible.”

The Institute’s clinical research building is expected to open later this year. It will house the Center for Genomic Medicine, where researchers will study the tumors of individual patients at the molecular level and create personalized treatments that interrupt the cancer cells’ ability to multiply. These targeted therapies are among the most effective and promising treatments under development.

Miami Cancer Institute expects to draw a significant number of patients from outside the United States and will attract leading medical and business professionals to South Florida for conferences, symposia and other events. The Hilton Miami-Dadeland – a 184-room, full-service hotel and conference center – is due to open on the west end of the Baptist Hospital campus in late 2018 and will be an essential component to serving out-of-town patients and guests visiting the Cancer Institute.

“Even in its infancy, Miami Cancer Institute has transformed cancer care in South Florida,” said Dr. Zinner. “As it matures, the Institute is well-poised to serve as the catalyst for making South Florida a true, world-class medical destination that benefits patients and the community at large – here, and around the globe.”

For more information about the Miami Cancer Institute including photos, B-roll and SOTS, visit our newsroom at Newsroom.BaptistHealth.net/MiamiCancerInstitute.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional 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 relationship that enables 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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 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 (MSK) 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 partnerships with local care providers. Members include Connecticut-based Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, Lehigh Valley Health Network Cancer Institute in Pennsylvania, and Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida. For more information about the MSK Cancer Alliance, go to https://www.mskcc.org/about/innovative-collaborations/msk-alliance.

# # #

MIAMI, FL – January 19, 2017 — Murugesan Manoharan, M.D., has joined the team of renowned cancer care experts with Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Manoharan, or simply “Mano” as he’s often referred, will serve as the Institute’s Chief of Urologic Oncologic Surgery and Director of Robotic Urologic Surgery. He will lead a team of specialists that treat urologic cancers, including those of the bladder, kidney, prostate and testes. Dr. Manoharan is a Board-certified, fellowship-trained urologist and an innovator in the field of urologic oncology, where he specializes in robotic, laparoscopic and complex open cancer surgical procedures. He is a prominent authority in the treatment of bladder and prostate cancers, the latter being the most frequently diagnosed cancer today amongst American men. He was one of the first urologists in the United States to perform robotic radical cystectomy which involves complete removal of the bladder and creation of an artificial bladder through a small bikini incision in patients with bladder cancer.

“The addition of Dr. Manoharan to Miami Cancer Institute is an important step in our efforts to build a comprehensive, disease-based multispecialty team,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “Dr. Manoharan brings unparalleled expertise in treating urologic cancers, which have high incidence rates. He is assembling a robust team of urologic cancer care specialists, and their combined clinical skills and research initiatives will afford our patients with access to a level of care for these particular cancers never previously offered in this region.”

Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Manoharan practiced urology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he served as one of the site disease group leaders for genitourinary cancers. He also practiced urology at Jackson Memorial Hospital and at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami.

Dr. Manoharan was a tenured professor of urology and served as the Director of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship program at the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine, having received the Best Urology Teacher of the Year Award on multiple occasions. His research interests include stem cell applications, biomarkers and cancer outcomes. He has authored more than 130 scientific articles and 15 text book chapters, and has presented papers and posters at over 100 national and international meetings. He has served as a vice chairman and a member of the Bladder cancer guidelines committee organized by the WHO and Société Internationale d’Urologie.

Dr. Manoharan attended medical school at Madras Medical College in Madras, India. He completed a residency in urology at Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Melbourne, Australia. He completed a fellowship in surgery at Royal College of Surgeons of England in London, United Kingdom, and was a urologic oncology fellow at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Miami Cancer Institute opens its new, $430 million state-of-the-art facility on the Baptist Hospital campus this month.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional 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 announced plans to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a dynamic partnership that will ultimately enable cancer patients to access 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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #

184-Room New Build Hotel to Feature Rooms for Longer Stays and Wellness Center

MIAMI, FL – December 13, 2016 – This week, Hilton and Baptist Health South Florida broke ground on Hilton Miami/Dadeland, a full service, 184-room hotel, on the Baptist Hospital campus. Scheduled to open in late 2018, the hotel will feature 150 guest rooms, 34 rooms tailored to guests staying for longer periods, the largest meeting space in the area, a wellness center, farm-to-table restaurant and more.

Hilton Miami/Dadeland will complement the exceptional patient experience offered at Miami Cancer Institute, a new $430 million clinical and research center which will house South Florida’s first proton therapy center, and the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, a leader in cardiovascular care.

“Hilton is recognized globally as a leader in hospitality, and we felt its full-service Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand would be an ideal partner,” said Ana Lopez-Blazquez, executive vice president, Baptist Health South Florida. “In addition, this property will have the largest meeting space in the area to accommodate conferences, events and meetings.”

CallisonRTKL Inc., the architect for the hotel, has fused best practices from healthcare and hospitality design by incorporating a welcoming, compassionate and uplifting environment for guests. Recognizing the community’s multicultural nature and the hospital campus’ Mediterranean feel, the property will feature special design details, including Cuban tile, pineapple-themed wall art and textiles with abstract lines representative of the fruit’s texture to add a touch of local style. The pineapple, Baptist Health’s iconic logo, symbolizes hospitality and reflects a place of warmth and welcome.

The 150,000-square-foot hotel will be located to the immediate west of the main entrance of Baptist Hospital and conveniently near Dadeland Mall and regional transportation hubs. The hotel will be operated by Interstate Hotels and Resorts.

# # #

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,400 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, comprising more than 4,700 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties with over 775,000 rooms in 104 countries and territories. For 97 years, Hilton has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company’s portfolio of 13 world-class global brands includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where Hilton HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
For nearly a century, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has been proudly welcoming the world’s travelers. With more than 570 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts provides the foundation for memorable travel experiences and values every guest who walks through its doors. As the flagship brand of Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to set the standard for hospitality, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests’ evolving needs. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is a part of the award-winning Hilton HHonors program. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels receive instant benefits, including an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else, free standard Wi-Fi and digital amenities like digital check-in with room selection and Digital Key available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app. Begin your journey at www.hilton.com and learn more about the brand by visiting news.hilton.com or following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide. Currently, Interstate and its affiliates manage 426 hotels with more than 75,000 rooms around the globe. In addition Interstate has executed agreements to manage 40 hotels with more than 5,200 rooms under development or construction. For more information, please visit www.interstatehotels.com. Connect with Interstate at www.linkedin.com/company/interstate-hotels-resorts, www.facebook.com/InterstateHotels, and www.interstatehotels.com/careers.

MIAMI, FL – November 10, 2016 — Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida has expanded two of its signature cancer care departments, with the additions of psychosomatic psychiatrist Geetha Nampiaparampil, M.D. and psychologist Regina Melchor, Psy.D to its Cancer Patient Support Center. These physicians will focus on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders that contribute to a cancer patient’s emotional distress. The two will work closely with M. Beatriz Currier, M.D., Miami Cancer Institute’s director of Cancer Patient Support Center, to enhance quality of life and health outcomes following a cancer diagnosis.

In addition, Miami Cancer Institute’s Symptom Management & Palliative Medicine Service continues to expand with the added expertise of Suleyki Medina, M.D., who joins Mariana Khawand-Azouli, M.D, as one of the department’s two initial attending physicians.

“Having representatives of many different disciplines involved in patient care is an important part of the Institute’s mission to treat the whole individual, not just the disease,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “These physicians bring highly specialized skills and experience that will enable Miami Cancer Institute to deliver personalized, patient- and family-centered care from diagnosis through survivorship.”

 

Dr. Nampiaparampil is Board-certified in psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. She received her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and completed her psychiatry residency at Saint Vincent’s Hospital-Manhattan/New York Medical College and St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital/Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, both in New York. She also completed a psychosomatic medicine fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She has conducted research studies related to her specialty and is published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and text books. Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Nampiaparampil was an assistant professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, an attending psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, and most recently an attending psychiatrist at JFK Medical Center in Palm Beach, Florida.

 

 

 

Regina Melchor, Psy.D., earned a Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology from Albizu University in Miami, graduating summa cum laude. She completed a psychology residency at the Institute for Child and Family Health, also in Miami, and a fellowship in psychosomatic medicine and psycho-oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center/New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is an adjunct faculty member in the psychology departments at Albizu University and Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, and has held teaching roles at several higher education institutions. She has published numerous articles in medical journals and frequently lectures on her specialty to peers and community members. She is also affiliated with several professional associations, including the American Psychosocial Oncology Society and the International Psychosocial Oncology Society.

 

 

 

Dr. Medina is Board-certified in internal medicine and geriatrics and is one of two initial attending physicians of Miami Cancer Institute’s Symptom Management & Palliative Medicine service. She received her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, and completed a residency in internal medicine at NYU Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, where she was honored with the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Award for Excellence. She also completed two fellowships — in geriatrics and hospice and palliative care — at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/ Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Medina is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Geriatrics Society and American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Medina and Dr. Khawand-Azouli will both report directly to Leonard Kalman, M.D., Miami Cancer Institute’s deputy director and chief medical officer.

 

 

 

Miami Cancer Institute will begin to move into its new, $430 million state-of-the-art facility on the Baptist Hospital of Miami campus early next year. Opening day for patient care is planned for January 16, 2017.

 

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional 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 announced plans to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a dynamic partnership that will ultimately enable cancer patients to access 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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #

 

MIAMI, FL – October 20, 2016 — Marcio Fagundes, M.D., and Michael Chuong, M.D., have joined Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida’s unique and integrated Radiation Oncology department, which will offer both standard photon therapy and, beginning in 2017, the region’s first proton therapy center. Dr. Fagundes will serve as the department’s medical director and vice chair, and Dr. Chuong as lead physician for proton therapy – a highly advanced form of radiation technology that targets cancer cells with pencil-beam scanning precision while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. The physicians, both experts in the two forms of radiation, will work alongside internationally renowned radiation oncologist Minesh Mehta, M.D., Miami Cancer Institute’s deputy director and chief of Radiation Oncology, to provide innovative cancer care and conduct clinical trials designed to help find new and innovative ways to treat cancer with radiation therapy.

“The addition of Drs. Fagundes and Chuong to Miami Cancer Institute is another critical step for us as we position ourselves as the region’s top destination for leading-edge radiation treatment,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “Thanks to the pinpoint accuracy of pencil-beam scanning, our newest experts will utilize proton therapy to treat some of the most challenging tumors we’ll see, offering more patients in this region access to a precise form of radiation treatment with reduced risk of side effects.”

Dr. Fagundes is Board-certified in radiation oncology and has extensive experience in proton therapy. He has conducted significant research and presented research results showing the advantages of proton therapy for prostate cancer, breast cancer and head and neck cancer at numerous meetings of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group and the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists. He also has published dozens of articles in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the International Journal of Particle Therapy and the International Journal of Radiation Oncology. Dr. Fagundes received his medical degree from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and completed a radiation oncology residency at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital – Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. He also completed a fellowship in radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He gained teaching experience as an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, and currently trains his peers on an innovative treatment protocol for prostate cancer. Before joining Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Fagundes was medical director of the Provision Center for Proton Therapy in Knoxville, Tenn.

Dr. Chuong is Board-certified in radiation oncology. As a faculty member at the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, he developed clinical practice guidelines for using proton therapy across disease sites. His clinical specialty and research focus is on the use of radiation therapy to treat gastrointestinal cancers and lymphomas. Dr. Chuong has received numerous awards for his work, including the Conquer Cancer Foundation Merit Award from the American Society of Clinical Medicine and the Clinical Research Award from the Moffitt Cancer Center Research Symposium. He received his medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of South Florida/H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, also in Tampa, where he served as chief resident. Before joining Miami Cancer Institute, he was an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

 

Miami Cancer Institute will begin to move into its new, $430 million state-of-the-art facility on the Baptist Hospital of Miami campus early next year. Opening day for patient care is planned for January 16, 2017.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional 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 announced plans to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a dynamic partnership that will ultimately enable cancer patients to access 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 seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

# # #