- Comprehensive cancer center and research facility will be first in South Florida to offer proton therapy -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – Construction of the $430 million state-of-the-art Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida will get underway at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, with a groundbreaking ceremony at 8900 N. Kendall Drive in Miami.

A featured part of the event will include a signing of a steel beam sculpture that will be installed in the completed Miami Cancer Institute.

The 395,000-square-foot Cancer Institute to be located on the Baptist Hospital campus is scheduled to open in 2016. The four-story facility consolidates the following components: clinical services, cancer research, and technology platforms, including the first proton therapy center in South Florida. In addition, a brand-new inpatient floor designed especially for cancer patients will connect between Baptist Hospital and the Cancer Institute.

“Baptist Health South Florida is dedicated to providing the best care for cancer patients, and the world-class Miami Cancer Institute will be unmatched in our region in terms of clinical excellence and advanced cancer care. It will transform cancer care in our community and across the globe,” said Brian E. Keeley, president and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida.

Miami Cancer Institute will provide patients from the community and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with access to sophisticated treatments and clinical trials. It will be among a handful of centers in the nation and the first in South Florida to offer proton therapy, which beams radiation directly to a tumor to destroy cancer cells while avoiding healthy tissue.

“The new Miami Cancer Institute allows us to combine innovation and precision in cancer care – from detection and treatment to clinical research and prevention – in one place under the umbrella of Baptist Health’s well-known high quality patient care,” said Leonard Kalman, M.D., who will serve as deputy director for Miami Cancer Institute.

Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida will work closely with Advanced Medical Specialties (AMS) and leading academic cancer centers to provide the most advanced cancer treatment available.

“We are pleased to have such an esteemed group of cancer specialists joining this initiative and Baptist Health Medical Group as founding medical oncologists,” said Wayne Brackin, chief operating officer, Baptist Health South Florida.

Miami Cancer Institute plans to offer comprehensive clinical services, including:

• diagnostic imaging

• infusion chemotherapy

• bone marrow transplant

• radiation therapies, including standard radiation, gamma knife, tomotherapy and proton therapy.

The Cancer Institute will leverage Baptist Health’s nationally renowned robotic surgery program, with special emphasis on gynecology-oncology and thoracic surgery. Baptist Health’s highly regarded Breast Center also will be a part of the Institute, allowing for the expansion of services while maintaining a highly personalized approach to breast cancer patients. In addition, the Institute will provide special programs and support for patients’ friends and family members.

Miami Cancer Institute’s 90,000-square-foot research facility is designed to accommodate space for principal investigators, researchers and staff to pursue clinical trials and translational research.

A capital campaign is underway to support the construction and infrastructure of Miami Cancer Institute. To learn more, email Giving@BaptistHealth.net or call the Baptist Health South Florida Foundation office at 786-467-5400.

Baptist Health 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) and more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians, and includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health was just listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#19 in the nation and #1 in Florida) and has remained on the list for 14 consecutive years. It was also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the third year in a row by Ethisphere Institute.