Moffitt Cancer Center

Moffitt Cancer Center and Memorial Healthcare System (MHS) have entered into a clinical partnership that will enhance the care of leukemia and lymphoma and establish a comprehensive Blood and Marrow Transplant Cellular Therapy Program for South Florida residents starting July 1. With both institutions recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in cancer care, this collaboration provides major benefits to patients seeking highly specialized cancer care close to home.

Moffitt has a lasting commitment to the prevention and cure of cancer, through patient care, scientific discovery and education. That includes bringing these components to areas outside the Tampa region. MHS has been a leader in providing high-quality health care services to South Florida with a caring philosophy to treat the whole patient – physically, emotionally and psychologically – through an integrated treatment approach that includes services from pain and symptom management to social services and support groups.

“Moffitt and Memorial share similar cultures, in that we are both driven by patient-centered care, provide world-class cancer treatment and are dedicated to advancing cancer research,” said Alan F. List, M.D., Moffitt CEO and President. “Memorial and its patients will have increased access to research, personalized medicine and innovation through a distribution of the Moffitt model of care.”

Through the partnership, Moffitt will provide services of blood and marrow transplant and malignant hematology as well as those related to molecular diagnostics, personalized medicine and hematopathology. Moffitt will employ the physicians and advanced practice professionals to staff the new program at MHS.

“Both Moffitt and Memorial share common goals in providing world-class treatments for patients in South Florida and beyond, as well as, a dedication to innovation in clinical research and personalized medicine,” said Aurelio M. Fernandez, III, FACHE, President and CEO for Memorial Healthcare System. “Personalized medicine will be advanced through a much larger patient population – leading to new discoveries in the fight against cancer.”

“The physicians and advanced practice professionals will be employed by Moffitt,” said Louis B. Harrison, M.D., Chair of Moffitt’s Department of Radiation Oncology. “This is the first time Moffitt employed physicians will be practicing outside of the Tampa region and that helps us to further our legislative mandate to serve cancer patients across the state. It certainly helps patients even more when we can provide care close to home.”

Established by the Florida Legislature in 1953, MHS consists of six hospitals, including a freestanding children’s hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health agency, 1,909 beds, a medical staff close to 2,200 physicians and approximately 13,000 employees.

Established by the Florida Legislature, Moffitt offers expert clinical care specialists, who collaborate with researchers to elevate the quality of cancer care in the state, develop innovative therapies and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Moffitt is the third largest cancer center in the United States based on patient volume and records more than 339,000 outpatient visits annually. Moffitt generates $2.1 billion in economic impact.

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 47 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research, clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the No. 6 cancer hospital in the nation and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Hospitals” for cancer care since 1999. Moffitt devotes more than 2.5 million square feet to research and patient care. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 5,200 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.1 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.