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User:Stellated5/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

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Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment for UHealth-University of Miami Health System in Miami, Florida. Sylvester has more than 250 physicians and scientists, all faculty of the UM Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester receives $41.2 million annually in research grants and there are currently 229 clinical trials underway. In fiscal year 2009, there were 258,621 outpatient visits, 23,798 patients receiving chemotherapy, and 2,938 surgical cases. There were 4,318 new cancer patients at Sylvester and 2,996 new cancer patients supervised by UM faculty at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to figures reported to State of Florida as of June 2008.

Sylvester/UMHC -- University of Miami Hospital & Clinics, holds the following accreditations: American College of Surgeons; The Joint Commission; Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists; Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments; and American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. In addition, the radiology and medical imaging departments hold numerous credentials and are fully licensed.

Sylvester's mission statement: "We seek to reduce the human burden from cancer and other serious illnesses through research, education, prevention, and the delivery of quality patient care."

History[edit]

The cancer center's history dates back to 1973, when it was established at the University of Miami School of Medicine as the Comprehensive Cancer Center for the State of Florida. The Regional Cancer Information Service office, funded by the National Cancer Institute, was established at Sylvester in 1976. The Cancer Information Service was the foremost source of cancer information for patients, their families, the general public, and health professionals in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The cancer center's name changed to the Papanicolaou Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1984, but that title was short-lived.

In 1986, philanthropist Harcourt Sylvester Jr. pledged $27.5 million to the University of Miami to create the only dedicated, university-based cancer center in South Florida. It was the largest gift to date to the University of Miami. The new facility was renamed the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in honor of Mr. Sylvester’s parents, Harcourt Sr., who died of lung cancer in 1980, and Virginia. During the construction of the new clinical facility, Mr. Sylvester was heavily involved in the planning and design of the building, from the colors to the wall hangings. He wanted to create the best care in the best environment.

In June 1992, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center opened at 1475 N.W. 12th Avenue in Miami, Florida. At the time, the 117,500 square-foot center was the largest outpatient cancer treatment facility in the southeastern United States.

In 2002, philanthropists Irma and Norma Braman announced a $5 million gift to help establish the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester/UMHC. Since then, the cancer center has expanded further, opening satellite locations in Deerfield Beach and Kendall. Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in January 2003 at 1192 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida. Sylvester at Kendall opened in February 2009 at 8932 SW 97 Avenue, Miami, Florida.

Sylvester Foundation[edit]

Harcourt Sylvester Jr., of Boca Raton, Florida, founded the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation in 1980 following the death of his father, Harcourt Sr., from lung cancer. The foundation became fully funded in 1984 following the death of his mother, Virginia, from heart disease. The funding for the foundation came from the sale of the family business, FASCO Industries, Inc., which manufactured electric motors for fans and automobiles.

Harcourt Jr. decided to fund a cancer center because he remembered his father saying, "had there been better screening they would have caught the cancer earlier." He chose the University of Miami as his beneficiary because of its reputation for medical excellence, and because it was close to home so he could watch his vision come to life. Under Harcourt Jr.’s leadership, the Foundation committed $27.5 million in 1986 to the University of Miami to create the only university-based cancer center in South Florida. It was the largest contribution in the history of the University of Miami at that time. In 1988, the foundation added another $5 million to their original gift. And years later, the Sylvester family pledged an additional $11.5 million to Sylvester. Altogether, the Sylvester Foundation has contributed or pledged more than $50 million to fund programs at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Harcourt Sylvester Jr. died at 80 in August 2007. The younger generations of the Sylvester family continue their dedication to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Harcourt Jr.'s daughter Jayne Sylvester Malfitano serves on the Sylvester Board of Governors and on the University of Miami Board of Trustees, and she and her sister Laura Sylvester Cameron serve as directors of the family’s Foundation.

To date, the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation has committed more than $50 million to fund programs at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.

Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research[edit]

The Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research is a non-profit organization made up of more than 20,000 volunteers who are dedicated to raising money for cancer research at Sylvester. The group is named after Dr. George Papanicolaou, whose research led to the Pap smear to detect cervical cancer. Since its inception in 1952, the Pap Corps has donated more than $33 million to Sylvester. Each year, the Pap Corps holds a walkathon and health fair to benefit cancer research. The most recent walkathon was held March, 13, 2010, at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Leadership[edit]

Sylvester/UMHC leadership includes W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S, Chief Medical Officer; Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., Interim Director; Richard Ballard, Hospital Administrator; and Joan Scheiner, Board of Governors Chair.

Research[edit]

Sylvester currently has nearly 100,000 square feet of space dedicated to research. The Papanicolaou, Clinical Research, and Batchelor buildings house the program leaders and many of the research investigators. Sylvester has seven multidisciplinary research programs:

  • Biobehavioral Oncology
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
  • Genitourinary Malignancies
  • Molecular Therapeutics
  • Tumor Immunology
  • Viral Oncology

In addition, nine shared research resources are available to all Sylvester members. These resources give members access to technologies, products, services, and expertise that help to increase scientific productivity by making it easier for researchers in different disciplines to communicate and collaborate.

  • Analytical Imaging Core Facility*
  • Biopsychosocial Core Facility*
  • Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Core
  • Clinical Research Services
  • Disparities and Community Outreach Core*
  • Flow Cytometry Core Facility*
  • Oncogenomics Core Facility*
  • Tissue Bank Core Facility
  • Transgenic Animal Core Facility

Patient Care[edit]

Sylvester uses a targeted, "site-based" approach to cancer detection and treatment. Physicians specialize in treating specific types of cancer (based on where the cancer originates or "the site" in the body). There are 15 different site disease groups at Sylvester/UMHC, which each include medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and other essential health care professionals such as social workers and pharmacists. In addition, each group has a nurse or patient care coordinator to serve as a liaison between physicians, patients, and families. A data manager and research nurse help recruit patients into clinical trials. The 15 site disease groups are as follows:

  • Bone and Soft Tissue Cancers
  • Breast Cancer
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Eye Cancer
  • Gynecologic Cancer
  • Head and Neck Cancers
  • Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma
  • Lung Cancer
  • Melanoma and Related Skin Cancers
  • Neurological Cancer
  • Pancreatic, Liver, and Related Cancers
  • Pediatric Cancer
  • Prostate, Bladder, and Kidney Cancers
  • Stomach and Esophageal Cancers
  • Thyroid and Other Endocrine Cancers


Sylvester/UMHC offers several treatment options, diagnostic tools and ancillary services:

Treatment Options[edit]

  • Advanced chemotherapy regimens
  • Bone marrow and stem cell transplants
  • Cancer vaccine and biological drug trials
  • Interventional radiology, including NanoKnife™ to treat soft-tissue tumors
  • MOHS surgery to treat skin cancer
  • Photodynamic therapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • External beam radiation treatment, including Rapid Arc™ Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Calypso™ 4D Localization System
  • Internal radiation treatment (Brachytherapy)
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy, including CyberKnife®
  • Ultrasound guided radiation therapy
  • Surgery by board-certified physicians

Diagnostic Tools[edit]

  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), including breast MRI
  • Multi-slice computerized tomography (MSCT)
  • PET/CT scan
  • SPECT/CT
  • Stereotactic breast core biopsy

Ancillary Services[edit]

  • Genetic testing and counseling
  • Courtelis Center for Psychosocial Oncology: Providing counseling services, patient education and support groups, medication consultation, and many complementary therapies for mind and body healing
  • On-site pharmacy
  • Beautywise Specialty Shop: Offering specialty beauty products, post-mastectomy apparel and accessories

References[edit]

External links[edit]


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