2010-2011 Annual Report - Baptist Health South Florida

2010-2011 Annual Report

Dear Colleagues and Friends:
On behalf of Baptist Health Cancer Services,
I am pleased to share with you our 2010-2011
Cancer Annual Report. It features our Cancer Data
Services’ 2010 statistics for Baptist, Baptist Children’s and
South Miami Hospitals, as well as some highlights and
accomplishments of 2011.
Our cancer program features a network of facilities and
services that treated 3,644 adults and children in 2010. We
offer comprehensive cancer care at Baptist and South
Miami Hospitals, while selected services mentioned in this
report are also available at other Baptist Health facilities.
In 2011, nine of our medical and radiation oncologists,
as well as gynecological oncologists, general surgeons and
other Baptist Health specialists, were named “Top Doctors”
by the U.S. News & World Report.
Our cancer program is dedicated to supporting research
to find better treatments for cancer and to offer our patients
the latest clinical trials. In 2011, we remained one of the top contributors of tumor
specimens among a consortium of 18 sites participating in the Tampa-based Moffitt
Cancer Center’s groundbreaking Total Cancer Care (TCC) study. Baptist Health also
was the only consortium member to take part in Moffitt’s cancer research awareness
reception last March at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Our busy robotic surgery program continues to grow, now featuring seven da Vinci
Robotic Systems, including one at Doctors Hospital, new in 2011. In June, almost
2,500 Internet users watched a live webcast of one of our thoracic surgeons performing
robot-assisted surgery for early-stage lung cancer at South Miami Hospital. In November,
six expert surgeons from Baptist Health served on the faculty of the Clinical Robotic
Surgery Association’s Third Worldwide Congress in Houston.
Baptist Health’s palliative care program, an integral part of our philosophy of patientand
family-centered care, addresses the physical, intellectual, emotional, psychosocial
and spiritual needs of our patients and their loved ones. At Baptist Hospital in 2011, the
number of patients who received palliative care jumped 75 percent compared from the
previous year. Our palliative care training program has been so successful that we now
share the training with healthcare professionals from other hospital systems in Miami-
Dade and Broward counties, including Jackson Memorial Hospital and Broward Health.
We are also actively engaged in the community through such outreach programs as
free health screenings, educational seminars and fundraising events. For example, in
2011 Baptist and Homestead Hospitals’ Relays for Life raised a combined $295,000
for American Cancer Society research, education and patient services.
Finally, I have this exciting news to share: Baptist Health has committed to building a
world-class, comprehensive cancer center, including a research facility, on the Baptist
Hospital campus. This center, scheduled to open in about three years, will consolidate
many of Baptist Health’s cancer services under one roof.
I would like to recognize and sincerely thank the volunteer members of our
multidisciplinary Cancer Committee for their dedication and professionalism (see the
list of members on the back cover). Together, we strive to provide comprehensive and
compassionate cancer services to our patients and the community.
Grace Wang, M.D.
Chairwoman, Cancer Committee, Baptist Health
Grace Wang, M.D., meets with a patient for follow-up. Dr. Wang not
only has a busy medical oncology practice, she chairs Baptist Health’s
Cancer Committee. She’s also actively involved with the local chapter
of the American Cancer Society, Day of Caring for Breast Cancer
Awareness and the Cancer Support Community.
ON THE COVER:
Seven-year-old Daniela
Hoyos was successfully
treated for Burkitt’s
lymphoma at Baptist
Children's Hospital.
See story on page 9.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Research
In 2011, Baptist Health physicians offered cancer
patients 77 clinical trials — 35 for adults and 42 for
children. Our Institutional Review Board (IRB)
considered protocols for 219 research studies, including
11 new cancer trials. The IRB also developed a self-study
Continuing Medical Education (CME) booklet, Investigating
Responsibilities When Conducting Human Subject
Research, to support and promote the clinical trial process
at Baptist Health. This publication is designed to help
principal investigators understand and meet their obligations
for conducting human research. It includes guidance on
how to supervise a clinical study in which some tasks are
delegated to employees, colleagues or third parties; and
how to protect the rights, safety and welfare of the study’s
subjects. Course booklets are available through the IRB
and the Baptist Health CME Department.
In 2011, Baptist Health continued its prominent role
with the Moffitt Cancer Center’s groundbreaking Total
Cancer Care (TCC) study, which is gathering data on the
genetic profile of tumors. We were one of the top contributors
of tumor specimens, among 18 consortium sites for
this study, which is creating an unprecedented database of
specimens and patient information to support cancer
diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment. Baptist
Health also was the only consortium member to take part
in Moffitt’s cancer research awareness reception in March
at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., attended
by about 100 political leaders. For the TCC study, about
70 surgeons at Baptist Hospital, South Miami Hospital
and Doctors Hospital collected 667 tissue samples in 2011
and we enrolled 1,068 patients. Our patient consent rate
for a tissue sample increased to 62.45 percent, from 59.93
percent in 2010.
Our medical oncologists offered 35 clinical trials in
2011 for cancer sites including breast, brain, blood, head
and neck, cervix, lung, pancreas, prostate and colon. We
are the only site in Florida offering a Phase II study for
patients with advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung
cancer. This study is evaluating the safety and effectiveness
of an investigational drug, known as GDC-0941, which
has been shown in lab experiments to prevent or slow the
growth of many different types of human cancer cells.
Baptist Health’s radiation oncology trials are carried
out in cooperation with the Radiation Therapy Oncology
Group (RTOG), a national research organization funded
by the National Cancer Institute. Eleven studies were open
to patients in 2011 for cancers of the breast, head and
neck, lung, prostate, cervix and esophagus. One promising
study is a Phase I/II trial for patients with medically
inoperable, early-stage, centrally located non-small cell
lung cancer. That study will look at the effectiveness of
stereotactic radiotherapy to the lung.
In addition to the RTOG trials, Baptist Hospital’s
radiation oncologists develop and implement their own
IRB-approved, intramural studies. One of those studies,
“Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Is Safe and Effective
Using IMRT in Selected Early-Stage Breast Cancer
It’s hard to believe that anyone could miss
going to radiation therapy sessions, but that’s
exactly how SHARI ALLEN said she felt after
completing breast cancer treatment at the
South Miami Hospital Radiation Therapy
Department. “Frankly,” said the 53-year-old
retired Miami-Dade Police sergeant, “I was
floored by the experience in a very positive
way. Everyone was so kind, caring and personable.
I felt like they were extended family.” The
staff’s commitment to putting the patient first
impressed Ms. Allen. She also enjoyed the
unexpected extras she was offered, such as free
massage. “They had such a personal approach.”

A chest X-ray ANA SYLVIA LOUZADO needed for
upcoming knee surgery discovered a small mass in the
60-year-old’s left lung. After tests determined that it was
early non-small cell lung cancer, her knee surgery was put
on hold. Instead, doctors performed robot-assisted
surgery at South Miami Hospital to remove a lobe of her
lung. Before Ms. Louzado’s surgery, a nurse from Baptist
Health’s Center for Research & Grants asked if she would
be willing to donate a small slice of tissue from the mass
after its removal. The tissue would be sent for genetic
analysis as part of Moffitt Cancer Center’s groundbreaking
study, Total Cancer Care. “Of course!” said the feisty
Ms. Louzado. “I would do anything to help other people
with cancer. I want to be an example for others to
do the same.”
Because Ms. Louzado’s robot-assisted surgery was
minimally invasive, she had very little pain and recovered
in only three weeks. Chemotherapy followed. Today, she
has completed treatment and is back at work as a
preschool teaching assistant, free of cancer.
Patients,” was published in the summer of 2011 in the
International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology *
Physics. Instead of the usual six weeks of radiation to the
entire breast, patients in the study received radiation twice
a day for five days only to the part of the breast near the
tumor site. Five years after the study began, 97 percent of
the patients were still breast cancer-free and 94 percent
considered the cosmetic results “excellent” or “good,”
according to the journal article.
In 2011, our pediatric cancer specialist at Baptist
Children’s Hospital offered young patients 35 clinical
trials in cooperation with the Children’s Oncology Group,
a national research organization. Forty-nine children
participated in those trials, which focused on leukemia, non-
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma
and osteosarcoma, as well as other childhood cancers. Of
25 newly diagnosed patients, 15 joined a clinical trial.
Robot-assisted Surgery
Baptist Health’s active and growing robotic surgery
program allows our cancer surgeons to perform
highly precise, minimally invasive operations for
prostate, gynecologic, lung, esophageal, head and neck,
kidney and colon cancer. We have seven da Vinci Robotic
System robots — four at South Miami Hospital, two at
Baptist Hospital and, new in 2011, one at Doctors Hospital.
South Miami Hospital’s Center for Robotic Surgery, one
of the busiest in the region, continued to grow in 2011,
with an increase in volume of 20 percent over the previous
year. In June, almost 2,500 people clicked in to watch a
live webcast of one of our thoracic surgeons performing
robot-assisted surgery for early-stage lung cancer at South
Miami Hospital. The webcast, moderated in English and
Spanish, also featured comments from a patient who had
undergone the same procedure. Since its live broadcast,
another 7,500 Internet users have viewed the webcast.
Baptist Health ear, nose and throat specialists perform
robotic surgery through the mouth on select head and neck
tumors. In 2011, they used the robot for surgery on the
tonsils, base of the tongue, epiglottis, nasopharynx and
pharynx. Using the robot for these surgeries requires
special expertise and helps minimize extensive, disfiguring
and painful surgery often associated with head and neck
cancer surgery.
More than half a dozen Baptist Health physicians
served on the faculty of the Clinical Robotic Surgery
Association’s Third Worldwide Congress in Houston,
Texas, in November 2011. They lectured and led sessions
about robotic approaches for bariatric and thoracic surgery,
hernia repair, and rectal and colon surgery, among others.
2

Also in November, Baptist Health sponsored a robotic
surgery symposium in Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic, attended by about 200 physicians. Four Baptist
Health robotic surgery experts spoke about various robotic
surgery approaches.
After its successful inaugural symposium in late 2010,
South Miami Hospital’s Center for Robotic Surgery was
planning a second medical education symposium, set for
February 2012, on the latest robotic surgery uses and
techniques. The first symposium drew doctors from as
far away as India and Singapore.
Interventional Radiology
Baptist Health interventional radiologists at Baptist
Cardiac & Vascular Institute, on the Baptist
Hospital campus, and at South Miami Heart
Center, at South Miami Hospital, play an active role in our
cancer program. They offer minimally invasive treatment
options to cancer patients with metastases and inoperable
tumors, through the growing field of interventional
oncology. These treatments often are able to improve
quality of life and prolong life.
3

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Interventional oncology is a multispecialty, collaborative
effort, bringing together oncologists, radiation
oncologists, surgeons and interventional radiologists.
Our interventional radiologists perform image-guided
procedures for liver, kidney, lung, adrenal, neuroendocrine,
colorectal and bone cancer. Treatments at the Institute
include radiofrequency and microwave ablation, cryoablation,
transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, transarterial
bland embolization and radioembolization. South Miami
Heart Center offers radiofrequency ablation and
cryoablation.
In 2011, the Institute began using more-advanced
imaging techniques, such as the fusion of images from
multiple modalities, to enhance guidance and precision
for biopsies and treatments. Fusion techniques, such as
overlaying fluoroscopic images with CT or MR images,
not only improve accuracy and clinical outcomes but can
decrease the time a procedure takes, resulting in less
radiation to the patient and less contrast used.
In September, one of the Institute’s experts served
as faculty during an interactive session on complex
chemoembolization cases at the Cardiovascular and
Interventional Radiological Society of Europe meeting in
Munich, Germany. At the Synergy 2011: A Multidisciplinary
Approach to Interventional Oncology meeting in
Miami Beach, another Institute physician gave the Society
of Interventional Radiology Past President address.
Six interventional radiologists from the Institute were
course directors for the Symposium on Clinical Interventional
Oncology, one of the fastest-growing programs of
the International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy
(ISET), held annually in Miami Beach. A record number
of registrants (nearly 500) from around the world heard
about the latest interventional oncology treatments. Topics
included transcatheter therapy for colorectal cancer liver
metastasis, portal vein embolization and ablative therapies
for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Radiation Oncology
Cancer patients at Baptist Health have access to the
most-advanced radiation therapy available. Our
multidisciplinary approach ensures that every
patient’s entire medical team is involved in the treatment
plan. In 2011, the radiation oncology staff at Baptist
Hospital saw 910 patients in consultation and gave 11,441
radiation treatments to 610 new patients, an increase in
new patients of 22 percent over the previous year. At South
Miami Hospital, 434 patients were seen in consultation
and 371 new patients received 8,160 radiation treatments.
Also in 2011, the CT scanner in South Miami
Hospital’s Radiation Oncology Department received a
three-year accreditation from the American College of
Radiology (ACR). This unit is used to plan the patient’s
treatment and is Baptist Health’s only ACR-accredited CT
scanner located outside an imaging department. Our
radiation oncology physics staff worked closely with
South Miami Hospital’s Imaging Department to meet the
ACR’s stringent standards.
Both Baptist and South Miami Hospitals offer external
and internal radiation therapy, including image-guided
radiation therapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiation
therapy (IMRT), conformal radiation therapy and
brachytherapy. Both hospitals use onboard imagers to
improve tumor targeting in radiation therapy to the head
and neck, lung, prostate and other pelvic tumors. Realtime
imaging helps doctors make accurate decisions as
the patient receives radiation treatment.
In 2011, Baptist Hospital developed new treatmentplanning
technology and clinical protocols, which will
take effect in 2012. They include an electronic medical
record system, a new brain tumor treatment plan to
decrease cognitive changes, stereotactic body radiation
therapy (SBRT) to treat liver tumors, and software that
incorporates multiple imaging modalities (CT, MRI and
PET/CT) into the treatment-planning process.
4

South Miami Hospital remains the only hospital in the
region to have a Tomotherapy external beam treatment
unit. This machine links the accuracy of IMRT with the
image-guided benefits of a built-in CT scanner.
The Baptist Hospital Head and Neck Cancer Support
Team is Baptist Health’s first comprehensive model of
multidisciplinary cancer-site-specific care. Supporting our
philosophy of patient- and family-centered care, the team
includes ear, nose and throat specialists; radiation oncologists;
medical oncologists; radiation therapists; plastic and
oral surgeons; a gastroenterologist; nurses; a dietitian and
social worker. In 2011, the team saw 178 patients, up from
139 patients in 2010. Together, team members address the
complex physical
and psychosocial
needs of head and
neck cancer patients
and their families.
The team meets
weekly and creates a
recommended treatment
plan for every
patient and is available
to guide and
support patients and
their families before,
during and after treatment. Also committed to education
and prevention, the team offers free oral cancer screenings
to the community. In 2011, our oral surgeons examined
more than 100 people at four such screenings. Thirty-nine
people were referred for follow-up.
In 2011, Baptist Hospital was the first facility in South
Florida to purchase a new linear accelerator that offers the
most technologically advanced external beam cancer
treatment to date. The Varian TrueBeam is scheduled to
be up and running in 2012. It features variable energies,
CT-quality onboard imaging, variable dose rate, faster
treatment times, motion tracking, respiratory gating and
new safety technologies. It will be used for conventional
therapy as well as intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery
and stereotactic body radiation therapy.
In 2011, the Gamma Knife Center at Doctors Hospital
performed 390 procedures. A noninvasive form of radiosurgery,
the Gamma Knife uses gamma rays to destroy
inoperable brain tumors, including metastases. These
procedures, virtually free of side effects, often extend life
for people with advanced cancer.
ROSANNA DE GUZMAN had no idea how much
her life would change when she went to South Miami
Hospital’s Emergency Room feeling pressure in her
chest. An X-ray revealed a tumor pressing on her heart.
The very next morning, she had surgery to relieve the
pressure caused by an accumulation of fluid around her
heart. She also learned that she had T-cell lymphoblastic
lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that had
caused the life-threatening mass.
After three days in intensive care, she was moved
to South Miami’s inpatient oncology unit to begin
chemotherapy. Over the ensuing months, she was
admitted seven more times for treatment. “That unit is
inhabited by nurses who are angels, and the top angel is
my oncologist,” Ms. de Guzman said. “Everyone was so
caring, so kind and professional. The entire team of
dietitians, chaplains, social workers, psychologists,
interventional cardiologists, physical and occupational
therapists were simply wonderful to me.”
Doctors have told Ms. de Guzman, director of sales
for an international hotel chain, that she is in remission
and that chemotherapy successfully
destroyed the tumor in her chest.
5

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Caring for the Inpatient
Acutely ill cancer patients receive comprehensive
care as inpatients on the cancer units at Baptist
Hospital and South Miami Hospital. Baptist
Hospital has 38 acute-care beds, eight special-care beds
and three outpatient spaces. South Miami Hospital has
27 acute-care beds, six special-care beds and eight
outpatient spaces.
Our multidisciplinary cancer team collaborates to give
each patient individualized expert care. The team includes
physicians, nurses, oncology social workers, dietitians,
chaplains and other healthcare professionals. All our cancer
unit nurses complete the Oncology Nursing Society’s
chemotherapy/biotherapy course.
In 2011, a full-time oncology clinical pharmacist
specialist was assigned to the cancer unit at Baptist
Hospital. This professional ensures the accuracy of complicated
medication protocols for patients and serves as a
resource for nurses and doctors on matters of oncologic
medications. In the summer of 2011, nurses and pharmacists
began updating our Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Manual,
which was originally developed in-house in 2007. The
manual is a ready reference for our oncology professionals
who administer complex medications. It’s available on
oncology nursing units and in pharmacies, as well as on
the Baptist Health intranet. The manual includes information
on class of drug, pregnancy category, indications and
contraindications, how supplied, storage and handling,
dosage and dosage adjustments, reconstitution, administration
and special nursing information.
After a rigorous on-site appraisal in mid-2011, Baptist
Hospital earned its fourth consecutive designation as a
Magnet hospital for nursing excellence from the American
Nursing Credentialing Center, an achievement shared by
less than 1 percent of U.S. hospitals. Magnet designation
is the nursing profession’s highest honor and is a sign to
patients that patient safety and quality care are deeply
rooted in the hospital’s culture. Magnet hospitals have
more satisfied nurses, higher patient satisfaction and better
patient outcomes. South Miami Hospital also is a Magnet
facility, first designated in 2004 and now working toward
its third consecutive designation.
In 2011, South Miami Hospital expanded its oncology
patient care navigator program. Oncology patient care
navigators guide cancer patients and their families through
the maze of resources, treatment options and other
decisions that follows a cancer diagnosis. These navigators
are nurses who have experience in oncology and can be
reached via phone or email around the clock. They
participate in patient rounds and help patients coordinate
appointments, medications and transportation needs, and
stay in touch with patients and families throughout and
beyond their treatment. In 2011, patient care navigators
served 222 new cancer patients and developed a quarterly
newsletter with cancer-related items for patients. The
patient satisfaction rate with this service was over
99 percent, as was the satisfaction rate of physicians who
refer their patients to our oncology patient navigators.
Patients and their loved ones from as far away as India,
South America and Europe have requested support and
resource information from our navigators through the
Baptist Health website.
Palliative Care
Baptist Health’s palliative care program is an integral
part of our philosophy of patient- and family-centered care.
Our palliative care focuses on anticipating, preventing and
relieving suffering at any point in a serious illness, as well as
during end-of-life care. Palliative care addresses the physical,
intellectual, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs
of the patient and family. We try to maximize patient
autonomy, choice and access to information in an effort
to optimize quality of life.
Baptist Health has a well-developed palliative care
training program designed to educate nurses and other
healthcare professionals who help care for chronically ill
and dying patients, as well as those with a serious illness
6

that may be cured. In 2011, 859 Baptist Health caregivers
completed their two-part palliative care training, bringing to
1,600 the total number of our staff members who have undergone
the training. In addition, we continued to share our
training program with other South Florida healthcare organizations,
educating 180 caregivers at Jackson Memorial
Hospital and 20 at Mercy Hospital and conducting train-thetrainer
classes at Broward Health. As part of our partnership
with the Florida International University’s Wertheim College
of Medicine, our palliative care director serves as a volunteer
faculty member there. In 2011, she helped train 44 secondyear
medical students in palliative and end-of-life care.
Every Baptist Health hospital has a palliative care team
of nurses, social workers, chaplains and others. They work
with patients, families and hospital staff to help patients make
informed medical decisions, to manage symptoms, and
enhance communication and coordination of care. At Baptist
and South Miami Hospitals in 2011, cancer remained the top
primary condition in patients referred for palliative care. At
Baptist Hospital, the number of inpatients seen for palliative
care continues to climb. In 2011, 649 patients were seen,
up 75 percent from the previous year, when 370 patients
received palliative care. In 2011, a second nurse practitioner
joined the palliative care team at Baptist Hospital. At South
Miami Hospital, the palliative care team gave support to 441
hospitalized patients (147 with cancer), up from 316 in 2010.
At Baptist Children’s Hospital, the Pediatric Advanced Care
Team helps young patients with cancer and other serious
illnesses. In 2011, 123 patients were served by this team,
which includes pediatric nurse practitioners, physicians,
nurses, child life specialists, psychologists, social workers
and chaplains.
In addition to providing high-quality care, palliative
care is cost-effective. South Miami Hospital estimated that
palliative care services reduced costs by an average of
$414 a day in the first three quarters of 2011. At Baptist
Hospital, average cost savings were $383.50 a day in the
first six months of 2011.
In January, Baptist Health’s Palliative Care Conference
— Palliative Care 2011: Going to Scale — brought the
“mother of palliative care,” Diane Meier, M.D., to Baptist
Hospital to speak about shifts and advances in this evolving
field. Among other things, she discussed the needs and
desires of patients with serious illnesses and the many ways
caregivers can communicate with the patient and family. In
May, Baptist Hospital’s palliative care program began offering
music therapy to patients. Sixty-eight percent of patients
accepted the offer and chose the genre of music they wanted
to hear. Based on patients’ comments and behavior, the music
was found to reduce pain, anxiety and other symptoms,
A constant headache in mid-2011 sent
JOEL NUÑEZ to his internist, who discovered an
abnormality in Mr. Nuñez’s blood count. Referred to
a Baptist Health medical oncologist, the 25-year-old
automobile service supervisor was diagnosed with
acute lymphocytic leukemia. He spent three months
in the Baptist Hospital oncology unit receiving
chemotherapy. “I’m a friendly guy and over three
months I got to know the nurses well. They really
knew what they were doing and were so compassionate.
It’s obvious that they love their work,” Mr. Nuñez
said. “My oncologist is the best. He explained everything
and took time speaking with me. I had total
confidence and trust in my doctor and nurses.”
Mr. Nuñez, now receiving outpatient maintenance
chemotherapy, is in remission and looks
forward to returning to work soon.
7

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
promote activity or sleep, and provide comfort. Also in
2011, the team developed educational handouts in English
and Spanish for patients and families on such topics as
managing pain and understanding artificial feeding and
nutrition at end of life. The program also expanded bereavement
support with phone calls and letters to families.
In 2011, one of South Miami Hospital’s palliative care
team members attended palliative care and pain management
conferences in San Diego and Los Angeles to further
her knowledge. Also in 2011, South Miami Hospital held six
Schwartz Center Rounds, a multidisciplinary forum at which
caregivers can explore the psychosocial issues and process
the emotions they experience when helping patients receiving
palliative care. Schwartz Center Rounds were founded by
the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center, a Boston not-for-profit
group that promotes compassionate healthcare. Each session
in 2011 was attended by more than 100 physicians, nurses,
social workers and chaplains. The rounds focus on one case
and a panel of health professionals presents the issues and
feelings related to such topics as delivering bad news, dealing
with dying patients and experiencing conflicts between
medical advice and spiritual beliefs. Audience members can
comment and share their own experiences in a nonjudgmental
and confidential environment. In 2011, Doctors Hospital
also began Schwartz Center Rounds.
Our cancer program is committed to consistent and
effective pain management for patients. In February 2011,
one of Baptist Children’s Hospital’s two annual multidisciplinary
educational conferences focused on “The Keys to
Managing Children’s Pain.” A Baptist Health nurse was
among several national nurse experts who authored an
American Society for Pain Management Nursing position
statement that emphasizes the nurse’s role in advocating
for patients who undergo painful procedures. The article,
“Procedural Pain Management: A Position Statement with
Clinical Practice Recommendations,” appeared in the June
2011 issue of the Society’s journal, Pain Management.
Children’s Cancer Services
The pediatric cancer team at Baptist Children’s
Hospital understands the shock an entire family
feels when a child is diagnosed with cancer. Our
team has the expertise and experience to treat the child’s
disease and help the family cope with the life-changing
event.
In 2011, our pediatric oncologist treated 25 newly
diagnosed children and gave follow-up care to more than
120 young patients. Fifteen new patients were among the
49 children and adolescents who participated in one of the
35 clinical trials sponsored by the Children’s Oncology
Group, a national research organization.
Twenty-nine registered nurses at Baptist Children’s
Hospital held national certifications in chemotherapy and
biotherapy from the Association for Pediatric Hematology/
Oncology Nurses.
Baptist Children’s Hospital’s multidisciplinary
educational series, Caring for Kids With Cancer, held two
well-attended conferences in 2011. In February, the
conference focused on “The Keys to Managing Children’s
Pain.” In June, the topic was “Leukemia in Childhood and
Adolescence.” About 100 nurses, pediatricians and other
health professionals attended each conference.
Every other week, our Pediatric Oncology Support
Team — consisting of the medical director of pediatric
oncology, a nurse, nurse practitioner, psychologist, social
worker, chaplain and child life specialist — meets to
discuss the plan of care for young cancer patients and to
review their progress. Baptist Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric
Advanced Care Team (PACT) consists of the same multidisciplinary
representatives and provides palliative care to
young patients with complex, chronic or life-threatening
conditions, including cancer. The team works together to
address all the needs of the patients and their families.
8

In 2011, a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Performance
Improvement Team was created to find ways to
increase support for affected families and to ensure that
the latest evidence-based best practices are followed. Also
in 2011, Baptist Children’s Hospital developed a Family
Support Packet that includes photographs and titles of
hospital staff members, helpful hints, and community and
online resources for support.
Young cancer inpatients are treated to pet therapy,
humor programs and educational playtime. Part of the
playroom was converted into a teen lounge where adolescent
patients can enjoy some independence and privacy
outside their hospital bed.
Our outpatients may attend enriching programs
through our relationships with other organizations and
partners. At Rides ‘n’ Smiles, children and their families
are treated to a day of fun activities at the Homestead
Speedway, including rides in high-performance cars. A
family weekend at Universal Studios is another popular
event. About 10 times a year, the Sunshine Organization
invites our patients and a hospital representative on a
weeklong trip to various cities around the country.
Make-A-Wish Foundation donates game tickets and
other goodies for our patients, and Baptist Children’s
Hospital child life specialists organize Make-A-Wish
activities for patients, when applicable.
Caring for the Outpatient
Many cancer care services now are performed
on an outpatient basis — from diagnostic
tests and outpatient surgery to radiation and
chemotherapy. To serve this growing need, Baptist Health
continues to expand its neighborhood outpatient centers.
With the 2011 opening of the Baptist Diagnostic Center on
the campus of West Kendall Baptist Hospital, we now have
15 outpatient diagnostic centers that offer digital imaging
tests, including digital mammography, ultrasound, MRI
and PET/CT scanning. In addition, in 2011 we opened a
second endoscopy center (our first in Broward County),
Baptist Endoscopy Center at Coral Springs, and two
additional urgent care centers, for a total of 15. At our
endoscopy centers in 2011, physicians performed about
15,500 outpatient colonoscopies and other endoscopic
procedures. We also offer surgery at two locations —
Medical Arts Surgery Centers at Baptist and South Miami.
In early 2012, Mariners Hospital in the Florida Keys will
expand its oncology services to offer outpatient chemotherapy
infusions. Rather than having to travel to Baptist
or South Miami Hospitals in Miami, patients living in the
Keys will be able to receive chemotherapy closer to home.
In 2011, Baptist Health Home Care received full
accreditation from The Joint Commission, which
demonstrates its dedication to high standards of clinical
DANIELA HOYOS developed sudden nasal congestion the
week after her 7th birthday, and common treatments did no
good. In fact, the congestion was getting worse. When a CT scan
shockingly revealed a large, fast-growing mass in her sinus cavity,
doctors suspected a soft-tissue sarcoma. A biopsy confirmed
Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
that mostly affects children. Aggressive chemotherapy began
immediately.
“The pediatric oncologist at Baptist Children’s Hospital
brought me hope and peace from day one,” said Daniela’s mom,
Monika Hoyos, a former oncology nurse. “He has a personable,
caring approach and the nurses are great. The whole
team, particularly the child life specialists, has made
our difficult journey easier. I have no doubt that we
chose the right doctor and hospital for Daniela.”
A recent scan showed Daniela was free of
lymphoma. She looks forward to returning to her
normal activities, including school and preparing for
her First Communion.
9

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
performance. Home Care is Baptist Health’s Medicarecertified
home health agency that provides care to homebound
patients, including people with cancer, in their
homes.
Baptist Health Breast Center
Baptist Health Breast Center, located on the first floor
of the South Miami Hospital Medical Arts Building,
serves as a comprehensive and centralized one-stop shop
for people with confirmed or suspected breast cancer. It
features renowned and experienced breast surgeons,
radiologists specializing in breast health, and state-of-theart
diagnostic technology under one roof. To handle the
growing demand, an additional breast surgeon joined the
Baptist Health Breast Center team in 2011 and a nurse
practitioner and dietitian soon will be hired to support the
Breast Center’s surgical team. To meet the needs of all our
patients, the Breast Center is developing a Benign Breast
Disease Clinic, a High-risk and Surveillance Clinic and a
Breast Survivorship Program.
The Breast Center’s diagnostic services include breast
MRI; breast PET, known as PEM (positron emission
mammography); and core biopsy using ultrasound,
MRI and stereotactic guidance. In 2011, our physicians
performed 2,185 core biopsies at the Breast Center and
652 breast surgeries. More than 3,100 imaging tests were
performed, including 65 PEM scans. (At our other
outpatient centers in 2011, we performed 52,250 mammograms,
21,539 breast ultrasounds, 93 core biopsies and
1,014 breast MRIs.)
The Breast Center is advised by a Patient and Family
Advisory Council consisting of 12 breast cancer survivors
and their families. The Council meets quarterly to provide
guidance on how the Breast Center can improve the
patient experience and plan for the future. The Breast
Center also employs three full-time CareCoaches, two of
whom are breast cancer survivors. Patients are matched
one-on-one with a CareCoach to guide them and their
family during testing and, if necessary, after a breast
cancer diagnosis. CareCoaches help schedule appointments,
provide compassionate support and connect patients and
families with support services, such as physical therapy,
genetic testing, support groups and nutritional advice. The
Breast Center plans to add a certified oncology registered
nurse to the CareCoach team.
Genetic Risk Education Service
Baptist Health’s Genetic Risk Education Service is
provided at Baptist Health Breast Center. The Service’s
specially trained registered nurse offers free education to
people who are at increased risk for hereditary breast/
ovarian, colorectal, pancreatic or melanoma cancers. The
nurse also facilitates genetic susceptibility testing for
those who choose to have it. The primary way the service
reaches people at risk is through referrals from physicians.
In 2011, physicians referred 263 people for genetic
education and testing. Our nurse gave 205 education
sessions and sent 196 saliva samples for genetic analysis.
10

Photo of breast cancer cells courtesy of Moffitt Cancer Center
Since the Service began in 2001, 2,963 people have been
referred, 1,657 education sessions have taken place and
1,712 people have chosen to have genetic testing performed.
In 2011, the Service received a $26,250 grant from the
Miami-Fort Lauderdale affiliate of the Susan G. Komen
for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, which paid for
genetic susceptibility testing for 12 people. Since 2003,
the Service has received $283,750 from the foundation to
provide free hereditary breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility
testing for those at high risk who cannot afford the
laboratory fees. A total of 290 people have been referred
to our Service for free genetic susceptibility testing
through this ongoing grant.
11

FACTS AND FIGURES
Cancer Data Services
(Baptist and South Miami
Hospitals combined)
Baptist Health continues to
participate in the American College
of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer
Rapid Quality Reporting System
(RQRS). The RQRS enables accredited
cancer programs to report data
on patients concurrently, notify
hospitals of treatment expectations,
and show hospitals year-to-date
concordance rates relative to the
state, other similar hospitals and
hospitals nationally. The objective
of the RQRS is to promote evidencebased
cancer care at the local level,
specifically treatment for breast and
colorectal cancer patients, by requiring
hospitals to meet a variety of
measures.
In 2010, 3,644 new cancer cases
were registered at Baptist and South
Miami Hospitals. Of all cancer patients
seen in 2010, 56 percent were
women, and 44 percent were men. Of
those registered 2,801 (77 percent)
were analytic and 843 (23 percent)
were nonanalytic. The distribution of
stage of disease at diagnosis for
analytic cases was 8 percent Stage 0;
27 percent Stage I; 17 percent Stage
II; 12 percent Stage III; 14 percent
Stage IV; 9 percent unknown and
13 percent not applicable. The top five
primary sites, making up 60 percent
of the total analytic cases, were:
Surgery/Hormone • 99
Surgery/Radiation • 136
Chemotherapy/
Radiation • 140
Surgery/Radiation/
Hormone • 143
Surgery/Chemotherapy/
Radiation • 150
2010 Treatment Methods — Analytic Cases
Baptist Health Regional Cancer Program
Other Combinations • 222
Radiation • 93
Chemotherapy • 187
Surgery/Chemotherapy • 246
Surgery • 953
None • 432
Follow-up Activities
The Cancer Data Services staff uses a computerized database to track all
cases diagnosed and treated at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals since 1996.
Through annual follow-up, patients are reminded of the importance of ongoing
medical supervision. The staff maintained a 90 percent follow-up rate as
required by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
Site No. Cases Stage
0 I II III IV Unk N/A %
Breast 672 129 265 148 54 24 50 2 24
Lung 309 0 68 28 54 148 11 0 11
Colorectal 285 18 58 67 77 52 12 1 10
Prostate 221 0 52 138 10 17 4 0 8
Gynecological 201 1 117 13 33 18 17 2 7
Others 1113 40
12

Commission on Cancer Special
Studies
Cancer Data Services provides
data for special studies as required
by the Commission on Cancer of the
American College of Surgeons. In
2011, the cancer program participated
in the commission’s special
study on anorectal melanoma.
Additional treatment information
was submitted to the Commission
on Cancer on four cases meeting
criteria for the study.
Tumor Conferences
All oncology conferences are
held at Baptist Hospital. All except
the Head and Neck Conference are
televised to South Miami Hospital.
For meeting agendas, call
786-596-5539.
■ Thoracic Oncology Conference
■ Combined Gynecologic and
Genitourinary Oncology
Conference
■ Gastrointestinal Oncology
Conference
■ Combined Pediatric and
Neurosurgical Oncology
Conference
■ Head and Neck Conference —
approved for 1.5 hours Continuing
Medical Education Category
1 credit
■ Breast Conference — approved
for 1 hour Continuing Medical
Education Category 1 credit
Bruno Sharp, DDS, a member of Baptist Hospital’s Head and Neck Cancer Support Team, examines
a patient at one of four free oral cancer screenings the team offered in 2011. In total, more than
100 people were screened.
Definition of Terms
Analytic Case — A patient diagnosed and/or receiving a first course of
therapy at Baptist or South Miami Hospital.
Nonanalytic Case — A case diagnosed and initially treated elsewhere
before coming to our hospitals; or a case diagnosed and/or treated at one
of our hospitals prior to January 1, 1996, that has presented persistent or
recurrent disease during the current year or was diagnosed at autopsy.
Primary Site — The anatomical location considered the point of origin for
the malignancy.
Stage — The spread of disease at the time of diagnosis. Our hospitals’
database includes the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results)
and the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) TNM (Primary
Tumor/Regional Lymph Nodes/Distant Metastasis) Staging Systems.
Survival — Survival is calculated from the date of best confirmation of
diagnosis to the date of last contact for analytic cases only.
13

FACTS AND FIGURES
Breast Cancer Site-specific Review
Breast Cancer continues to be the number-one cancer
treated at Baptist Health, accounting for more than onethird
of our cancer cases in women.
Nationally, breast cancer is the leading cause of
cancer in women. The National Cancer Institute estimates
that approximately 2.6 million American women with a
history of breast cancer were alive in January 2008, the
largest group of cancer survivors in the country. There
has been a decline in breast cancer mortality since 1990,
attributed to both improvements in breast cancer treatment
and early detection.
Our tumor registry performed a long-term follow-up
on breast cancer patients who were diagnosed and/or
received their first treatment at Baptist Hospital or South
Miami Hospital. The data collected was compared to the
National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) data of 2003 and 2004,
the most recent NCDB survival data available. NCDB data
represents national cancer registry data that is collected
and reported annually. The accompanying tables and graphs
represent that data. Because our total number of stage IV
cases was only 26, an accurate comparison to national
data is difficult. Baptist Health survival statistics compare
favorably with the national data. The majority of the breast
cancer cases treated at our hospitals present in early stages.
We hold a bimonthly, multidisciplinary breast
cancer tumor conference. Participants include surgeons,
radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists and
40
35
Breast Cancer, 2006 versus 2010,
Stage at Initial Diagnosis
Percent Surviving
radiologists who review cases and provide expert opinions.
Early detection leads to better survival and Baptist Health is
committed to providing the most-advanced diagnostic technology,
which includes digital mammography, ultrasound, core
biopsies, breast MRI and positron emission mammography.
Site-specific review by Grace Wang, M.D.
100
80
60
40
20
0
Breast Cancer
5-year Observed Survival, 2003 & 2004
■ BH
■ NCDB
Stage 0 Stage l Stage ll Stage lll Stage lV
AJCC/TNM Stage Group
■ BH 2010
■ BH 2006
■ NCDB
30
Percent Surviving
25
20
15
10
5
0
Stage 0 Stage l Stage ll Stage lll Stage lV
AJCC/TNM Stage Group
14

Primary Cancer Sites
Primary Site Total Analytic Nonanalytic Male Female
Oral Cavity 60 40 20 44 16
Lip 1 1 0 1 0
Tongue 18 13 5 13 5
Oropharynx 0 0 0 0 0
Hypopharynx 3 2 1 3 0
Other Oral Cavity 38 24 14 27 11
Digestive System 643 496 147 333 310
Esophagus 40 25 15 34 6
Stomach 60 42 18 39 21
Colon 254 206 48 114 140
Rectum 99 79 20 52 47
Anus/Anal Canal 13 10 3 4 9
Liver 39 27 12 27 12
Pancreas 84 63 21 36 48
Other Digestive System 54 44 10 27 27
Respiratory System 438 346 92 277 161
Nasal/Sinus 4 1 3 3 1
Larynx 33 29 4 26 7
Lung/Bronchus 388 309 79 237 151
Other Respiratory System 13 7 6 11 2
Blood & Bone Marrow 248 117 131 141 107
Leukemia 116 62 54 69 47
Multiple Myeloma 68 31 37 36 32
Other Blood & Bone Marrow 64 24 40 36 28
Bone 10 5 5 6 4
Connect/Soft Tissue 14 10 4 7 7
Skin 116 79 37 77 39
Melanoma 102 73 29 65 37
Other Skin 14 6 8 12 2
Breast 780 672 108 7 773
Female Genital 243 201 42 0 243
Cervix Uteri 38 31 7 0 38
Corpus Uteri 132 115 17 0 132
Ovary 55 40 15 0 55
Vulva 3 3 0 0 3
Other Female Genital 15 12 3 0 15
Male Genital 349 236 113 349 0
Prostate 330 221 109 330 0
Testis 13 11 2 13 0
Other Male Genital 6 4 2 6 0
Urinary System 181 147 34 124 57
Bladder 97 81 16 72 25
Kidney/Renal 70 54 16 46 24
Other Urinary System 14 12 2 6 8
Brain & CNS 143 118 25 60 83
Brain (Benign) 20 17 3 11 9
Brain (Malignant) 45 37 8 31 14
Other Brain & CNS 78 64 14 18 60
Endocrine 183 169 14 50 133
Thyroid 143 137 6 32 111
Other Endocrine 40 32 8 18 22
Lymphatic System 177 121 56 92 85
Hodgkin’s Disease 22 15 7 12 10
Non-Hodgkin’s Disease 155 106 49 80 75
Unknown Primary 34 27 7 20 14
Other/Ill-defined 25 17 8 13 12
All Sites 3,644 2,801 843 1,600 2,044
15

LIVING AND LEARNING
Education
Baptist Health strives to keep the community healthy
and well-informed by offering cancer awareness,
prevention and treatment programs in both English
and Spanish. In 2011, we presented 103 free community
cancer education programs, events and exhibits at our hospitals
and diagnostic facilities, as well as other community
venues and events, reaching large numbers of South
Floridians. Eighteen programs were presented in Spanish to
serve our Hispanic community. Dermatologists and an oral
surgeon examined 69 people at a free skin and oral cancer
screening in March. Additionally, more than 100 people
were examined at four free oral cancer screenings at Baptist
Hospital. Three Baptist Health hospitals run smoking
cessation programs and Baptist Health is a completely
tobacco-free organization, meaning that no tobacco
products are allowed on any Baptist Health property.
Breast cancer is the most frequently treated cancer at
Baptist Health. The American Cancer Society’s Look Good,
Feel Better program is available at our hospitals to boost
the morale of female patients undergoing treatment.
In an effort to increase public awareness of the importance
of early detection of the disease, during Breast Cancer
Awareness Month in October, we partnered with local
CBS4 to create an educational campaign featuring our
physicians, staff and patients. CBS4 broadcasts throughout
South Florida, reaching 5.5 million people. In
addition, we held breast cancer educational programs
at all of our hospitals, attracting almost 600 people.
Prostate cancer is another commonly treated cancer at
Baptist Health. In September, Prostate Cancer Awareness
Month, we sponsored a bilingual awareness campaign that
included educational information on our website and
social media sites, radio interviews with physicians and
newspaper ads.
Thousands of Miami-Dade County residents learned
about cancer prevention and treatment by tuning in to
weekly radio call-in shows that featured 26 of our oncology
professionals. “Health, Life and Community” airs on
WDNA, 88.9 FM; and “Salud, Vida y Comunidad” on
Radio Caracol, 1260 AM.
Our free support groups are open to anyone coping
with cancer. We provide support for patients with breast,
prostate and gynecologic cancer, as well as for those who
need support to stay tobacco-free after completing our
smoking cessation program. Children with cancer and
their families attend support groups at Baptist
Children’s Hospital.
South Miami Hospital’s Behavioral and
Collaborative Medicine Program offers a
variety of mind-body techniques to our cancer
patients. Programs include stress management,
therapeutic stretch and meditation,
therapeutic writing, art and music therapy,
massage therapy, bereavement and
mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Pilates exercise, tai chi-style exercise,
yoga-style exercise and a variety
of dance and movement classes
also are available to our
patients.
A popular Arts
in Healthcare
Breast cancer survivors greet each other at Your Bosom Buddies Breast
Cancer Support Group's annual Breast Cancer Survivors Celebration. The
support group meets monthly at South Miami Hospital.
16

These employees were part of Baptist Health’s team at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in October. More than 500 employees, physicians, their
families and friends participated.
program brings performances by local musicians to our
inpatient units and an “Art Kart” allows patients and
their visitors to create small art projects at the
bedside and in waiting rooms.
Several days a week, our pet therapy
program brings certified, trained dogs and
their owners to visit inpatients. These
lovable dogs provide a much-needed
distraction from illness.
Cancer Resource Service
The Cancer Resource Service is the contact for all
cancer inquiries to Baptist Health. Our cancer
resource nurse handles about 500 telephone
requests and email inquiries each year from people living
in North America, the Caribbean, and Central and South
America. She answers cancer questions and makes
referrals to our physicians, support services, educational
programs and clinical trials. For those living outside the
United States, she works closely with our International
Services Department to arrange consultations and other
appointments.
The Cancer Resource Service is the only service of its
kind in South Florida that has a registered nurse providing
this information. The Baptist Health website features a
direct link, CancerInfo@BaptistHealth.net, to the cancer
resource nurse, who responds to all inquiries within
24 hours.
17

LIVING AND LEARNING
A breast cancer survivor gets information from one of the exhibits at Your Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Survivors Celebration held in October at South
Miami Hospital. More than 375 people attended the free event that included speakers, entertainment and a buffet dinner.
Information Online
Baptist Health’s English and Spanish websites,
BaptistHealth.net and BaptistSalud.net, feature
everything the community needs to know about
our cancer program and include a health library called
Health Topics A to Z. From diagnosis and treatment
services to support groups, educational programs, special
events, physician referrals and scheduling tests, patients
and consumers have access to information, including this
annual report, from the privacy of their homes or offices.
The sites, which recorded a 54 percent increase in traffic
over 2010, draw more than 150,000 visitors and more than
one million page views each month. Diagnostic exams can
now be scheduled via smartphone, by using the camera on
the device to snap a photo of the prescription and sending
it to Appointments@BaptistHealth.net.
Information about cancer clinical trials is available
and there are links to respected cancer-related websites.
Our patients can register for certain procedures online,
such as mammograms. In 2011, we started producing
Cancer Answer videos for our web and social media sites.
They feature our oncology professionals and cancer
18

esource nurse discussing such topics as treatment
options, reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence,
personalized medicine, genetic testing, participating in
a clinical trial and palliative care.
Support for the Community
When it comes to overcoming cancer, no single
organization can do it all. Baptist Health is
committed to financially supporting and
partnering with local cancer groups that assist cancer
patients and their families.
Community events and organizations sponsored by
Baptist Health include the Susan G. Komen Race for the
Cure in support of breast cancer research and patient
services; the Miami Day of Caring for Breast Cancer
Awareness, at which 16 of our oncology professionals
gave presentations; La Liga Contra el Cancer (The
League Against Cancer), which gives free medical care to
indigent cancer patients; Cancer Support Community,
which offers education and emotional support to cancer
patients; and the American Cancer Society’s Relays for
Life in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
For the sixth consecutive year, the American Cancer
Society’s East Kendall Relay for Life has been held
around the lake at Baptist Hospital, raising the most
money of any relay in South Florida. Baptist Health
supports the event and welcomes
the participation of our health
professionals and patients. More
than 2,500 people gathered for the
all-night camp-out, survivors’
celebration and relay-style walk;
in 2011, the fundraiser generated
$257,000 for the Cancer Society.
For the fourth year, Homestead
Hospital hosted on its campus the
Homestead Relay for Life, raising
an additional $38,000 for the
American Cancer Society.
At its annual dinner in
September, the American Cancer
Society honored Baptist Health
with a Special Recognition
Award. We were recognized for
our long-standing support of the
local chapter’s work.
In 2011, Baptist Health was honored with the American Cancer Society’s
Special Recognition Award for our continuing support of the Society’s
work. Featured on the award is a photograph of the luminaria ceremony
that memorialized and honored those with cancer at the East Kendall
Relay for Life around the lake at Baptist Hospital.
For the sixth consecutive year, Baptist Hospital hosted the American Cancer Society East Kendall Relay
for Life on its campus. It was the top fundraising relay in South Florida and raised $257,000 for cancer
research, education and patient services.
19

Cancer Committee Members — 2011
Andre Abitbol, M.D.
Associate Medical Director
Radiation Oncology
Baptist Hospital and Cancer
Conference Coordinator
Flor Aguirre, R.N., MSN,
OCN, CNL
Inpatient Oncology
Baptist Hospital
Cindy Bowling, R.N., OCN
Nurse Manager
Inpatient Oncology
Baptist Hospital
Marsha Braunstein,
ARNP, OCN
Inpatient Oncology
South Miami Hospital
Claudia Brborich, R.N.
Assistant Nurse Manager
Radiation Oncology
South Miami Hospital
Judy Burgess, R.N., OCN
Inpatient Oncology
Baptist Hospital
Patricia Collins, R.N.-B.C.,
MSN, AOCN, CHPN
Consultant for Pain
Oncology & Palliative Care
South Miami Hospital
Arnold Fonticiella, LCSW
Palliative Care
South Miami Hospital
Annie Garcia-Montes,
LCSW
Social Work
Baptist Hospital
Anthony M. Gonzalez,
M.D.
Chief of Surgery
Baptist Hospital
Omi Gopalani, R.Ph.
Pharmacy
South Miami Hospital
JoAnn Gottlieb, ARNP-
B.C., CHPN, Ph.D.
Palliative Care Advanced
Nurse Practitioner and
Palliative Care Program
Coordinator
Baptist Hospital
Edwin Gould, M.D.
Medical Director
Pathology
Baptist Hospital
Lourdes Grenier, LCSW
Palliative Care
Baptist Hospital
Maria Jaramillo, R.N.
Vitas Hospice
Mindy Kram
Supervisor, Behavioral and
Collaborative Medicine
South Miami Hospital
Yamile Leon, R.N., BSN,
OCN
Oncology Patient Care
Navigator
South Miami Hospital
Moises Lustgarten, M.D.
Acute Pain Service
Baptist Hospital
Raquel Maluf-Contreras,
RNC, OCN, MBA
Nurse Manager
Inpatient Oncology
South Miami Hospital
Marta Manrique-
Reichard, Ph.D.
Psychology
Elizabeth Matalon,
MBA, P.T.
Director, Rehabilitation
Services
Baptist Hospital
Ani Matos, M.S.-HSA
Administrative Director
Radiation Oncology
South Miami Hospital
Mercy Mena-Allauca,
CTR, RHIT
Manager, Cancer Program and
Cancer Data Service
Baptist Health and Quality of
Cancer Registry Data
Coordinator
Lourdes Moreno, LPN
Clinical Research Associate
Radiation Oncology
Baptist Hospital
Anay Moscu, Pharm.D.,
BCPS
Oncology Clinical Pharmacist
Pharmacy, Baptist Hospital
Nariman Muci, R.N., BSN
Pediatric Oncology
Baptist Children’s Hospital
Stephanie Nazarey, ARNP
Palliative Care
South Miami Hospital
Esta Orovitz, LCSW
Social Work
South Miami Hospital
Karla Otero, R.D.
Clinical Nutrition
Baptist Hospital
Jessie Perez
Chaplain, Pastoral Care
Services
Baptist Hospital
Julianne Pocquette, P.T.
Rehabilitation Services
Baptist Hospital
Berta Rios, Ph.D.
Patient Services Manager
South Region, American
Cancer Society
Faith Solkoff, R.N., BSN,
MPA
Vice President
Baptist Hospital
Jeanette Stone
Vice President
South Miami Hospital
Carlos Suarez, M.D.
Surgery
Jill Szymanski, R.N., MSN,
MBA
Director
Performance Improvement
Baptist Hospital
Phyllis Teitelbaum, R.N.
Coordinator, Cancer Resource
Service
Baptist Health and Community
Outreach Coordinator
Lupita Townsend, R.D.
Clinical Nutrition
Baptist Hospital
Lisa Trebbi, RNC
Manager, TCC Moffitt Study,
Baptist Health
Antonio Ucar, M.D.
Medical Oncology
Cancer Committee Co-chairman
and Quality Improvement
Coordinator
Ruben Ulloa, RTT
Chief Radiation Therapist
Radiation Oncology
South Miami Hospital
Stefania Vernace, M.D.
Gastroenterology
Hao Vuong, M.D.
Diagnostic Radiology/
Nuclear Medicine
Baptist Hospital
Howard Wallach, M.D.
Medical Oncology
Cancer Liaison Physician
Grace Wang, M.D.
Medical Oncology
Cancer Committee Chairwoman
George Weiss, R.T.
Administrative Director
Radiation Oncology and Cancer
Data Center
Baptist Hospital
Rae Wruble, R.N.
Coordinator
Genetic Risk Education Service
Baptist Outpatient Services
20

Writers, Patty Shillington and Phyllis Teitelbaum, R.N.; Editor, Phyllis Teitelbaum, R.N.; Cancer Registry Information,
Mercy Mena-Allauca; Photography, Mabel Rodriguez, Fareed al-Mashat and Donna Victor; Graphic Design,
Denise Winston; Production, Kelli Romano and Sheleva Pineda.
This publication is produced by Baptist Health South Florida’s Marketing and Public Relations Department.
For information, call our Cancer Resource Service at 786-596-2430 or email CancerInfo@BaptistHealth.net.

© Baptist Health South Florida
0311-1033
BaptistHealth.net