




The exponential growth of Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute since our opening in 2017 is unprecedented in the industry In just six years, we have become a nationally recognized cancer program, poised to be the next hemisphere-destination cancer center
Philanthropic support has been essential in helping fuel this incredible growth and we wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to YOU, our donors, who help make dreams possible – whether it’s by funding scientific initiatives, new technology and research, endowed chairs or patient support services
Through your extraordinary giving, we are providing compassionate, high-quality care each day. Simply stated, philanthropy is the difference between what we can do and what we must do to deliver life-changing cancer care to those we serve
With your trust and support, Baptist Health Foundation remains steadfast in our drive to create a lasting impact at Miami Cancer Institute. We hope you are as proud of our work as we are. When taken individually, our accomplishments are noteworthy; taken together, they are remarkable
Thank you for being part of Miami Cancer Institute
With gratitude,
In June 2022, U.S. News & World Report once again recognized the Institute as a high-performing oncology program, putting us in the top 10 percent of leading cancer centers in the nation Miami Cancer Institute also received high-performing ratings in colon cancer surgery.
The Institute opened eight new outpatient clinics:
Abbhi Family Bladder Cancer Clinic
Female Sexual Health Clinic
HIV/Cancer Clinic
Mohs Clinic
Neurofibromatosis Clinic
Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology Clinic
Port Draw Clinic
Wound and Ostomy Clinic
$5 Million
invested in the Institute in fiscal year 2022
Your support goes beyond dollars and cents it touches lives.
In fiscal year 2022, Baptist Health Foundation disbursed close to $5 million to Miami Cancer Institute to support the purchase of new technologies, innovative treatments and other resources to care for patients body, mind and spirit.
At Miami Cancer Institute, philanthropy has been beneficial in enhancing the patient experience by supporting initiatives that allow our patients to feel heard, understood and cared for. Your generosity is also leveraging our commitment to pairing world-class medical experts with often life-changing equipment to best serve the needs of our community.
Philanthropic dollars continue to support important research endeavors that will catalyze our evolution into a destination for research, discovery, innovation and treatment.
Over
$25 Million
raised in support of Miami Cancer Institute in fiscal year 2022
Miami Cancer Institute established three endowed chairs in 2022, a significant accomplishment made possible by donor support Endowed chairs are a way for donors to honor the institution and the physician-scientist who receives funding from the endowment. In addition, they provide invaluable support for high-impact research and patient care initiatives.
The Abbhi Family Endowed Chair in Urologic Oncology supports the work of Murugesan Manoharan, M D , chief of urologic oncologic surgery The chair is part of a $5 million gift from the Abbhi Family Foundation that will also help fund the new Abbhi Family Bladder Cancer Clinic and the new Global Bladder Cancer Consortium (GBCC). The GBCC is an international collaboration led by Dr. Manoharan that will impact patient outcomes and improve care for those with bladder cancer.
The Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Research supports the work of Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, deputy director, chief scientific officer and chief of solid tumor medical oncology. The endowed chair represents $2 million of a $5 million gift from the Miguel B. Fernandez Family Foundation to support programs at Miami Cancer Institute The remaining $3 million will go toward breast cancer research at the Institute
The Kalman Bass Associate Chair in Skin Cancer began with a $1.5 million donation that will support the work of dermatologist Naiara Abreu Fraga Braghiroli, M D The chair was established to honor the 100th birthday of Kalman Bass, and to express appreciation for the high-quality care Dr Braghiroli and her staff provided him
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute is a destination for world-class cancer care in South Florida and an emerging global hub for groundbreaking research that is actively changing the future of cancer as we know it
The Institute is facilitating gamechanging discoveries that will have an impact far beyond our laboratories and trial centers.
Like the world’s other great centers for innovation in cancer treatment, at Miami Cancer Institute, philanthropy is helping unlock the science that will make all the difference
“I'd like to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to our generous donors who have contributed to Baptist Health's research programs. Their generosity has not only supported specific clinical research projects but has also been used to support administrative and operational efforts that promote quality, safety, and community benefit.”
Scott Lipkin, DPM, Vice President and Chief Research Officer for Baptist HealthBaptist Health Miami Cancer Institute is focused on deploying bold clinical research protocols that hold the key to advancing lifesaving cures and lifechanging outcomes. Clinical trials and research will translate the highimpact discoveries made in our laboratories to outstanding patient care delivered at the Institute. In fiscal year 2022 alone, philanthropy helped launch 17 new clinical trials and supported 11 research associates at the Institute.
Your generosity is providing important funding for clinical trials pertaining to radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, hematology, medical oncology and surgical Presently, there are more radiation oncology clinical trials taking place at the Institute than any other specialty.
Current clinical trials funded by philanthropy:
clinical trials led by Michael Chuong, M.D., Matthew Hall, M.D., Noah Kalman, M.D., Rupesh Kotecha, M.D., Joseph Panoff, M.D. and Minesh Mehta, M.D., impacting more than 200 patients
clinical trials led by John Diaz, M.D., impacting close to 200 patients
clinical trials led by Guenther Koehne, M D , Yuliya Linhares, M D , and Camila Masias, M D , impacting more than 20 patients
clinical trials led by Reshma
L. Mahtani, M.D. and Yazmin Odia, M.D., focusing on breast oncology and neuro oncology and impacting more than 15 patients
clinical trials led by Horacio
Asbun, M.D. and Geoffrey Young, M.D., impacting close to 10 patients
Research Associates
Productivity Snapshot
31 55
Publications Abstracts
2 40
8
13
Book Chapters Protocol Assistance Podium Presentations Poster Presentations
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
At Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, philanthropy supported a new clinical trial, bringing together the brilliant minds of two Baptist Health institutes and fostering collaboration across specialties. Led by Rupesh Kotecha, M.D., a radiation oncologist at Miami Cancer Institute, and Robert J Rothrock, M D , neurosurgical director of spinal oncology at Miami Neuroscience Institute, the clinical study “Dose-Escalated Spine SbRT (DESSRT) Trial for Localized Metastasis in the Spinal Column” aims to assess the feasibility and tolerability of dose-escalated spine stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with new or recurrent spine metastases.
In addition to supporting groundbreaking clinical trials, philanthropy helped purchase and implement software solutions that enhance operational procedures and promote compliance with the applicable federal regulations and state laws that govern research.
The Florence eRegulatory system is a resource that has promoted implementation of digital clinical trial workflows through use of the Florence electronic investigator site files, patient binders and electronic logs.
Your generous support also helped purchase and implement a clinical trial matching software system.
The system integrates with Baptist Health’s EHR (electronic health record) software and matches patients with open clinical trials When a match is identified, the physician seeing the patient receives a notice, alerting him/her to the available trial. This software significantly benefits patients at the Institute through heightened physician awareness of available clinical trials.
Philanthropic dollars were also used to promote operational quality and efficiency through engagement with various external consultants.
Consultants brought into the Institute assisted with interim clinical staffing during the height of the pandemic, internal protocol monitoring, the creation of electronic data collection forms and human subject protection accreditation preparation.
The Institute’s Patient Navigation Program ensures patients are not facing the challenges brought on by a cancer diagnosis alone Made possible through the generosity of our donors, the patient navigation team is there for patients every step of the way – whether they have questions about their diagnosis, are concerned about treatment or need recommendations for support programs
In 2022, more than 8,700 patients were impacted by the Patient Navigation Program.
As a result of philanthropic support, the Patient Navigation Program made tremendous strides in helping patients navigate the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.
Ensured 97% of new cancer patients were screened for cancerrelated distress and received supportive resources and referrals to address their needs
Built a Navigation Career Ladder to support professional development, career coaching, recruitment and retention for Navigators in all roles
Implemented a navigation database to standardize tracking of navigation patients and pilot key performance metrics
Consistently navigated nearly 100% of new patients with a cancer diagnosis
85% of new patients saw a nurse navigator within their first week of treatment at the Institute
Supported a performance improvement project to increase oral oncolytic education and consent compliance across the Institute
Identified and implemented a long-term software solution compatible with the Cerner electronic heath record system.
Helped the Institute win a 2022 Association of Community Cancer Centers Innovator Award for this performance improvement project.
Through philanthropy, the team launched an inpatient nurse navigation pilot program at Baptist Health Hospital to support the transition of care for inpatients transferring to the Institute.
To date, the team has provided transition of care support to 193 inpatients with a cancer-related diagnosis. They have been able to prevent unnecessary prolonged hospitalization, expedite treatment and address postdischarge needs including medication, supplies, home healthcare and equipment issues for many patients.
“I’m immensely proud of our team. I dreamed of working with a team like this one day and I’m grateful Miami Cancer Institute has given me the opportunity to do just that We couldn’t do this without our generous donors Thank YOU!”
Each patient at the Institute is paired with a nurse navigator, who acts as an ally and advocate, to make sure our patients receive the support they need and a treatment plan that best fits their needs.
Nurse navigators like Nayla Cepero are making a profound impact on patients every day – providing hope and giving patients a fighting chance.
“My mother became a patient at Miami Cancer Institute when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the middle of 2021 Nayla Cepero, my mother’s nurse navigator, was part of her healthcare team. The care Nayla provided my mother was superlative. She was always professional, conscientious and kind. She expertly navigated through the Institute’s resources to ensure that my mother received the care she required in a timely manner I frequently told her that she could walk on water
Nayla would always participate in my mother’s visits to the Institute and built a wonderful relationship with her. My mother looked forward to seeing her and found great comfort in her presence. I must say, I too was comforted by Nayla’s contributions to her care Nayla always answered my questions with the level of detail that would be provided to any staff member in direct patient care She kept me abreast of her progress, helping me navigate her journey through Miami Cancer Institute’s continuum of care
Ultimately, my mother lost her battle to breast cancer in February of 2022 – but having Nayla as part of her healthcare team gave her a fighting chance.”
-Grateful Patient
Taking care of the whole patient is an important component of providing personalized cancer care. Integrated into the fabric of Miami Cancer Institute, the Cancer Patient Support Center addresses the psychological, physical, social and spiritual needs of our patients during cancer treatment and beyond
Individuals being treated for cancer may experience cognitive changes, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating or trouble multitasking. These cognitive changes are commonly referred to as “chemobrain.” The Brain Fitness Lab consists of psychiatrists, psychometricians and a clinical neuropsychologist, who work collaboratively to assess cognitive changes, make a diagnosis and provide treatment for individuals of all ages.
In fiscal year 2022, donor support played an essential role in redesigning the Brain Fitness Lab to accommodate the medical equipment needed to launch a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Program for treatment of oncology patients suffering from depression. TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. During TMS, a patient sits in a chair, awake and alert, with a magnetic coil on their scalp that administers treatment while being monitored by a psychiatrist
By supporting the redesign of the Brain Fitness Lab, our donors made it possible for the Institute to remain steadfast in their commitment to care for the whole patient – body, mind and spirit – by introducing innovative approaches and additional cancer patient support services that impact the patient experience.
Medical equipment is essential to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate illnesses and diseases in a safe and effective manner. Your support reinforces our commitment to pairing world-class medical experts with the technological advances that best serve the needs of our patients. Through philanthropic support, Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute was able to invest in:
Allows for daily quality assurance checks, ensuring that the proton beam can be generated to the exact dose, depth and angles needed for precise patient treatment.
Used for brain, head and neck, upper thorax and craniospinal irradiation cases for both proton and photon therapy patients. This equipment allows patients to be on multiple machines in different rooms at the same time, as a result increasing patient treatment opportunities, reducing double booking of equipment and increasing patient and staff satisfaction.
Karl Storz Laryngoscope
Allows visualization of the nose, pharynx and larynx for patients with head and neck cancers undergoing radiation therapy services
Used to provide brachytherapy to gynecological and breast cancer patients. These applicators were needed to appropriately support patient volumes and throughput. Brachytherapy allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation to more-specific areas of the body, compared with t
Used to assess caloric intake for patients participating in the weight loss program. This assessment provides registered dietitians with measurable data to be able to educate and assist patients needing to lose weight.
Moving of the source allows for the continuation of treatment to stop tumor growths for brain cancer patients.
The Arts in Medicine Program, part of the Cancer Patient Support Center services, encompasses visual, literary and performing arts and was designed to help patients harness the healing power of the arts to better cope with their illness and treatment.
Fully funded by philanthropy, the program gives patients the opportunit to engage with professional artists-inresidence, who create and perform in the lobbies, waiting areas, chemotherapy infusion suites and the outdoor Meditation Garden They also lead creative workshops in which patients can immerse themselves in music, song, color and visual beauty, and even create their own works of art
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Institute has the funds necessary to support the program’s key components, including creative art therapies, artist residencies, research, supplies, technology, people and education
In 2022, the Arts in Medicine program impacted more than 27,000 patients, and of those individuals, 97% found that engaging or viewing the creative arts enhanced their experience while at Miami Cancer Institute.
"I just wanted to take a moment and share my appreciation for the beautiful musical performances while I am receiving treatment at Miami Cancer Institute. Robyn and Amanda are amazing musicians and always manage to cheer me up during sometimes painful treatments."
-Joseph SazamaResearch has shown that patients exposed to the arts experience less pain, decreased anxiety and a better overall mindset during cancer treatment
Despite the challenges of her cancer diagnosis, a very grateful patient found inspiration to create her own art and is thankful for the Institute’s Artists-in-Residence, who positively impacted her cancer journey.
"Thank you to the Arts in Medicine Program for creating good memories and experiences out of a bad situation! Cancer is an awful prognosis and the musicians and artists at Miami Cancer Institute have made my stay much better When I go home, I don’t think about the unknown or the diagnosis. Instead, I think about the beautiful music I have heard or artists I have met.
I would specifically like to praise the pianist Yanni, the jazz singer Wendy Pederson and the visual artist Monica Lopez De Victoria. All three have made me feel comfortable and have distracted me from the cancer All three have engaged me in conversation and made me feel happy All three have taken the time to offer me onsite instruction in the ukulele, information about music theory or offered encouragement in the creation of my own art All three have inspired me and have given me good memories during a difficult time.”
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute’s Pediatric Support Center team addresses the social and emotional needs of children and provides support to the whole family, including siblings. The Institute provides a compassionate environment, engaging activities and a range of complementary therapies to make sure children remain psychologically healthy during the treatment process and beyond.
As part of the Pediatric Support Center, Miami Cancer Institute designed a space where kids can receive lifesaving infusion therapy, such as chemotherapy or IV antibiotics, while being immersed in a technological experience that positively affects their outcomes. The Pediatric Infusionarium uses virtual reality and live feeds to connect patients to an experience that can help ease the effects of treatment
With the support of philanthropy, important upgrades were made to TV monitors, cameras, speakers and gaming consoles within the Pediatric Infusionarium.
More than 250 pediatric patients received infusion therapy within the Pediatric Infusionarium last fiscal year.
“The children feel that they are in a fun space and not in a healthcare setting, so this is a true blessing to have for our patients.”
-Paula Fonte-Smith, MSN, MEDSURG-BC, NE-BC, Director of Nursing, Infusion ServicesPhilanthropic support for the pediatric radiation oncology program at Miami Cancer Institute has the distinct opportunity to change the lives of children far beyond the geographic boundaries of South Florida. Matthew Hall, M.D., lead pediatric radiation oncologist and director of the Live Like Bella Pediatric Radiation Oncology Program at the Institute, is the principal investigator of numerous cooperative group trials and investigator-initiated trials at the Institute. The Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative is a Florida Department of Health prospective observational trial of the impact of radiation dose on brain function in children with brain and skull base tumors.
Dr. Hall and his team are bringing leading-edge pediatric clinical trials to Miami Cancer Institute In 2023, the Institute will be the lead U S research site for a consortium with radiation oncology centers around the world to treat pediatric cancer patients on the MR Linac, a machine that combines two technologies an MRI scanner and a linear accelerator to precisely locate tumors and accurately deliver doses of radiation, even to tumors in motion.
The pediatric radiation oncology team at Miami Cancer Institute is directing groundbreaking radiotherapy research trials that are not available at local hospitals. As the program continues to expand, additional clinical trials, including multi-center trials, will increase access for children seeking lifesaving treatments at the Institute.
Thanks to philanthropic funding, researchers are making critical discoveries that advance radiation treatment options for children with life-threatening tumors.
In 2018 at age four, Maddison “Maddie” Nuñez was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow and began treatment at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute under the care of Doured Daghistani, M.D., medical director of pediatric oncology
One day, Maddie came home from Pre-K 4 with a slight fever. Her mother, Melissa Nuñez, took her to the doctor, where she was checked for strep, mono (mononucleosis) and flu All came back negative
A week later, Maddie continued having to go to her primary care doctor to have her blood checked They noticed that her white blood count was high and recommended they go see Dr. Daghistani. “She came here, I examined her. I repeated her blood count. I felt like there was something abnormal,” said Dr. Daghistani. Maddie was admitted to the hospital for a procedure called bone marrow aspiration that takes a sample of the liquid part of your bone marrow. “And the second day or the third day confirmed that diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia.”
“It’s extremely welcoming when you come to the Miami Cancer Institute, especially the pediatric area,” said Melissa Nuñez She remembers visiting the Institute for the first time and having the entire team come to greet them. “The social workers, the nurses, the child life specialist, the nurse practitioner and Dr. Daghistani … everyone just worked so well together to try to make it as smooth as possible, so that Maddison didn’t feel different, even though she knows she was going through different things. They all made sure she was happy.”
“Maddie is a very pleasant girl; she is a really mature girl, and she is very smart,” reiterates Dr. Daghistani. “I am very happy to tell you that Maddie is free of disease today and doing amazingly well.”
Her mother shares the same positivity. “The feeling of over enjoyment knowing that she no longer has cancer in her body it’s probably one of the greatest gifts you can ever imagine and pray for. We’re just so grateful, very humbled that we were able to experience this here at Miami Cancer Institute, and we are forever grateful for you curing Maddison.”
Fundraising events raised money and awareness of the Institute’s work, connected volunteers to our cause and brought joy to participants.
For the fourth straight year, the Miami HEAT and Baptist Health, two of South Florida’s most prominent organizations, teamed up to help raise funds for the Institute. The third annual Bounce Back from Cancer event, presented by Baptist Health Foundation, took place on March 13, 2022. Miami HEAT team captain Udonis Haslem, aka UD, served as the event’s celebrity ambassador and social media influencer Many participants began the big day at the Institute. There, they started dribbling basketballs as they walked toward FTX Arena. More people joined later along the 14-mile route until as many as 700 participants including UD — were dribbling basketballs into the arena. UD led the post-dribble celebration
The event brought together more than 3,100 unique donors, including cancer survivors and their supporters, leaders and staff from the Miami HEAT and Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, sports fans and community members to help fulfill the Institute’s vision of a world without cancer Participants raised nearly $1 5 million to support the Institute’s groundbreaking cancer research and clinical trials
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute partnered with The Promise Fund of Florida for its annual Scientific Luncheon in March 2022 at The Beach Club in Palm Beach. Featured speakers included three oncology specialists from the Institute The event raised awareness for the prevention and early detection of breast and gynecologic cancers.
Polo for Life supports direct-impact initiatives that provide financial assistance before, during and after treatment following a pediatric cancer diagnosis. Professional polo player Brandon Phillips founded Polo for Life after surviving childhood non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The organization is dedicated to supporting pediatric patients and their families and has raised more than $2 2 million over the years through community partnerships and special events. Last year, the organization presented Miami Cancer Institute with a gift of $100,000 to support pediatric oncology services
Spearheaded by Baptist Health Board of Trustees member Roberta Stokes, the Pink Lady Golf Tournament took place at Trump National Doral The event raised close to $20,000 for the Institute’s breast cancer program.
U.S. Century Bank participated in an event hosted by the SebastianStrong organization called Kayak the Keys for Hope in April 2022 Team U S Century Bank logged more than 100 miles kayaking from Key Largo to Key West to create awareness and raise funds for pediatric cancer research. The team raised $35,000 and asked the SebastianStrong organization to earmark those dollars to Baptist Health Foundation in support of Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and pediatric cancer research.
Baptist Health has continually redefined and revolutionized healthcare delivery. At this time of unprecedented opportunity in advanced cancer care, the need to expand access and elevate care for women has inspired the organization to develop a reimagined, innovative new center tailored to today’s and tomorrow’s female patients.
The Miami Cancer Institute Women’s Cancer Center will be at the forefront of cancer, discovery and treatment by offering comprehensive care from diagnosis, a fully integrated suite of care that includes the latest modalities in imaging, renowned physicians and cutting-edge clinical trials all with the comfort and peace of mind of a highly personalized patient journey.
The Center will offer women a seamless, multidisciplinary approach in one unique location, within a 115,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on Baptist Hospital’s main campus.
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute will complement expanded access and enhanced care for women with its combination of cancer fighting expertise and advanced technology. This will allow for a better understanding of specific types of cancer and delivery of precise treatments to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and their families.
As the global healthcare landscape rapidly evolves, Baptist Health is committed to building upon our storied history and reputation as a trusted community hospital to become a world-class medical center addressing current and future trends in medicine.
The Miami Cancer Institute Women’s Cancer Center will provide world-leading care and guide the region by delivering innovative approaches with unparalleled patient experience to our female patients.
Philanthropic investments will bring this bold vision of elevating women’s healthcare to life. Our dedication to achieving excellence, combined with the promise and prestige of Miami Cancer Institute and the new Women’s Cancer Center — will define Baptist Health as a world-class medical center.
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