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The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, the only proton therapy treatment facility in the entire Southeast, was officially dedicated on Oct. 13, 2006. The $125 million, 98,000-square-foot facility houses four proton beam suites for treating a variety of cancers. Proton therapy destroys cancer cells but minimizes damage to healthy cells by delivering a powerful punch of radiation right to the tumor site. Notable speakers at the dedication included the institute's medical director, Dr. Nancy Mendenhall; Dr. Doug Barrett, senior vice president for health affairs at the UF Health Science Center; UF President Bernie Machen; and UF College of Medicine Dean Dr. Craig Tisher.
Dr. Craig Tisher/ Dean, UF College of Medicine
"I would submit to you, that this was no small dream, and that our dream has moved the hearts of literally hundreds of individuals. Indeed, the dream is now a reality."
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President Machen acknowledged Dr. Tisher during the dedication ceremony, citing his vision and ingenuity in shepherding the massive project from inception to completion. Machen also acknowledged the major blow that proton beam technology can deal to cancers previously difficult or even impossible to treat with standard radiation.
Dr. Bernie Machen/ President, University of Florida
"This facility and the treatment it provides offers a paradigm shift of enormous proportions for the University of Florida's effort to treat and prevent disease. Few academic health science centers had this vision when we had it, lo' these many years ago, and many wish that they were where we are today."
Dr. Nancy Mendenhall/ Medical Director, UF Proton Therapy Institute
"Proton therapy offers us a way to destroy cancers with less damage to normal tissues. This means that we'll have higher cure rates and less morbidity in our surviving cancer patients. This is great news."
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Doctors at the Florida Proton Therapy Institute treated the facility's first cancer patient in August, a Cocoa Beach man who was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although only a handful of patients are currently being treated at the institute, it is expected to eventually deliver proton therapy treatment to 150 to 200 patients per day. At the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, I'm Mike Garrison.
