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A Message from The Chief
The Division of Medical Oncology has a singular focus, the comprehensive care of patients with cancer. In partnership with the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC), it is the aim of our Division to provide exceptional care, innovative treatments and access to groundbreaking cancer research delivered in state-of-the-art facilities by world-class physicians, care-givers and researchers committed to eliminating cancer suffering.
To foster exceptional multidisciplinary patient care, innovative research, and outstanding educational opportunities, the Division is organized into Site Disease Groups (SDG). SDG centered cancer care builds upon the specific cancer expertise of the accomplished faculty in the Division and partners them with multidisciplinary faculty (e.g. surgeons, radiation oncologists and radiologists) providing coordinated care that is integrated with similarly disease focused researchers. The strategic alignment of disease specialized clinical faculty, disease focused researchers as well as inter-departmental collaborations optimizes patient service, treatment quality and outcomes as well as access to clinical trials. Information about the SDG team members for each cancer type as well specific areas of focus are available through the Division website.
On the main medical center campus, faculty members within the Division as well as nurse practitioners (ARNP), physician assistants (PA) and registered oncology nurses (RN) provide outpatient care and care to hospitalized patients at the University of Miami affiliated clinics and hospitals (University of Miami Hospital and Clinics (UMHC), University of Miami Hospital (UMH), the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital (VA) and Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH)). Cancer care is provided in patient-centered clinic space and infusion areas. A great institutional and Divisional strength is the capacity to offer clinical trials where many of the most promising treatments in the field of oncology are available to patients, in many cases several years before they become available in the community as standard treatments. Our clinical trials evaluate the most recent advances in cancer medicine, tailored to treat common or unusual tumors, delivered in state-of-the-art facilities by experienced research staff. Key research areas of strength include, immunotherapy, personalized or genome based therapies, developmental therapies and cancer prevention. Patient and family education, counseling and support is available from social workers, cancer support groups, patient education libraries and survivorship clinics designed to support patients and caregivers through diagnosis, treatment and long-term follow up. A catalog of the available clinical research opportunities is available through the website as well as a listing and contact information for cancer related support services.
Recently, the Division of Medical Oncology has grown considerably, due in large part to a focus on establishing satellite oncology clinics centered in Dade and the adjacent southeast Florida counties (Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood , Plantation and Kendall). This strategy has successfully enlarged the Division/SCCC footprint in the region. These affiliated practices, that are staffed by Division faculty, subscribe to the Division’s focus on providing optimal and innovative cancer care with a specific intent of providing patients in the southeast Florida region with access to cutting-edge clinical research opportunities and the expertise of oncologists with disease type specialties. In addition to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the outreach clinics also offer an array of programs designed to educate patients, their families, caregivers, and community members about cancer-related topics as well as integrative and complementary therapies (e.g. yoga, massage, acupuncture). Information about the satellite clinic locations as well as services offered at these locations can be obtained through the Division website.
Educating the next generation of cancer physicians and caregivers will aid us providing great cancer care for the future. The ACGME accredited fellowship program in Hematology/Oncology facilitates the training of future physicians and scientists with the knowledge and experience necessary to impact future cancer treatments, cancer research and patient care. Links related to the Hematology/Oncology fellowship training program are accessible via the Division website.
Our Division is proud of our innovative clinical services, research and education programs.
Gilberto de Lima Lopes Junior, M.D., MBA, FASCO
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Medical Director for International Programs
Associate Director for Global Oncology
Program Director, Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship
Interim Chief, Medical Oncology Division
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami