Fort Myers, FL, March 13, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In February of 1984, Dr. William Harwin, Founder and President Emeritus of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), could only dream of what his fledgling community oncology/hematology practice might become one day. The treatment of cancer at that time was embryonic, compared to modern day methods, and the trend toward moving patients out of a hospital setting into a community oncology office was just beginning to gain momentum as new, improved and safer chemotherapy drugs were being developed.
“In the beginning,” Dr. Harwin recalled, “when I opened my Fort Myers practice to treat local oncology patients, it was just my wife Marilyn and me in the office. I always wanted to affiliate other physicians in the practice, but I never envisioned the growth that we have achieved over the past three and a half decades. It’s been extremely rewarding for me, particularly when you consider the many advances in treatments that are available to our patients today. Our mission has always been to put the patients first, and I believe that is one of the most important reasons that we have been successful.”
Over the past 35 years, FCS has pioneered the community oncology model and set a national benchmark for clinical trial research that rivals most academic medical institutions. The statewide practice includes a dedicated Phase 1 Drug Development Unit (DDU) in Sarasota and a second DDU under construction in Lake Mary, FL. Over the past four years, the majority of new cancer drugs approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with Florida Cancer Specialists participation, prior to approval from the FDA.
Brad Prechtl, CEO of FCS, said, “The relationships with our patients are at the heart of everything we do. Cancer patients rely on our physicians and staff to provide the most advanced treatments in a setting close to their homes, so they can have the support of their families and friends. I know that our doctors and employees at every FCS office often feel that our patients are like an extended family, and they inspire us every day with their courage.”
Dr. Lucio Gordan, President and Managing Physician of FCS, added, “Dr. Harwin’s vision, coupled with the excellent leadership of the Executive Management team, as well as the dedication of our outstanding physicians and staff members, has resulted in the most advanced and personalized cancer treatment in the state of Florida. We are also extremely proud to participate in the national Oncology Care Model (OCM), bringing high quality, value-based care to our patients. New treatments for cancer are being developed at a rapid pace and, at FCS, we are eager to provide these new options to our patients.”
####
About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)
Recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a national Clinical Trials Participation Award, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. In the past 4 years, the majority of new cancer drugs approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with Florida Cancer Specialists participation.* Our physicians are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report. Trained in such prestigious medical schools and research institutes as Duke, Stanford, Harvard, Emory, M.D. Anderson, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Founded in 1984, FCS is one of the largest medical oncology/hematology practices in the United States. With more than 230 physicians, 220 advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and physician assistants (PA) and nearly 100 locations in our network, we are committed to providing world-class cancer care in community-based settings.
Florida Cancer Specialists has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research and cutting-edge technologies that help targeted treatments and genomic-based treatment and immunotherapy. These values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly-trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.
* Prior to approval
For More Information, Contact:
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Shelly Glenn, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer
SGlenn@FLCancer.com
770.365.6168
ChappellRoberts
Christine Turner, APR
cturner@chappellroberts.com
813.545.8131
Ganick Communications, Inc.
Elaine Ganick - elaine@ganick.com
615.377.7877
Attachments