Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $10 million building on Wednesday (March 18).
Florida Cancer Specialists will use 26,000 square feet in the building, and other cancer specialists will use the remainder of the building’s 45,000 square feet.
The new building, which is connected to the Cancer Center at North Florida Regional Medical Center, will replace the Florida Cancer Specialists’ current 13,000-square-foot building.
The new building will offer a broad range of cancer services and space for research, said Florida Cancer Specialists’ CEO Brad Prechtl.
Dr. Lucio Gordan, a partner and board member of Florida Cancer Specialists, said, “In addition to chemotherapy, the new center will enable us to take an even greater multidisciplinary approach to caring for patients.”
The building will include laboratories, PET scan equipment, research space and a wellness program.
The staff is the key to treatment, Gordan said. “They love the patients; it’s a wonderful team to be a part of,” he said.
Many patients benefit from clinical trials conducted locally. “Our goal is to give patients the opportunity to participate in approved and exploratory therapies right here in Gainesville,” Gordan said.
Dr. Cherylle Hayes, a radiation oncologist at the Cancer Center, touted the benefits of teamwork between Florida Cancer Specialists and North Florida Regional Medical Center. “The ball is moving, and we’re providing integrative cancer care.”