Baptist Clay unveils MD Anderson Cancer Center

BY DAN HILDEBRAN

ClayCivic.com Publisher

Baptist Clay officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its M.D. Anderson Cancer Center on the health center’s Fleming Island campus.

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is ranked as the top cancer treatment center in the country by U.S. News.  It also ranks first in the number of research grants awarded by the National Cancer Institute.

Baptist Health is one of only six domestic partners of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The Jacksonville-based health system is the only M.D. Anderson partner in the Southeastern U.S.

M.D. Anderson said its partner program allows health systems to fully integrate with M.D. Anderson, mirroring how the Houston-based center delivers care.

Dr. Bill Putnam, the medical director of Baptist’s M.D. Anderson Center was Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for over 15 years and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center for 12 years.

He said during the ceremony that the clinic’s presence in Clay County is important because the incidence rate of cancer in Clay is 36% higher than that of the state and 47% higher than the national average.

Baptist Clay President Darin Roark added that the cancer diagnosis and treatment resources at Baptist Clay are substantial.

“You don’t have to travel to receive world-class cancer treatment,” he said. “You don’t even have to cross a bridge.”

He added that quality, local treatment is important because sometimes, patients receive treatment every day.

LeeAnn Mengel, vice president administrator for Baptist M.D. Anderson Cancer Center added that care close to home is essential.

“When you get to stay and have treatment here, it’s no easy path, but you do have the people around your that love you,” she said. “Our commitment is that we will be personal. We won’t be perfect, but we will be personal. We’ll be here to support you. We’ll be here to help you figure it out.”

Attendees of the event also took tours of the facility, in which the center’s CT simulator, linear accelerator, and infusion rooms were highlighted.