FCS
Winter 2014
THE MAGAZINE
My Heart
Is In It
Why Dr. William
Harwin founded
Florida Cancer
Specialists
Research Institute
INSIDE
RX TO GO » DR. MARY LI » THE VILLAGES » TRACEY CURTIS ARNP » IRAs » LAUGHTER
Winter 2014
1
editor's
letter
FCS
THE MAGAZINE
PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP
PRESIDENT
WILLIAM N. HARWIN, M.D.
Message from
Scott Tetreault
A few months ago I was perusing the
month-end business reports. Data is a
wonderful thing. Given enough time
and energy, I could plow through those
pages and probably figure out each
partner’s work style in tremendous
detail. The numbers could tell me what
they do and how they do it. But the
numbers can’t even begin to tell me who
they are. Heck, I have partners now, I
am embarrassed to say, who I could run
into at Publix and not even know we
work for the same company.
We’ve gotten big — very big. But
the glue that will bind us together through time is not just our shared
commitment to providing excellent care close to home. We will be a team
only if we know each other.
This first volume of FCS The Magazine is the first step on that journey.
Our goal here is pretty simple: Bring to life the people and places that
make up Florida Cancer Specialists. To give dimension to those faceless
names on those email streams.
So please enjoy the inaugural issue as we profile our “fearless leader,” take
you to The Villages and down to Rx To Go. And stay tuned, we may be
coming to your corner of FCS soon.
All the best,
Scott Tetreault,
Editor, FCS the Magazine
ASSISTANT MANAGING PARTNER,
DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE BOARD
STEPHEN V. ORMAN, M.D.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
MARK S. RUBIN, M.D.
SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL RESEARCH,
DIRECTOR, DRUG DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
LOWELL L. HART, M.D.
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH OPERATIONS
ROBERT C. WHORF, M.D.
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BRAD PRECHTL
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
TODD SCHONHERZ
GENERAL COUNSEL
TOM CLARK
CHIEF MARKETING & SALES OFFICER
SHELLY GLENN
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE
SHARON DILL
VICE PRESIDENT OF REVENUE CYCLE
SARAH CEVALLOS
VICE PRESIDENT OF CLINIC FINANCIAL SERVICES
CHRISTINA SIEVERT
SR. VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONAL TRANSITIONS
TIM BOOZAN, RN
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
JEFF ESHAM
JEREMY BEHLING
LOIS POEL
JEFFREY RUBIN
RAY BAILEY
LOIS BROWN
JOHN DODD
INGA GONZALEZ
KATIE GOODMAN, RN, BSN, CCRP
SUE KEARNEY
DENICE VEATCH
SAMANTHA WATKINS
DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
2
FCS The Magazine
winter 2014
SCOTT HOLSTEIN
contents
in this issue
DEPARTMENTS
6
12
13
24
25
26
26
Foundation Events
The Radar Screen
How We Roll
Legal Estate/
Asset Protection Q&A
Money Management
for Doctors
Humor
Bragging Rights
SPOTLIGHT
18 Doctor Spotlight: MARY LI
Dr. Mary Li wanted to make a difference.
She meets cancer head-on and hand-inhand with her patients.
20
Nurse Spotlight: TRACEY CURTIS
Tracey Curtis, ARNP likes working on all
kinds of cancer and not getting pigeonholed. “It keeps my mind sharp,” she says.
FEATURES
4 Profile: DR. WILLIAM HARWIN
Dr. William Harwin talks about why he
founded FCS, the need for quality care
and why he wants to make a difference.
14
RX TO GO
FCS’ retail pharmacy helps patients with
quick results at affordable prices.
22
Office Spotlight: THE VILLAGES
“This isn’t your run-of-the-mill doctor’s
office,” says Office Manager Donna
Swearingen of the compassionate care that
patients receive while being close to home,
family and friends.
Winter 2014
3
PROFILE
Dr. William Harwin, a
cycling enthusiast, on the
porch of his Fort Myers
condominium overlooking
the Caloosahatchee River.
Fighting For
A Cancer Cure
Why Dr. William Harwin’s heart is in it
BY GINA DAVIDSON
M
any years ago while hiking
with a tour group through
Denali National Park in
Alaska, Dr. William Harwin
was approached by a fellow traveler who
had overheard his last name mentioned in
the crowd. The stranger asked if he was any
relation to Marty Harwin.
The two men were more than 3,000 miles
from the small town of Westbury, N.Y., where
Harwin had grown up and his father had been
a pediatrician for more than 40 years. As a
child, he’d grown accustomed to everyone in
town knowing his dad, but here? What were
the odds?
4
FCS The Magazine
“ ‘That’s my dad,’ I told him, and he
proceeded to tell me about a time when he
was a boy, terribly sick, and stuck in his house
during a snowstorm. ‘Your dad followed a
snow blower all the way to my door,’ he told
me, ‘He inspired me to become a doctor.’ ”
Turns out the men had that in common, too.
“I remember going to house calls with him
as a young child of six or seven,” says Harwin,
a practicing oncologist and the president
and managing partner of Florida Cancer
Specialists (FCS). He would wait patiently
in the car during his father’s visits, and then
afterward get to talk with him about the world
of medicine. “I was always interested in what
he did,” Harwin says.
His father, in turn, was pleased his son chose
to study medicine.
“In my sophomore year (at Baylor College
of Medicine in Houston), I became interested
in oncology,” he says. “I chose it as an elective
rotation, and once I was there, I knew what I
wanted to do.”
After receiving his medical degree from
Baylor, he completed his internship and
residency in internal medicine and a fellowship
in hematology and medical oncology at the
University of Miami. It was during his time
at UM that he met his wife, Marilyn, a CT
technologist. They married in 1984, just
before Harwin opened his own practice. “We
started with a $70,000 line of credit,” he says.
“And Marilyn was the first employee.”
She ran the office until later deciding to
stay home to raise their four children. Harwin
began merging with other practices in the area.
“We formed a group in Fort Myers, and
then the group expanded into other areas of
Florida,” he says, noting it made sense to merge
with other oncologists. He envisioned a network
of doctors who could help each other learn and
grow while minimizing overhead expenses.
Twelve years into his practice, his chosen
profession took a personal turn when Marilyn
was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 37
years old.
“Had we known then what we know now,”
he says, “she might have been cured.”
Instead, the Harwins spent more than
10 years battling the insidious disease they
had helped so many others fight. Marilyn
underwent a lumpectomy, radiation,
recurrence, a mastectomy and a variety of
PHOTOS BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN
chemotherapy treatments before finally
succumbing to the disease on Dec. 1, 2006.
“I’m more huggy with patients now,” says
Harwin, “more affectionate than I was before.”
Living through her illness, he says, has given
him an appreciation for the spouses in that
position, mostly for the husbands who are in
the process of dealing with a wife’s cancer.
“Waiting for results and reading the
CT scans was the worst,” he says. “It was
traumatic.” And being an oncologist made it
even tougher. “I always had to be the one to
give her the bad news.”
Today, he honors Marilyn’s memory and
continues to fight for a cure by participating in
various fundraising events. Three times he has
taken on the Pan Mass Challenge, an annual
bike-a-thon of nearly 200 miles that raises
money for breast cancer research at the Dana
Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. And he has
raised more than $38,000 for the Dolphin
Cycling Challenge, a two-day tri-county event
that raises funds for research at the Sylvester
Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Through FCS, he says, “I’d like to get
everyone to accomplish the same goals: provide
high quality care and drive our business
forward. We are a cohesive group, and it’s
important we remain a cohesive group. There
will be lots of challenges in health care, and
I look forward to leading our group through
those challenges.” Harwin is also currently
looking to expand the business beyond Florida.
But at the center of things are the patients
he works with every day.
“Always make sure the stethoscope is on
the patient,” he says his father would tell him,
by which he meant to make sure you have
personal interaction and a genuine connection
with each person you see.
“We’re very involved with our patients
and their families,” he says. “We provide the
support and education and whatever they
need to get through the cancer experience. I
love this business. My heart is in it.”
Winter 2014
5
foundation
events
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Inaugural Treasure Chests 5K Run/Walk
OCT. 13, 2013  More than 1,300 runners and walkers participated and the event culminated in the Buccaneers announcing a $30,000 donation
that will benefit equally the American Cancer Society, Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation and Moffitt Cancer Center. Over 30 FCS staff and their
family members participated in the run/walk — some even winning medals. The Treasure Chests 5K was part of a weekend full of activities aimed at
raising awareness of the issue of breast cancer and funds to help find a cure for the disease. FCS was the sponsor of the breast cancer awareness game
(TB Bucs vs. Philadelphia Eagles), where over 100 FCS nurses and breast cancer survivors’ children ran on the field pre-game carrying Buccaneers flags.
The Buccaneers military suite hosted breast cancer survivors who have served in our armed forces.
6
FCS The Magazine
foundation
events
Pitch for Pink JULY 9, 2013 
FCS was a Grand Slam Sponsor of this minor league Clearwater Thrashers game to
raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Over 50 staff members and physicians
attended the game.
Purple Strides NOV. 23, 2013 
As a Platinum Sponsor, FCS helped support over 10 FCS attendees in this walk/run —
and Dr. Jose Alemar kindly provided the T-shirts.
Winter 2014
7
foundation
events
8
FCS The Magazine
foundation
events
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer OCT. 2013 
Throughout Florida, FCS sponsors many of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) October events,
supporting the mission to fight breast cancer. FCS staff members, Dr. Gregoire Bergier rallied within the FCS communities served to join the fight.
Winter 2014
9
foundation
events
Thanksgiving Comes Early for Cancer Patients & Families NOV. 20, 2013 
More than 300 cancer patients and their family members, including Dr. David Wright, attended an early Thanksgiving dinner. The event was hosted by
the physicians and staff of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) and held at the Tampa Cancer Center. The Tampa Bay Bucs’ Mason
Foster and Adam Hayward served food and greeted patients and their family members.
10
FCS The Magazine
foundation
events
The Angry Open Golf
Tournament OCT. 17, 2013 
Dr. Andrew Hano and others participated in this fundraiser
for melanoma. This foundation and event was started by an
FCS employee.
Stories worth telling.
Lives worth
living...
7 PINELLAS CO.
LOCATIONS
Dr. J. Andrew Peterson
se
Dr. Jo
r
Alema
lemar is
“Dr. A The
tic.
s
ta
n
fa
gement
encoura he has
e
p
o
and h
e pulled
s.
given m gh the
u
nd word
me thro es. He is beyo uldn’t
m
wo
tough ti r. Alemar, I lly saved
a
tD
Withou ght now. He re
ri
be here
”
HARBOR
my life.
S, PALM
MING
“I chose Dr.
Peterson because I
asked all the nurses
that I knew who
was the best doctor
to go to. One
worked
person knew a nurse who
a
with him and said that he was
to his
great doctor and very nice
’.”
patients. I said ‘that’s my guy
—
THERESA HESTON, PINELLAS
PARK
Clearwater
303 Pinellas St.
Suite 230
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 442.4188
Dr. Joseph R.
“My husband
and
I decided to na
me
our younger so
n
Mace because
we had so muc
h
support and
compassion fro
m Dr. Mace fo
years ago, whe
ur
n I went thro
ugh my
cancer treatm
ent. Dr. Mace
will
always be a pa
rt of our lives
.”
— DESIREE M
ARLOWE, ST
. PETERSBURG
Clearwater
303 Pinellas St.
Suite 330
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 447.8100
Clearwater
3280 McMullen Booth Rd.
Suite 200
Clearwater, FL 33761
(727) 216.1141
Largo
8787 Bryan Dairy Rd.
Suite 210
Largo, FL 33777
(727) 397.9641
Largo
100 Highland Ave.
Largo, FL 33770
(727) 683.2900
LA C
— NO
UM
St. Petersburg
1615 Pasadena Ave. S.
Suite 400
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
(727) 341.1316
Watch the videos
of our stories…
Go to the links below to view:
flcancer.com/alemar
flcancer.com/peterson
flcancer.com/mace
Mace
FLCancer.com
St. Petersburg
1201 Fifth Ave. N.
Suite 505
St. Petersburg, FL 33705
(727) 821.0017
Winter 2014
11
what's on your radar?
the radar screen
New Stuff, Old Stuff Looked at in a New Way and
Interesting News from the Oncology Wires BY SCOTT TETREAULT
AML TREATMENT FROM HOME
Conventional wisdom says you have to keep your new
AML patients locked up for a month during induction.
Not so fast, says Dr. Roland Walter and his team at Fred
Hutchinson in Seattle. They challenged this decades old dogma and
handpicked 15 patients to be discharged right after seven plus three.
They needed a stable loving housemate, close residence and they
needed to “get it” and be strictly compliant. Visits were three times a
week in the clinic with PRN transfusions to follow. All 15 did well;
13 of them had to be readmitted for a day or so for either febrile
neutropenia or nausea and vomiting, but there were no deaths or
major issues or ICU admissions. Costs were, of course, much lower
and QOL was much higher. The authors point out the complete
lack of any data on this approach and appropriately suggest further
study. (Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology. Vol 11; Issue
9, Sept 2013.)
✚
‘BONE PET’ BETTER THAN BONE MARROW
A very interesting study was just reported in the Journal
of Nuclear Medicine (AKA The Journal of Unclear
Medicine) — about 139 patients with DLCL who underwent
BOTH bone marrow biopsies and F-18 Fluoride PET. If the PET
showed uptake in a bony area, that area was biopsied directly. PET
was much more sensitive at identifying areas of true bone marrow
✚
12
FCS The Magazine
involvement (sensitivity 94 percent to 24 percent). This definitely
impacted treatment plans, as you can imagine. Someday, say the
authors, Bone PET may replace bone marrow biopsy as the staging
study of choice.
SAY WHAT?
So, you have an older patient with local but muscle-invasive
bladder cancer. He’s not a cisplatinum candidate. How do
you radio-sensitize him?
Ronald Chen (UNC Tarheels) and his team tackled this question
in the August 2013 issue of Journal of the National Comprehensive
Cancer Network. It might surprise you that they felt it necessary to
clearly state: “Carboplatinum© has NO proven effectiveness in this
setting … ” Rather, they suggest you use 5-FU plus Mitomycin C
(based on the BC2001 trial) or, as an alternative, single agent Gemzar.
✚
HELP IS ON THE WAY
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of a stat consult (at 10 p.m.,
of course) for a “Pradaxa© disaster,” you’ll be happy to know
that Boehringer Ingelheim, the maker of Pradaxa, is fairly far along
in the development of BI655075. This is an antibody which can
serve as an antidote to Pradaxa. Thank heavens.
✚
cultured pearls
how we roll
Tips, Pearls
and Words of
Wisdom from
FCS Doctors
and Staff
1. EASING FEARS
To help put patients at
ease regarding clinical trials,
Lowell Hart, MD tells them
about his own experience
in a clinical trial as a little
boy. His mother put him
on the randomized trial of
the Salk polio vaccine. Of
course, this was successful.
Mrs. Hart believed in
medical progress through
high-quality clinical trials
and so does her son.
SUGGESTIONS
Scott Tetreault MD
(send suggestions for
“Pearls” to stetreault@
flcancer.com)
2. GOOD ANALOGY
Adjuvant treatment can be
a hard concept for patients
to grasp. This is especially
true when their surgeon tells
them that they “got it all,”
and they are given the good
news of clean scans. Scott
Lunin, MD analogizes the
absence of radiographically
visible micromets to a
ball point pen placed on
a weight scale at Publix.
Everyone shops at Publix at
some point and everyone
steps on that big green
scale occasionally. The scale
doesn’t register the weight
of a single pen, only 30 or
40 pens would make the
needle move.
3. THE RIGHT WORD
Joel Grossman, MD
declines to use the word
“refuse.” Patients these
days often peruse their
medical records, and
many physicians use
the word “refuse” when
referring to interventions
that the patient doesn’t
want. If a person refuses
a reasonable suggestion,
then it implies that they are
difficult and stubborn. The
word “declines” sounds so
much better when read by
the patient and his or her
family, and it conveys the
same message.
Fighting Cancer is hard enough.
It’s not necessary to leave Hernando County
for state-of-the-art radiation treatment.
Too often, fighting cancer turns into life on the road — traveling to this
treatment or that specialist or the next procedure. Whether it’s cross-country
or across the state, extra miles add extra stress.
Fortunately, Florida Cancer Specialists is conveniently located, close to home,
right here in Hernando County. With the same expertise you find at national
cancer centers – and as a preferred clinical trial site among leading researchers
– Florida Cancer Specialists stays at the forefront of effective treatment options,
including radiation oncology. Our focus on patient convenience means that
everything is under one roof. And we’re committed to caring in a way
that makes any medicine work harder.
Sawsan G. Bishay, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Larry Gandle, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Bishay and Dr. Gandle are board certified in
radiation oncology and internal medicine.
Both have over 20 years experience.
Life on the road is no way to start a journey you never would have chosen.
Florida Cancer Specialists makes it a short trip to the best possible outcome.
BROOKSVILLE LOCATION
7154 Medical Center Drive
Spring Hill, FL 34608 (352) 596.1926
FLCancer.com
Winter 2014
13
14
FCS The Magazine
FEATURE
Rx To Go:
Helping to Extend Lives
BY GINA DAVIDSON
W
SCOTT HOLSTEIN
hen it comes to compliments, you couldn’t ask for
a more meaningful one than that given to Rx To
Go’s pharmacy team by cancer patient Bruce Ott:
“They’ve helped me extend my life,” he says.
Shortly after Ott was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January
2013, he learned the shockingly high cost of the oral oncology
medications prescribed to him. “Just one of them was $4,500
a month,” he says. He was unsure how he would be able get
the medications he needed, and then he met with Dr. William
Harwin, the founder of Florida Cancer Specialists and the force
behind the development of the group’s retail pharmacy. Ott says
Dr. Harwin immediately put him at ease. “He told me, ‘You have
a tough case, but we’re going to do whatever we can.’ ”
“We’ll do whatever we can” seems to be
the standard operating procedure of Rx To
Go’s team of professionals who are working
every day to secure medication for the more
than 3,000 Florida cancer patients they
serve at any one time. They are committed
to getting the medications to the patients as
quickly as possible and at an affordable price
–– sometimes even for free.
“We’re going to get coverage for them ––
whether they are underinsured or not insured,”
says Director of Pharmacy Ray Bailey, who
leads the group along with Pharmacy Manager
Kathy Hogan, RPh and Finance Manager
Jackie Jimenez-Capote.
“We want to be a clearinghouse for all the
oral chemotherapy medications,” says Bailey.
“We can’t fill all the prescriptions, but we can
process any prescription and can cut down
(a patient’s) time in gaining access by doing
things centrally.”
From the pharmacy’s beginning in 2007,
Dr. Harwin says that has been the goal.
“I started the pharmacy because we saw it
as an important business to get involved in,”
he says, “to make it easier for physicians to get
patients the medications they need as soon as
possible. We can provide the support needed
to buy the drugs. And because we have all the
medical records, we can provide a great service
to our patients.”
That service includes proper patient intake,
financial consulting, prior authorizations,
educating patients on the medications
prescribed and following up to maintain
compliance.
Lisa Flores, a pharmacy technician, is often
an initial point-of-service. “I let them know
Winter 2014
15
SCOTT HOLSTEIN
FEATURE
who we are, and what we’re going to do for them,” she says.
She and her team check patients’ prescription information
and refer them to other departments as needed. “We try to
navigate that to the best of our ability for the patient,” she
says. “We don’t want it to be their burden.”
When patients can’t afford the medications prescribed,
they are referred to financial counselors who work with them
to find solutions based on their needs. During the past four
years, Bailey says they have learned how to dig up resources,
and that many of the expenses are largely paid for by not-forprofit specialty foundations.
“It was a matter of knowing how to access the various
resources,” he says, “which includes co-pay assistance. In
community pharmacies, the rate is 50%. Our rate is in the
high 90s. We can get them all help. The prescriptions we
don’t fill are only because the patients choose not to take
them. They go to hospice, and that’s fine. It’s their choice.”
Those who are interested in seeking medication can learn
about their options.
16
FCS The Magazine
SCOTT HOLSTEIN
Director of Pharmacy Ray Bailey and his team of professionals are
the heart of Rx To Go, Florida Cancer Specialists’ retail pharmacy.
Their job: Get medication to patients as quickly as possible and at
an affordable price.
Patients are called if anything seems amiss.
“It’s hard,” says Patt Smith, a financial counselor. “(The
“They can see how often the patients are getting refills,” says Dr.
patient) just got the bad news that they have cancer, and then
Hart. “They’re good at letting us know if there’s a problem. That’s very
they find out what the medication is going to cost. Many of
important, because these are cancer drugs.”
them (first) decide that they won’t get the medication. They’re
Dr. Robert Green, a FCS hematologist/
shocked and overwhelmed. We let
oncologist in West Palm Beach, also sees great
them know we’re here to help and to
benefits in his practice being part of FCS and
give them assistance. We try to tell
Rx To Go.
them right away, ‘We understand, and
“(The pharmacy) has been great for our
we’re going to help you get through
physicians, staff and most importantly for our
this and get you what you need.’ ”
patients,” he says. “The process from ordering
When a prior authorization is
in OncoEMR to the delivering of the drug
needed, Rx To Go has a distinct
to the patient is seamless. I’m incredibly
advantage
over
regular
retail
impressed by not only the efficiency of the
pharmacies: access to the patients’
pharmacy staff, but the dedication they show
medical records. This speeds up the
in helping educate the patients and finding
process considerably.
financial assistance for patients with copays or
“It can usually be determined within
helping when their drug is not covered.”
24–72 hours,” says Donna Robichaud,
And they can send the medications
a nurse on the prior-authorization
anywhere in Florida. That is a huge plus for
team. “Most are determined that same
cancer patient David Boyd, who last year
day. If everything is in place, and I
at the age of 65, was looking forward to
can get all the answers I need for that
traveling during his retirement. After a visit to
drug, I can get the approval by phone.
his hematologist in Virginia, he and his wife
Many times (patients) can get their
left their home state to spend the winter in
medications within two to three days.”
Florida. They had just passed the Florida state
At other pharmacies, she’s heard prior
line when he got the news over the phone.
authorization can take weeks.
“I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Multiple
Not only is this service quick, it’s
Myeloma and was told I should begin
convenient for the doctors and their staff.
receiving treatment immediately,” he says.
“They handle everything,” says
Not knowing where to turn, the Boyds made
Dr. Lowell Hart, a FCS hematologist/
their way to Tampa and found FCS.
oncologist in Fort Myers, Fla. “I don’t
“They handled everything,” he says, “which
have to have my nurses do all the work
was a wonderful thing for me because we
while we’re trying to see patients.
were already living full time in our motor
That’s a tremendous benefit.”
home. Starting with Dr. David Wright in
Other significant benefits, says Dr.
Tampa, we were able to go to clinics around
Hart, include the education patients
the state. Being able to (get) infusions (at
receive from the pharmacists, the
other clinics) allowed me to continue to live
convenience of having the medications
the life of a somewhat healthy person. They’ve
sent directly to their homes and
made everything easier and have been a huge
the pharmacy staff monitoring
help in allowing me the freedom to continue
compliance.
traveling.”
“Our pharmacists follow up with
Boyd and his wife hope to eventually travel
them if it’s the first time they’re taking
out
west.
the medications,” says Lucy Draheim,
— DR. ROBERT GREEN, INTERNAL
And
Ott –– who recently called out-of-thea pharmacy technician. “They go over
MEDICINE AND ONCOLOGY
blue to thank FCS for helping him with his
the specifics of the medication, the
prostate cancer –– just got married. “Now I
side effects and the drug interactions.”
get to spend time with my family,” he says. “I
Dr. Natasha Khrystolubova, one of
couldn’t be more pleased or thankful.”
those pharmacists, agrees. “Our goal,” she says, “is to educate the
Doing whatever they can every day to serve the FCS patients unites
patient about the drug. They’re really scared and anxious, and we
this team of professionals in a way few other endeavors could. And it
want to be gentle with them. They’re so nervous about meds and
brings rewards far greater than any paycheck.
what their reaction to them will be. We call them every month
“They couldn’t be kinder or more helpful,” says Ott. “If it wasn’t for
asking about side effects, refills and more. We make them feel
(them) I know I wouldn’t be here.”
comfortable, like part of a family.”
(The pharmacy)
has been great for
our physicians,
staff and most
importantly for our
patients. The process
from ordering in
OncoEMR to the
delivering of the
drug to the patient
is seamless. I’m
incredibly impressed
by not only the
efficiency of the
pharmacy staff, but
the dedication they
show in helping
educate the patients
and finding financial
assistance for
patients with copays
or helping when their
drug is not covered.”
Winter 2014
17
DOCTOR SPOTLIGHT
18
FCS The Magazine
Dr. Mary Li, MD, PhD
Brooksville
To her, patients are a virtue
BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM
M
ary Li’s parents worked full time, so like many young
There should be no surprises. I believe it’s really helpful to know what
Chinese girls in Tianjin she spent a lot of time with her
is coming so they can handle it,” she says.
grandparents. Li was just 11 years old when her beloved
Li’s passion for medicine has not come without personal sacrifice.
grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. He lost
She did not take a day off for the first five years of her practice for
his battle with cancer just a few months later. This terrible first-time
fear her patients would need something while she was out. And she
experience took a toll on the entire family,
admits she may not have as much one-onbut it also emboldened young Li, who made
one time with her 12-year-old son as other
the decision as a 12 year old to become a
moms might. Still, Li sees her calling to
doctor to “help other people who have to
medicine as something bigger than herself.
go through this.”
“I have been highly trained over 30 years,
Li’s compassion, drive and commitment
I want to use all of my knowledge to help
have not waned in more than three decades.
people,” she says.
She held steadfast to her dream to dedicate
And that she has done. She threw a big
her life to medicine and earned a full
baby shower for a male patient in his 20s
scholarship to the University of Louisville,
with testicular cancer. The niece of a patient
where she earned her medical and Ph.D.
from years back hugged her in the middle
degrees and completed her residency. Today,
of JCPenney and told her how much she
she is a respected oncologist, hematologist
meant to her ailing uncle. An inspiring
and clinical pharmacologist with 16 years
85-year-old female patient now insists she
in the field (12 in private practice). She
will return for a third trip to China, with Li
makes rounds at three hospitals in Hernando
in tow! And Li can tell many more stories
County (Spring Hill, Oak Hill and
about the patients who continue to inspire
Brooksville), seeing around 30 patients a day
and motivate her. “I love my job and my
— DR. MARY LI, MD, PHD, BROOKSVILLE
as part of her duties on the oncology team
patients, and I look forward to going to
at Florida Cancer Specialists. This year, her
work every morning and starting another
patients nominated her for the Leukemia &
new day,” she says.
Lymphoma’s Society’s prestigious Woman of the Year honor.
Luckily for Li and her patients, she has found more balance in her
Though she experienced many different areas during her residency,
life these days. A lifelong sprinter, Li, 46, is an avid outdoor enthusiast
Li has never second-guessed her choices and is exactly where she
who takes full advantage of living on the Gulf of Mexico by spending
wants to be. “Cancer patients are the best! They are sick but brave,
her leisure time boating, scuba diving, kite surfing and sailing. “It’s my
and they need our help the most,” she says. “And perhaps that is why
passion,” she says. “It’s so peaceful and quiet, and you can see dolphin!”
it is the most rewarding.”
Though she tries to live a balanced life, her patients will always come
Cancer has become an ugly word that many only utter in hushed
first. “My patients are everything to me,” she says just moments before
tones. Though it is difficult to deal with the disease on a daily basis,
offering her personal cell phone to a breast cancer survivor. “Call me
Li uses her sunny disposition and no-holds-barred approach to meet
anytime at all with questions. I am your consultant now,” she tells the
it head-on, hand-in-hand with her patients. “I am honest with them.
caller. Before hanging up, she adds, “Congratulations, I am proud of
I tell them the stage, type, the average survival rate, what clinical trials
you. You did it!”
are available and what my experience is with what they are facing.
And the same can be said of Li’s childhood dream to make a difference.
Cancer patients
are the best! They
are sick but brave,
and they need our
help the most. And
perhaps that is
why it is the most
rewarding.”
Winter 2014
19
20
FCS The Magazine
NURSE SPOTLIGHT
Living in the Moment with
Tracey Curtis, ARNP
BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM
I
n an industry full of dynamic change, Florida Cancer Specialists
at the hospital of course, but I also like seeing stable patients at the clinic
(FCS) Advanced Registered Nurse PractitionerTracey Curtis, AR
who are doing well.”
NP finds comfort in the constancy of keeping things on an
The vast array of cancers and blood disorders this practice treats is
even keel. Her three-member team in the Gainesville office
another aspect of nursing that Curtis relishes. “I like caring for all kinds
has tried different approaches to how they administer health care,
of cancer and not being pigeon-holed. It keeps my mind sharp,” she says.
but they always revert to what works best: a core
Curtis went into health care
team giving compassionate care consistently
because she always wanted to
to the same patients. “In our FCS office, each
help people. She began on a
physician has a group of patients. The patients
pre-med track at the University
get to know you and trust you, and it works well
of Florida, but opted for a
for us,” she says.
Master of Science in nursing
Unlike some practices, the clinic also has found
to enjoy “banker’s hours.”
success in partnering its nurses with a specific
Though she works a few more
physician. So for nearly a decade, Curtis — a
hours than most bankers, she
native of Pennsylvania who has lived in Florida
doesn’t regret her decision.
for 20 years — has been paired with Dr. Lucio
Her job at FCS is the first and
Gordan. Working side by side every day has
only job she’s ever had. “There
enabled them to develop a deep bond of trust
is great camaraderie here.
based on mutual respect.
The second I walked in I was
“We are like brother and sister. We are able to
treated like family. It felt right,
say what we think, especially with each other,”
and 10 years later I still feel the
she says. Having a familial relationship means
same. You don’t find that too
patients receive consistent quality care. “We
often,” she says.
don’t have to worry about who we are working
Colleagues
describe
with. We can be ourselves and focus on the care
40-year-old
Curtis
as
we are giving.”
enthusiastic. She clears her
Curtis begins a typical day around 7:30
head by hitting the open
a.m. by making hospital rounds on four to
road on her motorcycle and
— TRACEY CURTIS, ARNP
six patients. She pulls records to determine
going off-road on her dirt
the course of care and consults Gordon only
bike and expends some of
if it’s something she feels she can’t handle
her “hyperactive energy” by
herself. “He’s a very collaborative physician. He asks what I think
regularly competing in triathlons and marathons. As is the case with
and respects what I have to say, which isn’t always the case for
most things for Curtis, she aims to strike a balance. “Exercise for me is
extenders,” she says.
more about the mind, body and spirit versus being a health nut. I still
By 8:30 a.m. the team reports to the FCS clinic to see some of nearly
like my cake and ice cream, too,” she says with a laugh.
three dozen current patients. The last appointment is around 3:45
Though she readily admits nursing is a fulfilling career if you go into it
p.m., and after making notes in patients’ files, Curtis wraps up her day
for the right reasons, don’t ask this caregiver for a five-year plan. “I never
anywhere between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
was one who had one of those. I didn’t see the need to look so far ahead, I
Breaking up the day keeps things interesting for this nurse. “I like
guess.” Like her cancer patients, Tracey Curtis, ARNP is happy where she
that we see patients on rounds and in the clinic. The acuity is different
is — living in the moment.
PHOTO BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN
There is great
camaraderie
here. The second
I walked in I was
treated like family.
It felt right, and 10
years later I still feel
the same. You don’t
find that too often.”
Winter 2014
21
OFFICE SPOTLIGHT
It Takes The Villages
Making a difference with personalized care
A
BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM
success of any medical practice always comes back to patient satisfaction. Cherie
fter losing her mother to breast cancer in
1993, cancer care became highly personal
Cooke, a female breast cancer patient in her 60s, is just one of many residents of
to Donna Swearingen, a 12-year health care
The Villages who raves about her FCS experience. “The staff, the treatment and
administrator and office manager for The
the convenience to my home — just five minutes by golf cart — made it the best
Villages East office in Lady Lake, Fla. “I think about my
decision I ever made for my health,” Cooke says.
mom and try to give the type of care I
Over the years, Cooke —
would want for her,” she says.
who is celebrating her 10“Every time I’ve ever hired anyone
year anniversary as a cancer
for a hands-on role at The Villages,
survivor this year — has
I let them know, ‘This isn’t your runreferred at least 12 of her
of-the-mill doctor office,’ ” explains
friends to her oncologist, Dr.
Swearingen says. “It takes a very
Hussein. “I am really crazy
special person, someone with empathy,
about him. He’s not just a
compassion and the ability to relate to
doctor; he’s a kind and caring
and understand what the patients are
human being. He makes you
going through. It takes someone who
feel as though you are his only
has that special something. And I think
patient,” she says.
I have that staff at The Villages.”
At Villages East there is a
This particular office of Florida
palpable personal connection
Cancer Specialists (FCS) is nestled in
between the staff and their 80
a vibrant five-mile adult community
to 120 daily patients, most of
in central Florida called The Villages.
whom are known on a firstBeing located within what Forbes
name basis. “Donna was the
magazine calls “the No. 1 fastest
first person I spoke to after
—
CHERIE
COOKE,
a
female
breast
cancer
patient
growing small town in America,” makes
this particular FCS practice perfectly
situated to meet the increased demands
of this growing retirement community in Lake, Sumter and
South Marion counties, where the average age is in the 60s.
Before they even enter, patients are put at ease with
beautiful Spanish-style architecture and the shade of lush,
Sago palms. The cherry wood furniture, gold and green hued
walls and lovely landscape paintings inside the reception
area create a soothing atmosphere. But as everyone knows,
a medical facility is just bricks and mortar. The true heart
of this FCS office lies within the skilled, personable and
capable team of just over 20 staff led by four experienced
specialized physicians and five registered nurses.
At Villages East, the focus is clear: The patient comes
first. “It’s exciting to work as an oncologist because of two
words: personalized care,” noted Dr. Maen Hussein. “We
treat everyone as an individual. Each treatment plan only
fits that person, because everyone is different.”
Consistently positive patient evaluations suggest these
Florida Cancer Specialists are on the right track. Referrals
are on the rise, too, and that means growth. Just this year
Villages East increased from 18 to 25 chemotherapy chairs
in the new wing of the Sharon Morse Moffitt Cancer
Center.
Growth is great, but the most important measure of
22
FCS The Magazine
PHOTOS BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN
The staff, the treatment
and the convenience
to my home — just
five minutes by golf
cart — made it the best
decision I ever made
for my health.
Donna Swearingen
learning my diagnosis, and she was a total
sweetheart. I will never forget how kind and
encouraging she was. She will always hold a
special place in my heart,” Cooke confesses.
The steady stream of notecards, goodies and
small gifts are tokens of appreciation from the
happy patients
who are grateful
to be much
VILLAGES EAST
more than a
1400 N. US Highway 441 N.
case file number.
The Sharon Morse Building
“Our
most
(#500), Suite 552
important goal
Lady Lake, Fla. 32159
is to help make
our patients feel
comfortable and have confidence. Cancer
treatment is a journey, and we are here to be
their companions through it,” Hussein says.
Patient care from this FCS wellness team
extends beyond its warm walls. This office
has become an integral part of the fabric of
the Lady Lake community. A Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society support group meets at
the center on a monthly basis. Staff physicians
give informative wellness talks and cancerthemed lectures throughout the community
on a year-round basis. Each fall the office gears
up to “give cancer the boot” by sponsoring the
Cattle Barons’ Ball, an annual event to raise
funds for the American Cancer Society. And
when summer approaches, the entire Villages
East staff looks forward to rallying cancer
support during Relay for Life — and it doesn’t
go unnoticed.
“Our patients love seeing us active and
engaged in the community. They see us and
tell us that means a lot to them for us to show
our support. They say it shows we care. And
we do,” Swearingen says.
Winter 2014
23
legal estate/assett
protection
Florida Third Party Trusts and
Protection from Creditors of Beneficiaries
A
BY DOUGLAS KNISKERN, J.D, LL.M,
third party trust (“TPT”) is one of
the better asset protection devices
available in Florida. As with
many asset protection devices, the
circumstances must be right, but when the stars
line up correctly, a TPT can substantially protect
the trust assets from the claims of creditors of a
trust beneficiary.
So what is a TPT? It actually is a traditional
form of trust with origins in the fifteenth and
sixteenth century English Common Law--with some modern wrinkles. To form a TPT,
a third party, called the “grantor,” creates an
irrevocable trust and transfers his or her assets
to a trustee, to be held for the benefit of one
or more beneficiaries. The trustee is appointed
under the terms of a trust agreement that also
provides the instructions for the trustee to follow
in administering the trust, and, particularly,
in providing benefits from the trust assets to
the beneficiary. The trustee holds bare legal
title to the trust assets with powers and duties
with respect to the assets (e.g. the power to sell
trust assets and reinvest the sale proceeds, the
duty to insure the assets and to account to the
beneficiary). Many of the trustee’s powers and
duties are set forth in state law, but they can also
be set forth in, and even modified by, the trust
agreement. The beneficiary has the beneficial title
to the assets (also referred to as the “equitable
title”) and, with limited exceptions, has no
power, individually, to deal with the trust assets,
but receives benefits from the trust assets as set
forth in the dispositive provisions of the trust.
The key to protection of trust assets from the
creditors of the beneficiary is that the beneficiary
does not have the power to unilaterally withdraw
the trust assets from the trust and make it his
or her own. If a beneficiary were allowed to
do so, the asset protection would be lost under
Florida law. The beneficiary’s power to withdraw
effectively removes the split between legal and
equitable title, because they would merge into
one person, the beneficiary, giving him or her
both the benefits of the assets and the full power
to deal with the assets. The assets would then
subject to the claims of the beneficiary’s creditors.
Another key to protecting the trust assets
from the creditors of the beneficiary is a
“spendthrift provision“ in the trust. These were
originally designed to prevent a beneficiary
from being foolish with his or her trust benefits
by doing things like pledging benefits to be
received in the future in exchange for a loan to
be received now. Basically, with a spendthrift
provision, the beneficiary cannot “anticipate”
a distribution, but must wait until the trustee
makes a distribution of trust assets to him or
her under the terms of the trust before he or she
can enjoy the benefit of the distribution. This
also prevents a creditor from bringing collection
efforts with respect to the assets until they are
actually distributed.
Although the beneficiary cannot have
unfettered access to the trust assets, he or she can
have substantial benefits and be given significant
control over the trust as follows:
• The beneficiary can be a trustee of the trust
and, with appropriate trust language, can
even be the sole trustee.
• The beneficiary can receive all income of the trust.
• The beneficiary can have the right to receive
trust principal for his or her support,
maintenance, health, education, and
reasonable comfort.
• The beneficiary, acting as trustee, can make
distributions for the support, maintenance,
health and education of a family member, so
long as such distributions do not satisfy a legal
obligation of the beneficiary, such as the duty
to support a minor child.
• The beneficiary can direct the trustee to
distribute principal to anyone except the
beneficiary or his or her creditors
• At his or her death, the beneficiary can direct
the trustee to distribute principal to anyone
except the beneficiary’s estate or the creditors
of his or her estate.
The trust may also provide for an independent
co-trustee to serve with the beneficiary when the
beneficiary is a trustee. An independent trustee
generally is someone who is not the grantor and
not related to the beneficiary. The beneficiary
can have the power to remove and appoint
independent trustees. The advantage of the
independent trustee is that the trust agreement
can give him or her the power to make
distributions of trust assets to the beneficiary
for any reason — not limited by standards
like support, health, education and reasonable
comfort. This includes the power to distribute
the principal outright to the beneficiary, but
a creditor of the beneficiary cannot force the
independent trustee to make such a distribution.
In addition, included under the power to
distribute for any reason is the power to “decant”
the trust into a newly created trust which can
have different provisions than the original trust,
with some limitations. The beneficiary’s power
to appoint and remove independent trustees
who can make distributions for any reason
provides substantial control to the beneficiary
and flexibility to the trust without degrading the
protection of trust assets from the claims of the
beneficiary’s creditors.
As stated above, TPTs can be used only when
the circumstances are right. They are typically
used for intra-family transfers and are created
by the grantor while alive, or on his or her
death. TPTs are frequently created by parents
for their children and/or other descendants as a
receptacle for assets on parents’ deaths, and they
are frequently funded, in whole or in part, by
the death benefits from life insurance paid at a
parent’s death. They can also be created by one
spouse for the benefit of the other. TPTs that
protect assets from the beneficiary’s creditors
can also be used to generate estate tax, gift tax,
generation-skipping transfer tax and income tax
benefits for the grantor’s family.
Unfortunately, many TPT planning
opportunities are missed. The reasons vary.
Frequently, the advisors simply do not
understand the issues and the opportunities.
Sometimes there is a preconceived notion that
trusts are rigid, restrictive and tie up assets.
Some trusts are all of those, and they should
be when the circumstances warrant. But, as
discussed above, trusts can also be remarkably
flexible devices that can confer benefits and
protections on the grantors and can continue
to do so for generations.
Douglas Kniskern, J.D, LL.M, Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney, Arnstein & Lehr LLP 10th Floor, 200 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 | Tel. 954.713.7600 | Fax: 954.713.7700 | [email protected]
This article does not constitute legal advice and cannot be relied upon in any specific circumstance. It is intended to provide general information only about technical topics. Any use of the concepts described in this article should be based on indivual facts and
circumstances with appropriate legal advice.
24
FCS The Magazine
money management
for doctors
HOW TO:
I
Convert Your Workplace Savings to a Roth
BY JEFFERSON A. LEDBETTER
f you are like many people, the majority of the money you’ve set
aside for retirement is held in your workplace savings plan, such as
a 401(k) or 403(b). When the time comes to draw income from
this portion of your nest egg, most or all of the distributions from
your plan will likely be subject to income tax.
There is a growing appreciation for the idea of “tax diversification” in
retirement. That means having access to income sources that are subject
to different tax treatment. A good tax-diversification strategy includes
a “tax-free” category of assets. A Roth IRA, for example, allows money
contributed after tax to grow and receive qualified withdrawals tax-free.
You are now allowed to make a direct rollover of assets in a workplace
plan to a Roth IRA, provided you are eligible to move the money in
the first place. You can move money from a workplace plan when you
separate from service (either retire or leave the employer), or in the event
of death or disability. Depending on your retirement plan, you may also
be eligible for so-called “in-service distributions,” allowing you to roll
some of your retirement savings out of a plan and into an IRA before you
leave your job. As with any rollover from an employer-sponsored plan,
the money must move directly from the current plan to the administrator
of the account (IRA or other employer’s plan) you are moving it to if you
want to avoid unnecessary taxes or penalties.
PAY TAXES NOW OR LATER
The big question you should ask yourself before converting money to a
Roth IRA is whether the benefit of tax-free income later in life is worth
the cost of paying taxes now on the converted amount, which is required.
All pre-tax contributions and earnings accumulated in your workplace
plan that are converted to a Roth IRA are subject to current tax at your
ordinary income tax rate(s).
Note that not all of the money needs to be converted at one time. To
limit current tax liability when executing a direct rollover and conversion
to a Roth IRA, you can choose to move just a portion out of the 401(k)
and into the Roth in a given year. You should be aware that if the
conversion drives your total income to certain levels, higher tax rates
may apply and make the conversion more costly.
WHEN IT MAKES SENSE
Converting workplace plan dollars to a Roth IRA may be most
worthwhile if you:
• expect to be in a similar or higher tax bracket later in life when you need
to make withdrawals
• can pay the current tax liability on the converted amount from other
available resources without drawing down your retirement savings
• want to reduce your exposure to Required Minimum Distributions
later in life. Distributions are required to begin after you reach age
70-1/2 from your workplace plan or traditional IRA. Distributions
are never required from Roth IRAs during your lifetime, so you can
maximize the tax advantages by keeping money in the account.
• are trying to create more flexibility to manage your tax liability in
retirement by owning a mix of assets subject to different tax treatment.
HOLDING OFF ON A ROTH CONVERSION
While the potential of future tax-free income makes a Roth conversion
worth considering, it may not always work to your advantage. Situations
where you may want to avoid such a conversion include:
• if you own company stock in your workplace plan. There is the
potential to take advantage of special tax treatment of these assets when
you take a lump-sum distribution, move employer securities out of the
plan and take direct control of the assets (referred to as Net Unrealized
Appreciation rules). Work with your tax adviser to be sure you meet
requirements.
• if you expect your tax bracket in retirement will be lower than it is today.
Then the cost of converting assets and paying tax on the conversion at
your current rate may actually cost you more money in the long run.
There are a number of factors that go into a Roth conversion decision.
Be sure to explore all of your options with guidance from financial and
tax professionals to be sure you are doing what’s best for your long-term
financial future.
Jeff is a Certified Financial Planner with 25 years of experience. He played both Football and Baseball on scholarship at Florida State and currently advises many medical professionals on financial matters.
Jefferson A. Ledbetter, is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 23 years. To contact him/her you may call at
954.575.6250x102 or email at [email protected] Our street address is 210 N. University Drive suite #401 Coral Springs, Fl 33071. Ameriprise Financial and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult with your tax advisor or attorney
regarding specific tax issues. Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2013 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. File # 685417
Winter 2014
25
jokes & quotes
humor
Laughter is the Best Medicine
JOKES
Doctor: You’re in good health. You’ll live to be 80.
Patient: But, doctor, I am 80 right now.
Doctor: See, what did I tell you?
ACTUAL QUOTES
FROM MEDICAL FILES:
✚ Discharge Status: Alive but without permission.
✚ Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year-old male,
mentally alert but forgetful.
The CEO of a large HMO dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter shows him to a lovely
villa, wonderful music, great views, full staff of servants, gourmet meals, etc.
The CEO says, “This is terrific!”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” says St. Peter. “You’re only approved for a three-day stay.”
✚ The patient refused an autopsy.
✚ The patient’s past medical history has been
remarkably insignificant with only a four-pound
weight gain in the past three days.
✚ The patient has been depressed ever since she
began seeing me in 1983.
The patient went to his doctor for a checkup, and the doctor wrote out a prescription
for him in his usual illegible writing. The patient put it in his pocket, but he forgot to
have it filled. Every morning for two years, he showed it to the conductor as a railroad
pass. Twice, it got him into the movies, once into the baseball park and once into the
symphony. He got a raise at work by showing it as a note from the boss. One day, he
mislaid it. His daughter picked it up, played it on the piano and won a scholarship to a
conservatory of music.
✚ The patient has left white blood cells at
Sources: Anglefire.com, MedIndia.net, GiggleMed.com, Snopes.com
✚ Patient was alert and unresponsive.
BRAGGING RIGHTS
» FCS’ own Dr. Jennifer Cultrera recently competed in an
Ironman competition in Augusta, Ga. The daylong competition
consisted of a 1.1 mile swim in the river, followed by a 56-mile
bike ride and then a 13.1 mile run.
One of Cultrera’s patients, Gaythee Lumapas, attended the
event to cheer her on. She wrote of the experience: “I was so
proud to be cheering for her in my neon pink shirt saying, ‘My
doctor is an Iron woman!’ I clapped and cheered and screamed
and yelled and cried as she crossed the finish line.”
Lumapas also said of watching Cultrera compete: “On those
difficult days when all my friends and family are at work and I
am at home feeling bad, I remember Dr. Cultrera pushing on to
finish. I will push on too knowing I am not alone; others will pop
up along the way and cheer me on. Just as I have cheered her
to finish her Ironman competition, she is cheering me toward a
remission of cancer. We celebrate the cure together!”
26
FCS The Magazine
another hospital.
✚ Please feed patient only when awake.
✚ He had surgery for an unbiblical hernia.
✚ Patient has two teenage children, but no other
abnormalities.
Winter 2014
27
Over 20 of the most promising
new cancer treatments
have one thing in common.
They were proven in clinical trials
at Florida Cancer Specialists.
You may have heard of the new immunotherapies and
monoclonal antibody treatments for cancer but you might
not have realized the critical role played by patients in
Florida in FDA approval of those drugs — and many others.
Florida Cancer Specialists Medical Oncologists
Paresh Patel, MD • Scott Tetreault, MD • Viralkumar Bhanderi, MD
1600 PHILLIPS ROAD, SUITE 300 | TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308 | (850) 877-8166
2626 CARE DRIVE, SUITE 200 | TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308 | (850) 219-5380
FLCancer.com
28
Proud Sponsor of Florida State Athletics
FCS The Magazine
With two cancer centers in Tallahassee and over 70 others
in Florida, Florida Cancer Specialists is a preferred clinical
trials site and was the recipient of the American Society
of Clinical Oncology National Clinical Trials Participation
Award. If you ever are faced with cancer, it is good to know
you are close to Florida Cancer Specialists. We are on the
leading edge of science and hope is the fi rst ingredient in
every prescription.