H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center

Description

H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center amp Research Institute has made a lasting commitment to the prevention and cure of cancer working tirelessly in the areas of patient care research and education to advance one step further in fighting this disease

Center Directors Welcome

Translational Research
As part of an elite group of National Cancer Institute NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers Moffitt focuses on the development of early stage translational research aimed at the rapid translation of scientific discoveries to benefit patient care

Tradition of Excellence
Since the first patient admission in October 1986 Moffitt physicians scientists and staff members have worked together to establish a tradition of excellence offered in an atmosphere characterized by kindness caring and hope The Cancer Centers future growth in clinical care and research rests firmly on this tradition and makes possible the changes ahead

Mission
The mission of Moffitt Cancer Center is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer

Vision
Moffitts vision is quotto be the leader in scientific discovery and translation into compassionate care cures and prevention of cancer for our community and the worldquot As it grows to fulfill its mission the Cancer Center will continue to be distinguished by its compassionate and effective patient care

Institutional Values
S cientific educational and patient care excellence

U nity in pursuit of our mission

C reativity

C ompassion for our patients and their families

E mployees volunteers and faculty are our most prized resources

S tewardship

S ocial responsibility and ethics of the highest standard

Moffitt Facts
Moffitt Cancer Center is a notforprofit institution It includes private patient rooms the Southeasts largest Blood and Marrow Transplant Program outpatient treatment programs that record more than 272000 visits a year the Moffitt Research Center The Moffitt Clinic at Tampa General Hospital and the Lifetime Cancer Screening amp Prevention Center

In 2003 Moffitt opened its doors to the Muriel Rothman Building Moffitt Clinic and Vincent A Stabile Research Building These two buildings dramatically increased the existing research and outpatient clinical space to better serve our patients

Initial gross square feet of Moffitt Cancer Center in 1987 was 373377 Now Moffitt devotes more than 2 million square feet to research and patient care This figure includes the Cancer Center hospital Moffitt Research Center Vincent A Stabile Research Building Muriel Rothman Building Moffitt Clinic Building South Expansion M2Gen Lifetime Cancer Screening amp Prevention Center Moffitt Business Center Moffitt Foundation Moffitt South at Tampa General Hospital Child Development Center modulars two garages and bridge

From 2007 to 2008 admissions increased from 7261 to 7482 Outpatient visits rose from 264533 to 272532

Critical to the success of cancer research is project funding particularly in the form of grants Grant funding increased from 584 million in 2007 to 597 million in 2008 of which 457 million were funds from peerreviewed grants

Moffitt is licensed for 206 beds Other clinical facilities include a 36bed blood and marrow transplant unit 12 operating rooms a diagnostic radiology department with MRI PETCT digital mammography and all other imaging capabilities and a radiation therapy department with seven linear accelerators

History

H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center amp Research Institute has made a lasting commitment to the prevention and cure of cancer working tirelessly in the areas of patient care research and education to advance one step further in fighting this disease

How It All Began

In 1978 H Lee Moffitt then a Florida state representative first started talking to people about a cancer center for Tampa The legislator faced enormous odds a less than enthusiastic local medical community a myriad of approvals required by state and regional health care agencies and the need for a staggering financial commitment from a budgetconscious state Legislature and governor

But Moffitt who had survived a bout with cancer in the early 1970s and had lost two friends to cancer kept right on talking about Floridas high rates of cancer and how more than 14000 new cancer cases were expected each year within a 100mile radius of Tampa

Moffitt and Dr Hollis Boren then dean of the University of South Floridas College of Medicine sought support from community and medical leaders who were predictably nervous about adding another major facility in the already fiscally stressed local health care arena Moffitt and Boren argued that the USF cancer center would draw patients from a far wider radius than local hospitals because of its exclusive focus on cancer

In 1981 the state Legislature appropriated 600000 in planning money for the proposed 240bed hospital The Board of Regents selected architects Stuart L Bentler of Tampa and Heery and Heery of Atlanta along with medical consultants to conduct feasibility studies The outcome was a recommendation for a 150bed facility Among the consultants was Dr R Lee Clark founder of MD Anderson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Houston Texas who expressed full support of Floridas proposed center

In June 1981 the Legislature appropriated 35 million in startup funds for the Cancer Center Moffitt by then Speaker of the House of Representatives drafted a bill earmarking proceeds from a state cigarette tax for the Cancer Centers construction In March 1982 the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services granted the Certificate of Need

The rest is history Groundbreaking ceremonies for the 70 million 162bed facility occurred in January 1983 Construction continued throughout 1985 with the finishing touches completed during early 1986 The Cancer Center was dedicated on October 18 1986 and opened to patients on October 27 1986

The Cancer Center Board of Directors incorporated in April 1984 The board followed a Florida House of Representatives mandate to name the hospital for House Speaker H Lee Moffitt Moffitt at first prevented his colleagues from placing the bill that named the center on the House floor but they voted on the special tribute while he was away from the podium

A Tampa Tribune editorial called the Cancer Center the product of H Lee Moffitts steel persistence and cotton diplomacy and went on to give what may be a newspapers highest compliment to a political leader

Its true enough that the art of politics is compromise the editorial said quotbut the point of compromise is to get things done Lee Moffitt did