Dr. Thomas Summers, DO with Baptist Health and the Miami Cancer Institute, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
Baptist Health is expanding cancer care services in the Florida Keys.
Dr. Summers said, “For those folks that are not familiar with Baptist Health, it is the largest health care provider in South Florida, with 12 hospitals, over 28,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers. I felt this was a good opportunity for me. I’ve practiced most of my career in Ohio and Tennessee in locations several hours from larger tertiary facilities such as MCI, so I’m very aligned with the challenges that folks down here in Key West face, as far as getting good care. So with all the growth that’s happened in Key West, and with that growth, obviously it brought more health care needs and I think Baptist responding in a proactive way to meet that need, the Baptist Key West facility being part of Baptist Health cancer care, which is anchored by the Miami Cancer Institute and the Lynn Cancer Institute will be able to bring cutting edge cancer and hematology services here to Key West, so patients really won’t have to travel over 100 miles to receive that care.”
What is multidisciplinary treatment?
Dr. Summers said, “In general, cancer care, it is a multidisciplinary specialty, where, typically, the different specialties of surgeon, the medical oncologist, the radiation oncologist, various support services such as nutrition, various other supportive, supportive people involved in the care of patients with cancer, we meet as a group and talk and discuss cases and come up with the best customized treatment plan for patients. So that’s what the term multi disciplinary means. Here in Key West, we will have medical oncology infusion services. We’ll also be having radiation oncology services available starting in November.”
All the services will be provided locally.
Dr. Summers said, “We have the full support of the Miami Cancer Institute, as far as other services that are not available on site here, such as clinical trial access, so patients really will have access to world class care, whether they’re able to get some of their care, all of their care here in Key West will depend, obviously, on their diagnosis. I’m really happy to work with some of the most talented physicians in South Florida. It’s really an honor.”
Dr. Summers was a clinical investigator at the National Cancer Institute as well.
He said, “All oncologists are clinical investigators, which the oversight is through the NCI, and I’ve participated in clinical trials for many years as a clinical researcher, bringing clinical trials to patients at the community level. So Baptist and Miami Cancer Institute have a very robust clinical trials program and hopefully I’ll be able to bring some of those clinical trial access to patients here in Key West. I look forward to being able to contribute to the community and help as many folks as possible.”
What motivated Dr. Summers to get into the medical field?
He said, “My family member was afflicted with pancreatic cancer, and I lost that family member at a very early age. I think that was in the back of my mind something that as I was going through my medical school training and residency, when I became exposed to oncology, there was just a connection in the back of my mind, and it just sparked. Oncology is just such a thought provoking, intellectually challenging specialty, and I just fell in love with it.”
For more information, click here: https://baptisthealth.net/locations/physician-practices/cancer/cancer-care-key-west