eHealthWatch EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Richard Levine, Space Coast Cancer Center Foundation chairman, and president of Space Coast Cancer Center, presents the Survivor of the Year Award to Susan Rys and her husband Ian Rys at the 2009 Daffodil Gala.

Space Coast Cancer Center Survivorship Summit Friday, Oct. 16

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The second annual Space Coast Cancer Center Foundation Survivorship Summit will be held in conjunction with the Moffitt Cancer Center this Friday, Oct. 16, at the Great Outdoors RV and Golf Resort in Titusville. The featured speaker will be Paul Jacobsen, PhD, of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.

Dr. Paul Jacobsen

Dr. Jacobsen’s work focuses on identifying and promoting behaviors that can lead to reductions in cancer risk, earlier detection of cancer and improved quality of life following cancer diagnosis – which are all themes of the the Summit’s program that is formatted to educate patients, help identify goals including establishing effective communication, find each patient’s health needs, implement a plan of care that combines psychosocial and biomedical services.

The program also includes presentations and survivorship stories.

As the program leader for Health Outcomes and Behavior for Moffitt, Dr. Jacobsen is also division chief for Psychosocial & Palliative Care, and scientific director for the Survey Methods Core Facility. With Moffitt since 1994, Dr. Jacobsen is a professor of Psychology and Interdisciplinary Oncology at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Jacobsen received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Michigan State University in 1983. He completed a postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychosocial Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and was subsequently appointed to the professional staff.

Dr. Jacobsen is the author of more than 120 publications and the recipient of numerous grants in support of his research from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. While at Sloan-Kettering, he served as director of research training in Psychosocial Oncology and initiated a program of research in Behavioral Oncology.

THE WORDS “Hope,” “Health” and “Healing” greet visitors to the reception area at Space Coast Cancer Center. Above, volunteers, from left to right, include Joyce Hartung, Roseann Romans, Patient Advocate and Navigator Barbara Prisco, Carol Selph, Nancy Scott and Dawn Galogly.

“Hope,” “Health,” “Healing”

The Space Coast Cancer Center’s Titusville, Florida complex state-of-the-art facility includes a comprehensive network of services so patients may concentrate on the road to recovery. “Hope,” “Health,” “Healing,” are words that adorn the reception area – and also form the philosophy behind the Center.

When his north county practice outgrew its former 3,400-square-foot building, Dr. Richard Levine, past president of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncologists, jumped at the opportunity to incorporate the latest trends in oncology into the impressive multi-million dollar, 22,000-square-foot building located on US 1 in Titusville.

The Center has a staff of 68, including nine physicians and two nurse practitioners. Sister offices are located in Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach and  Rockledge. Dr. Levine, in Brevard since 1983, has a deep connection with the community and still maintains regular contact with patients from his first year in practice. “They have become family,” he says.

Model For Cancer Care

The Space Coast Center is one of 17 facilities in the state affiliated with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. The Center offers on-site clinical trials in collaboration with Moffitt as well as with Shands Cancer Centers and the National Cancer Institute, and is one of only three oncology practices participating in quality care studies with Moffitt Cancer Center and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“It’s a way for us to look at ourselves and see what our levels of care are,” says Dr. Levine.

In the Space Coast Cancer Center’s building, Dr. Levine and his staff successfully blended the best medical technology and care available with services that also address cancer patients’ emotional needs.

“This is the future of oncology,” says Levine. “This is the proper medical model for cancer care.”

Survivorship Summit Program Schedule

Dr. Cynthia Bryant

9:00 – 9:45 am: Registration and refreshments.

10:00 am: Paul Jacobsen, PhD, Chair and Program Leader, Health Outcomes and Behavior Department Psychosocial and Palliative Care, Moffitt Cancer Center.

11:00 am: Cynthia Bryant, MD, Radiation Oncologist, Space Coast Cancer Center, presents “How Advances in Technology Can Minimize Long Term Sequelae of Radiation Treatment.”

11:45 am: R. Duff Sprawls, MD, Medical Oncologist, Space Coast Cancer Center, presents “New Advances in Targeted Therapy of Cancer.”

12:30 pm: Buffet Luncheon and Survivor Presentations by Ms. Theresa Scherer, Mr. Kurt Erlenbach and Ms. Rosemary Herring.

Dr. R. Duff Sprawls

1:30 pm: David Greenblum, MD, Psychiatrist, presents “Emotional Response to Cancer.”

2:15 pm: Bharat Patel, MD, Pain Management, Physiatry presents “Management of Chronic Pain Syndromes.”

2:45 pm: Intermission and refreshments.

3:00 pm: Robert Bridwell, MD, West Virginia, presents “The Role of PET/CT in the Diagnosis and Management of Cancer.”

4:00 pm: Conclusion of program.

The Great Outdoors RV and Golf Resort is located at 145 Plantation Drive in Titusville, Florida, just off I-95 at State Road 50.  Please call 321-268-4200, ext. 3500 for more information.

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VOLUNTEERS: From left to right, Joyce Hartung, Roseann Romans, Patient Advocate and Navigator Barbara Prisco, Carol Selph, Nancy Scott, Dawn Galogly welcome visitors to “Art and Healing.”

Art & Healing Day is an opportunity for cancer patients and their families to use art to explore their emotions

The words “Hope,” “Health” and “Healing” greet visitors to the reception area at Space Coast Cancer Center in Titusville.

The three words reflect the Center’s approach to treatment and the reason why the Center offers an energetic schedule of programs that focus on health and provide opportunities to heal and to hope.

A survivors’ summit, support groups, monthly lectures, and even an annual picnic for cancer patients are part of the comprehensive model of care that treats the patient as a person, not as an illness. “It is part of our mission at our practice that we meet all the needs of our patients,” said Dr. Richard Levine.

The upcoming Cancer Prevention and Screening Event on Saturday, June 6, encourages Brevard residents to be proactive against cancer. On the same day, the Center is hosting “Art & Healing” Day, an opportunity for cancer patients and their families to use art to explore their emotions.

DR. RICHARD LEVINE’S Space Coast Cancer Center Titusville complex opened March of 2008. The 22,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility provides a seamless, multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. The elegant facility allows patients to concentrate on recovery by offering easy access to all necessary treatment modalities.

Both events celebrate National Cancer Survivors’ Day, an annual worldwide event that demonstrates that life after cancer can be a reality indeed.

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. that Saturday, the Center will provide extremely affordable screenings for skin and prostate cancer.

“All we ask is a $5 donation for the Space Coast Medical Association Foundation,” said Dr. Levine.

The event taps into the considerable resources of one of the country’s best known arsenals against cancer. “We’re doing it with Moffitt Cancer Center,” said Dr. Levine. “Moffitt staff will be here for the event.”

Physicians or physician extenders such as nurse practitioners will perform the tests. The event is part of the Center’s initiative to empower patients. “We want to help people take care of themselves,” said Dr. Levine.

Prestigious Associates
The Space Coast Cancer Center is one of only a handful of Florida facilities affiliated with the prestigious H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute and one of three oncology practices participating in quality care studies with Moffitt and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. This association enables the Center to offer on site clinical trials in collaboration with Moffitt , as well as with Shands Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute.

ONCOLOGY ON CANVAS: Titusville’s Connie Allen, above left, won first place out of 600 entries for her pastel, “Daisy and Me” (picture below) last year, and was invited to New York for a gala where she was welcomed by Regis Philbin and his wife Joy.

Art & Healing Day
From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on June 6, the Center will also host “Art & Healing” Day in collaboration with the Eli Lilly “Oncology on Canvas” exhibition, which showcases the works of cancer patients around the globe.  “Oncology on Canvas: Expressions of a Cancer Journey” is a powerful visual tribute to the people who have been affected by cancer, from patients and caregivers to family, friends and health care providers. The exhibit may be viewed at the Center from May 19 until June 12.

The Lilly “Oncology on Canvas” Competition began in 2004, with nearly 500 entries from 23 countries. The resulting exhibit debuted at London’s Royal College of Art and then toured the world, encouraging and inspiring millions of people in more than 100 cities.

The artwork on display is expected to inspire visitors to try their hand at creating their own masterpieces during the “Art and Healing” event. Materials and instructions will be provided. “Artist volunteers will teach different media,” said Dr. Levine.

Participants can dabble with pastel, watercolor, quilting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, pencil and mixed media, thanks to the help of Brevard guest artists who specialize in the different media. “Art and Healing” replicates the Center’s special program during its 2008 open house. “It was a huge success last year,” said Dr. Levine.

Survivors may opt to submit their works to the “Oncology on Canvas” art competition.    “We’ll even ship the works for them,” said Dr. Levine.

The works of one of the “Art and Healing” participants last year was selected from worldwide entries for inclusion in the Lilly exhibit. Titusville artist Connie Allen won first place out of 600 entries for her pastel, “Daisy and Me.” “They flew her to New York for the gala,” said Dr. Levine.

Space Coast Cancer Center’s Titusville complex opened March of 2008. The 22,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility provides a seamless, multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. The elegant facility allows patients to concentrate on recovery by offering easy access to all necessary treatment modalities.

Related posts:

1. Space Coast Cancer Center First In Florida To Implement Procedure
2. Space Coast Cancer Center Houses Comprehensive Network of Services
3. Physicians, Survivors Inspire at Space Coast Cancer Center Summit