For Patients and Families

Patients, family members and caregivers create a tight-knit community at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute. Ongoing group activities are facilitated by patient services staff to foster discussion, camaraderie and social interaction. These activities include New Patient Orientation tours, weekly luncheons, and more.

New Patient Orientation Tours
A 1.5 hour, guided tour of the facility is offered four days a week to groups of patients and family members. The show-and-tell format allows you to get an up-close look at the treatment and answers questions you have about how proton therapy works.
Tours form in the lobby.
Monday – 12 p.m.
Tuesday – 4 p.m.
Wednesday – 4 p.m.
Thursday – 12 p.m.

The Lunch Bunch
Every Wednesday at noon, the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute hosts a complimentary lunch on the second floor. All proton therapy patients, family members, caregivers and guests are welcome to share the meal and join in the discussion. University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute staff members alternate giving brief talks and question and answer sessions.

Group Meetings
Patients and caregivers gather for group discussions related to their treatment. Patient services staff facilitate the meetings held in the Marco Room on the second floor.

Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. – Wives and Caregivers Group. A casual, ever-changing weekly meeting exclusively for the Wives and Caregivers of our patients. Joys and worries may be shared with other supportive women, or perhaps simply where to get a\the best manicure. Sorry gentleman, this is for ladies only.

Thursday at 9:30 a.m. – Brunch Bunch. A special brunch exclusively for our Head, Neck, Brain, Lung, Pancreatic and Lymphoma patients. Patients being treated for these areas may have different personal experiences than other types of patients, so this is a time to share stories or concerns, ask questions and gather first-hand information from patients and staff in a supportive environment.

Piano Concerts
Thanks to a former patient's generous donation of a baby grand piano, the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute patients and friends can enjoy light hors d'œuvres, beverages and live piano concerts in our first floor lobby on a monthly basis.

First Tuesday of every month – 5:30 p.m.

Weekly Group Outings
University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute patient services staff selects new restaurants and events around Jacksonville to enjoy as a group. A weekly bulletin and sign-up sheet is posted in the lobby. Everyone provides their own transportation and pays their own expenses.

Tuesday – 12 p.m. – Destination Lunch
Thursday – 5:30 p.m. – Restaurant Tour Dinner

First Coast YMCA patient and family discount
To help you pursue a healthy lifestyle during your stay, we’ve arranged reduced health club membership rates for the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute patients and their families. For an individual monthly fee of $30 or couples fee of $50, you will receive all-access membership to 17 First Coast YMCAs in Jacksonville. Services include personal training, massage therapy, nutrition counseling, group exercise, indoor cycling, childcare and aquatics. For more information, visit www.firstcoastymca.org.