The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute Welcomes Dr. Lucas Gomes Sapienza to its Physician Team
Dr. Sapienza Will Treat Gynecological, Breast and Prostate Cancers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 12, 2025) – The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute announces Lucas Gomes Sapienza, MD, PhD, is now on its physician team, specializing in advanced radiation techniques including image-guided adaptive brachytherapy, proton beam therapy and radiosurgery for treatment of gynecological cancers, breast cancer and prostate cancer. He is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Florida.
“Joining the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is a remarkable opportunity to collaborate with dedicated professionals who are advancing cancer care. Together, we will strive to deliver exceptional patient care, optimize resources and contribute to the development of more personalized and effective treatments that make a real difference in patients’ lives,” said Dr. Sapienza.
Dr. Sapienza focuses on brachytherapy technique development to improve disease control and reduce pelvic radiation toxicity. He has led two prospective clinical trials as the principal investigator and is the lead author of 22 research studies published in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Sapienza is originally from Brazil and joined UF after completing residency training at the Department of Radiation Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He speaks fluent Portuguese.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sapienza to our team,” said Kristin Heath, Executive Director of the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. “His specialized expertise in gynecologic cancer care enhances our ability to meet the needs of our patients and strengthens our commitment to providing the highest standard of care.”
During his radiation oncology training in Brazil (2012-2015) and the United States (2020-2024), Dr. Sapienza received multiple awards, including The Brentani’s Prize (First Place + research grant) from the Fundação Antonio Prudente/A. C. Camargo Cancer Center in 2014 and The Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research Award from the Radiological Society of North America Research & Education Foundation in 2023.
About the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute
The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization affiliated with the UF College of Medicine and the UF Health Cancer Center, a Florida Cancer Center of Excellence and NCI-Designated Cancer Center, dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art cancer treatment and setting new standards for treating and curing cancer. It is an accredited radiation oncology facility by the American College of Radiology. The cancer treatment facility houses both conventional radiation and proton therapy and delivers proton therapy to 100 patients a day. For more information about the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, please visit www.floridaproton.org or call 904.588.1800.
###