The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute welcomes radiation oncologist Eric Brooks, MD, MHS, to its team of proton therapy specialists. He will treat patients who have lung cancer, breast cancer or lymphoma using the latest technology and techniques in radiation oncology, including pencil beam scanning. 

“The clinical specialties and research interests that Dr. Brooks brings to patient care are among his many strengths,” said UF Health Proton Therapy Institute medical director Nancy P. Mendenhall, MD “We welcome him to our team of radiation oncologists, nurses, radiation therapists and proton therapy specialists who are known for their expertise and compassionate care.” 

Brooks most recently was a resident physician in radiation oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where he twice was awarded grants for lung cancer research, authored or co-authored dozens of articles published in peer-reviewed journals, and was recognized by colleagues for excellence in patient care. He completed his medical degree and master’s in health science at the Yale School of Medicine. 

The entire team at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute – people who work behind-the-scenes or on the frontline of patient care – has stepped up and done their part to protect patients and each other by wearing appropriate face coverings, or masks. To honor their service, we asked staff members to share what inspires them in their role as health care professionals. These were recently featured on social media:

Doctors across the United States are rapidly adopting telemedicine as a way to effectively treat patients while mitigating the spread of the coronavirus. Nearly half of physicians surveyed say they are using telemedicine as a result of COVID-19, an increase from 18 percent who reported using telemedicine in 2018.¹

The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute has increased its telemedicine capabilities by adding virtual visits with physicians and nurse case managers. When in-person consults with new or existing patients do not require a physical examination, appointments are being conducted by videoconference or telephone. The medical team has the flexibility to use the system that works best for patients, whether it’s a Facetime chat on a smartphone or tablet or a Zoom or Duo video call on a computer.

Roi Dagan, MD, MS, radiation oncologist at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Florida, said the telemedicine experience has been positive for both patients and physicians. He emphasized that with cancer, patients should not put off evaluation out of concerns about the coronavirus. “At this stage, cancer is an important indication and given the limitations on in-person appointments, everyone is eligible for a virtual visit,” he said.

When it comes to radiation oncology, a patient has been diagnosed and may already have had surgery or chemotherapy, so a large part of the initial evaluation is done by reviewing the patient’s medical records, lab test results and staging studies. A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical exam, and Dr. Dagan cautions that there are some limitations to a virtual visit. “I miss the connection with the patient and being able to lay hands on the patient,” he said. “There are times during a physical exam when you can directly visualize the cancer. That can make a difference in the treatment plans.” Once a new patient is eligible for treatment following a virtual visit, an in-person appointment is scheduled for scans and other physical exams to finalize the treatment plan.

Telemedicine² has been part of the patient experience since opening in 2006, with telephone consultations, the patient portal VTOC – the secure electronic medical file for patients to access lab results, imaging scans and email messages with the clinical team – and some clinical trial follow-ups via telephone. Beyond safety considerations with the coronavirus, the virtual visit provides a new level of convenience for patients who are from out-of-town.

Telemedicine consults can be scheduled through the patient intake department by calling 904-588-1800. Once an appointment is scheduled an administrative assistant will contact the patient to help set up the software, if needed, test the device, and provide further instructions.

¹https://www.hcinnovationgroup.com/covid-19/news/21135528/telehealth-visits-surging-due-to-covid19-survey-of-physicians-finds , retrieved April 27, 2020

²https://www.cancer.org/treatment/finding-and-paying-for-treatment/choosing-your-treatment-team/telemedicine-telehealth.html, retrieved April 27, 2020

A Life That Sparkles After Proton Therapy

Never did Vito and Suellen Grippo imagine that a loose gemstone in Suellen’s wedding ring would end up saving Vito’s life - twice. But, a chance encounter with a jeweler who was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute did just that.

Vito and Suellen live in Myrtle Beach, SC, but Vito had business interests on the east coast of Florida and the couple traveled there several times a year. During one of their visits, Suellen noticed the loose gemstone. “I called a local jeweler and asked if he could repair the ring,” Suellen recalled. “He told me that he could but that I would have to wait a while, as he was traveling more than two hours each way, each day, for prostate cancer treatment. I was surprised to hear that he was willing to travel so far, and asked him where he was being treated. He told me he was going to the proton therapy institute in Jacksonville that was run by UF.”

Suellen didn’t give the information much thought until Vito was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November of 2014. But the jeweler’s detail about proton therapy, along with anecdotal accounts from acquaintances who were also undergoing treatment at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and other proton therapy centers quickly convinced the Grippos that they should investigate it for Vito’s treatment as well.

“My urologist wasn’t for it,” Vito says. “He said it was experimental, and wanted to treat me with a more standard approach. But, I wasn’t a candidate for robotic surgery for a number of reasons. When I talked to UF Health, they told me they could help.”

Vito had six weeks of proton therapy treatment and came through it with flying colors. The Grippos were surprised not only at how rapidly Vito was able to bounce back, but at the extraordinary support network evident at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute as well. “Everyone was amazing,” Suellen noted. “Not only the doctors, nurses and staff, but the other patients as well. You found yourself forming a support group that resulted in strong friendships. We still see many fellow patients, both at the reunions and socially.”

Vito and Suellen would need that support again, after Vito was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2017. The diagnosis was startling – a sudden lump in his neck and a sore throat had devastating consequences. Again, their family physician recommended radical treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Vito turned to UF Health Proton Therapy Institute for their opinion. “They told me I would have to have the surgery, there was no avoiding it,” Vito says. “And, this time the treatment was going to be much harder.”

Vito’s new cancer had affected his throat, voice box, and tongue. A neck dissection – a surgical procedure designed to remove most of the affected area – led doctors to warn Vito that he might never be able to speak normally again. And, the radiation therapy would affect his ability to salivate and swallow, which brought about dramatic weight loss. The effect of the therapy was cumulative, meaning that Vito felt his worst as treatment was ending.

Today, Vito Grippo is not only speaking and eating, he is thriving, thanks to daily workouts and an exceptional support system that includes Suellen and the entire team at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. The Grippos remain deeply grateful for the treatment Vito received for both diagnoses, and decided that there was no more powerful way to express their thanks than to provide support in return. Their recent decision to leave their entire estate to UF Health Proton Therapy Institute will help ensure that the life-saving treatment offered here can continue. Vito explains their commitment to UF Health in simple but profound terms. “They saved my life,” he says. “There’s no better reason to give back than that.”