Executive Director’s Message – August 2026
On August 14, the 20th anniversary of the first patient treated with proton therapy at the University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute, we take a moment of both reflection and celebration. We reflect upon the more than 13,000 people who entrusted us with their cancer treatment to give them the best chance to live life to the fullest. We celebrate the achievements of medicine, research and technology that made it possible to bring for the first time the most advanced cancer treatment to Florida and the Southeast U.S.
From the start, our mission to improve cancer treatment for patients, educate the next generation of radiation oncologists and medical physicists and conduct high-quality research has guided the work that we do. It is how we have succeeded in providing excellent, compassionate patient care, training more than 744 residents and fellows and sharing the results of our research in 471 peer-reviewed articles.
All of these accomplishments are a credit to the people, both past and present, in every role across the Institute, who work daily as a team to make cancer treatment better for our patients. We continue to build upon the strong legacy of care and excellence, moving cancer care forward and helping our patients move forward.
With gratitude,
Kristin Heath, DBA, MBA, MHA
Executive Director