Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center

23/07/2025

🎉 BIG NEWS: We’ve been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care by Newsweek! 🏆💙

At Baptist Health, we believe excellence starts from within — and this national recognition is all thanks to our incredible 15,000+ team members who show up each day with purpose, passion and heart.

We're dedicated to creating an exceptional and supportive work environment that empowers team members to deliver high-quality care to the community. From career development and tuition support to wellness programs, employee resource groups and community volunteering — we’re proud to create a workplace where people thrive, grow and make a real impact.

In addition to being recognized as "America's Greatest Workspaces in Health Care, we’re also honored to be recognized by Newsweek as one of:
✅ America’s Greatest Workplaces in Florida
✅ America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women

“This recognition highlights our team members’ dedication to the meaningful work we do every day here at Baptist Health,” said Kate McCann, MHRD, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of Baptist Health. “We strive to create an environment where individuals find fulfillment in their daily efforts, knowing that their talents make a real difference to their patients and the community.”

“We firmly believe that our team members’ well-being is directly connected to our ability to deliver outstanding care,” said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “This award is a testament to their collective commitment to excellence and their transformative impact on the health and vitality of the communities we serve.”

Here’s to our extraordinary team and the meaningful work we do together every day!

🔗 Read the full news release: https://go.baptistjax.com/417ozjO

15/07/2025

Welcome, Dr. Elbert Kuo! 📣 Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center has named Elbert Y. Kuo, MD, MPH, MMS, FACS, as the new head of the Division of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief.

His exceptional leadership and clinical expertise, combined with a deep passion for patient care, supports Baptist Health’s dedication to providing innovative and top-quality cancer care to Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia and beyond. Dr. Kuo’s appointment follows a national search and extensive review process.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Kuo has been a respected leader, educator and mentor in the surgical field, where he has consistently earned widespread recognition from his peers. His pioneering work in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery has helped advance surgical techniques and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Kuo will lead the Division of Surgery at Baptist MD Anderson, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving initiatives to enhance patient care and surgical outcomes. His expertise in areas such as minimally invasive and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery and lung cancer screening aligns with Baptist MD Anderson’s commitment to providing cutting-edge cancer treatments and compassionate care.

Learn more about Dr. Kuo and his role: https://go.baptistjax.com/4kBd2QL

10/07/2025

“I thought it was allergies, but it wasn’t. It was my body talking to me, but I wasn’t listening."

68-year-old Fred had never smoked in his life, but had been dealing with a raspy voice for several years. In 2020, an MRI scan revealed a horseshoe-shaped lesion on his vocal cords. After undergoing a surgery to remove his voice box, six weeks of radiation and many hours of speech therapy at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Fred has been able to return to his true love: flying planes.

Using a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis (TEP), a device that directs air from the lungs through a valve into the esophagus, causing tissue to vibrate and produce sound, Fred is able to communicate with his instructor pilot and the control tower hands-free!

With more than 60 flight hours to his credit, Wagoner has completed several night flights and made touch-and-go landings at Jacksonville International Airport. He’s even shared a runway with a Blue Angels aircraft at Cecil Field.

“Now, all I want to do is fly solo. I want to take off, fly the pattern and land without my instructor saying a word. That’s the goal,” he said. “Thanks to Dr. Ahmad and the speech therapists at Baptist MD Anderson, I’m back in the cockpit and on my way to earning a private pilot’s license.” ✈️

04/07/2025

From our family to yours, we wish you a happy & safe 4th of July! 🇺🇸

02/07/2025

July is the perfect time to prioritize your health – schedule your annual mammogram! ☀️The makes it easy by bringing care close to you. Check out our July stops and book your annual mammogram screening today: go.baptistjax.com/3V1kUSB

7/12 - Florida Blue at TownCenter
Time: 9 am - 1 pm
4855 Town Center Pkwy
Jacksonville, FL 32246

7/17 - Florida Blue at Winston YMCA
Time: 10 am - 2 pm
4855 Town Center Pkwy
Jacksonville, FL 32246

If none of these events work for your schedule, you can sign up for a mammogram at one of our seven convenient screening locations: go.baptistjax.com/mammo

The Baptist MD Anderson mobile mammography bus provides increased access to mammograms

01/07/2025

YOU ARE NOT ALONE: At Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, we understand that cancer impacts everyone. That’s why we’re here for you, with support groups and resources to guide families and caregivers.

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center support groups provide opportunities for patients, caregivers and family members to connect with one another and receive information, community resources and support.

26/06/2025

This week Subaru Jacksonville and members of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - North Florida delivered blankets and notes of encouragement to our patients! We’re so grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to our community. 💙

23/06/2025

Congratulations to Alyssa Cruz-Santiago on her recent LOTUS Award! She is on our Radiation Oncology Team at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“There are a few situations recently where I don’t know what we would have done without her. The first is a sweet elderly gentleman who had a rough time after chemo. She ran and helped him in the restroom and cleaned him up. Then she made sure we had plenty of supplies for him in case he needed them again. The next is a very kind and appreciative man who we needed to unwrap his bandages - Alyssa dove in and made sure he knew he was not a burden and she would happily change/dress his wounds. She put him at ease when he was struggling. To round out the care, Alyssa helped a young woman who needed assistance - she spent as much time as the patient needed and showed grace, empathy and professionalism."

Thank you, Alyssa, for the compassion, dignity and kindness you bring to your work every day. Our patients — and our team — are lucky to have you! 💙

19/06/2025

June 19th marks a pivotal moment in our nation's history. Known as Juneteenth, this day celebrates the end of slavery in the United States — when freedom finally reached the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

It’s a day to honor the strength, resilience and triumph of those who came before us — and to celebrate the progress and hope their legacy continues to inspire.

15/06/2025

Happy Father’s Day! 💙 To every dad, stepdad, grandpa, and father figure making a difference — we’re celebrating you today!

12/06/2025

Last week, we welcomed survivors, caregivers and loved ones to our 2025 Survivorship Symposium. Guests participated in powerful workshops focused on nutrition, emotional wellness, planning for the future and managing fear of recurrence.

During one of our sessions, a participant bravely shared: “I am grateful that I am finally embracing my journey; accepting I now live in this community and want to use my journey to help others. I am stepping out of denial of having cancer.”

This reflection was not only courageous—it was transformational. It reminded us that survivorship is not a passive state, but an active, evolving journey. One that takes honesty, strength and community. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special event. 💜