JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2018) – The University of Florida Health Cancer Center, including the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, has once again been recognized as a Cancer Center of Excellence by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Health.

The UF Health Cancer Center is one of four centers in the state to receive this designation. The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is the only Cancer Center of Excellence in Jacksonville that treats patients with proton therapy – an advanced form of radiation therapy.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2018)  – The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute has named the pediatric recovery room in honor of philanthropists Jane and Mike McLain to acknowledge their support of  the pediatric program. The McLains’ $200,000 gift will fund clinical research and the many support services designed to ease the treatment process for patients.

Jacksonville, Fla. (April 19, 2018) -- Nancy P. Mendenhall, M.D., has been named the 2018 Clinical Science Researcher of the Year by the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. The recognition comes, in part, for her recent research success in securing an $11.9 million grant for a national prostate cancer study comparing proton therapy to standard radiation treatment.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 10, 2018) – Kris and Tabitha Parson of Jacksonville have turned their daughter’s life-threatening cancer diagnosis into a mission to support families who are facing similar circumstances. Carolina Parson was seven when she was treated for a brain tumor in 2014, and today she is thriving.

Historic wedding celebrates a new chapter of life.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 31, 2018) – A heartwarming wedding at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute proves that love conquers all, even cancer. On her final day of treatment, patient Lindsey Morton and her fiancé Ben Jackson will become the second couple to marry in the lobby of UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. Morton and Jackson, both 33 years old, will say their vows in front of family and friends today at 2 p.m. EDT.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 10, 2018) — The American College of Radiology has awarded a three-year term of accreditation in radiation oncology to the University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute. This is the second consecutive accreditation awarded to the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and is a distinction earned by facilities that meet or exceed national standards in radiation oncology.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2018) — A new 14-passenger shuttle bus for patient transportation and a $5,000 donation to enhance the social programming for adolescents and young adults who are being treated for cancer was received by the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute from THE PLAYERS Championship during the annual Red Coat Ride Out.

THE PLAYERS volunteer leadership – the Red Coats – presented the gifts on Tuesday as part of its record $9 million charitable outreach in Northeast Florida, funds generated by the annual professional golf tournament held in Ponte Vedra Beach.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Nov. 2, 2018) — The cross-Atlantic leg of the journey carrying the new cyclotron and gantry to the University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute was completed recently as the cargo was unloaded at JAXPORT.

Together, the cyclotron and the gantry are the largest components of the new Proteus^®ONE compact single-room proton therapy system. They will be housed in the 10,000-square-foot expansion, adjacent and connected to the original UF Health Proton Therapy Institute building.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2018) – The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute recently reached a major milestone in the expansion of its cancer treatment capabilities. The largest piece of the new, single-room proton therapy system – known as the Proteus^®ONE manufactured by IBA – was lifted and lowered into the building addition Monday, Nov. 19.

The 100-ton device, roughly the weight of a 757 airplane, is called a gantry. It is the part of the proton therapy system that rotates around the patient to deliver the proton beam.