Collaborate in Hope: Supporting Radiation Oncology

The UF College of Medicine’s Department of Radiation Oncology Development staff has considerable experience in helping people create and document giving plans that are strategically developed and thoughtfully executed. Contact UF Health Giving at 352-265-7237, or offdev@shands.ufl.edu.

Endowed professorships like the Rodney R. Million, M.D. Chairman’s Professorship in Radiation Therapy are critical to rewarding existing faculty for their research excellence, as well as attracting new faculty to join the Radiation Oncology department. Providing salary and research stipends, endowed positions allow new faculty to establish the research programs and existing faculty to expand on their research or launch novel research projects. Together we can move the field forward! Funds that support professorships in Radiation Therapy, Radiation Oncology, and Proton Therapy as well as our clinical research efforts include:

1. The James E. Lockwood Professorship in Pediatric Proton Therapy
2. The John P. Cofrin Professorship in Radiation Therapy
3. The Rodney R. Million, M.D. Chairman’s Professorship in Radiation Therapy
4. The UF Resident Alumni Professorship
5. The Thomas P. Mitchell Professorship in Physics
6. The William and Joan Mendenhall Professorship in Radiation Oncology

To support teaching, resident education, research and academic programs in Radiation Oncology, consider giving to:

1. The Amdur/Mendenhall Radiation Oncology Lectureship
2. The Radiation Therapy Fund
3. The Radiation Oncology Clinical Research Endowment
4. The David Fink Radiation Oncology Endowment
5. The Clenon Newsome Radiation Oncology Research and Education fund

Radiation Oncology Continuing Education events, like our annual Annual Research Seminar, offer high-quality learning opportunities for students, alumni and working professionals. We utilize faculty to help identify needs and develop programs addressing a wide range of subjects.

One of the great benefits of receiving cancer care at an academic health center is that our clinician-scientists participate in cutting-edge research. In addition to multi-institutional clinical trial groups, the Radiation Oncology Department is involved in in-house protocols (sets of instructions for treatment, or treatment plans) that are used at the University of Florida. Research in radiobiology, prostate cancer, angiosarcoma and metastatic cancer are supported by funds including:

1. The Metastatic Cancer Research, Technology and Patient Program Fund
2. The Clinical Physics Research and Development Fund
3. The Research in Radiobiology fund
4. The Prostate Cancer Research Fund
5. The Shermanitta M. Benson Angiosarcoma Cancer Fund

Without donations, lodging expenses force many patients to decline much-needed treatment here in Gainesville or potentially seek other treatment alternatives closer to home. Thankfully, UF’s Southeastern Healthcare Foundation can assist with lodging expenses – but we need your help. The Southeastern Healthcare Foundation, Inc. was created to support the mission of Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics, Inc. and the University Of Florida College Of Medicine. Giving is easy – please make your check out to: Southeastern Healthcare Foundation (include “Radiation Oncology Fund #3065” in the memo) and mail your generous donation to:

UF Health Office of Development
P.O. Box 100386
Gainesville, FL 32608

Proton therapy is a precise, effective radiation treatment, which destroys cancer cells with less damage to healthy tissue. This reduces side effects and lessens the risk of developing treatment complications later in life. Proton therapy is often used in combination with conventional radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or surgery.

When a patient enters the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, they are assured of receiving the highest quality care. More than 165 employees are dedicated to delivering proton cancer treatment in a way that takes the entire person into account, so patients can keep living life to the fullest. Learn about supporting UFHPTI here.