Moffitt Cancer Center

Moffitt Cancer Center
Name	Moffitt Cancer Center
Location	Tampa, Florida, United States
Healthcare	Private, not-for-profit
Type	Specialist
Speciality	Oncology
Affiliation	University of South Florida
Beds	206
Founded	1981
Website	www.moffitt.org

Moffitt Cancer Center is a private, not-for-profit National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center located in Tampa, Florida. It is a top-ranked institution dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer, integrating pioneering clinical research with advanced patient care. The center is closely affiliated with the University of South Florida and operates a large network of clinical trials and community outreach programs across the state.

History

The center was established in 1981 by the Florida Legislature through the efforts of H. Lee Moffitt, a prominent state representative. Its founding mission was to address the growing need for advanced cancer treatment in Florida. The facility opened its doors to patients in October 1986 on the campus of the University of South Florida. A pivotal moment in its development came in 1998 when it earned the prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute, recognizing its excellence in laboratory research, clinical care, and population science. Subsequent decades saw significant expansion, including the opening of the Moffitt Research Center in 2003 and the Moffitt McKinley Hospital in 2015.

Facilities and locations

The main campus is situated within the University of South Florida's Health Sciences Center in Tampa. The primary inpatient facility is the Moffitt McKinley Hospital, a 206-bed hospital featuring specialized units for surgical oncology, medical oncology, and blood and marrow transplantation. The adjacent Moffitt Research Center houses over 150 principal investigators. Beyond the main campus, the center operates a statewide network through its Moffitt Cancer Center at International Plaza and numerous satellite locations, including facilities in Wesley Chapel, Brandon, and Pinellas County. Its screening and diagnostic imaging services are also widely accessible.

Research and clinical trials

Research is organized around multidisciplinary programs such as Cancer Biology and Evolution, Immunology, and Health Outcomes and Behavior. Scientists collaborate with institutions like the Harvard-MIT Broad Institute on large-scale genomics projects. The center is a national leader in clinical trials, offering hundreds of studies annually through its Clinical Trials Office. Notable research strengths include melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and personalized medicine. Its Total Cancer Care protocol is a longitudinal study that collects biospecimens and clinical data to guide future therapeutic discoveries.

Patient care and programs

Patient care is delivered through disease-specific multidisciplinary clinics, where teams of surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists collaborate on individual treatment plans. The center offers advanced therapies including proton therapy, robotic surgery, and CAR T-cell therapy. Supportive care programs encompass the Moffitt Cancer Screening and Prevention Center, survivorship clinics, palliative care, and integrative medicine services such as acupuncture and massage therapy. The Moffitt Cancer Center at International Plaza focuses exclusively on outpatient care and diagnostic services.

Leadership and organization

The center is governed by a Board of Directors and led by a President and Chief Executive Officer. It maintains an academic partnership with the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, where many of its physicians hold faculty appointments. The organizational structure includes several senior vice presidents overseeing areas like Clinical Science, Basic Science, and Faculty Affairs. The institution also collaborates with Tampa General Hospital for certain complex tertiary care services and is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Recognition and rankings

Moffitt has consistently been ranked as a top cancer hospital by U.S. News & World Report, often placing within the top tier nationally for adult cancer care. It is one of only 56 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States, as designated by the National Cancer Institute. The center has also received Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Its research contributions are frequently published in high-impact journals such as *Nature*, *Cell*, and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Category:Cancer centers in the United States Category:Hospitals in Florida Category:University of South Florida Category:Organizations based in Tampa, Florida Category:Medical and health organizations based in Florida