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Radiation Oncology Team Receives National Award for Excellence

The radiation oncology medical team at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center received another national award for excellence, reflecting a deep commitment to patient satisfaction as well as leading-edge clinical care.

Banner logo for 2022 Human Experience Award

Press Ganey, a nationwide patient survey organization, recognized the Radiation Oncology Clinic at Sylvester, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System, with a 2022 Pinnacle of Excellence Award. The current award is the fourth consecutive year of recognition from patients through Press Ganey.

“Our physician and staff teams are dedicated to delivering compassionate care to our patients and families, as well as the translation of new discoveries into the clinic,” said Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and service chief for the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics. The department serves patients at five locations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The Pinnacle of Excellence Award honors top-performing organizations maintaining high levels of excellence over a three-year period, which for the current award was August 2019 through March 2022.

Crystal award on stand
The current award is the fourth consecutive year of recognition from patients through Press Ganey.

“What is notable about this award is that it covered the height of the COVID pandemic and unusually late nights to accommodate patients interested in newer technology, such as proton therapy and MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy,” Dr. Pollack said.

Award winners will be showcased during this year’s Press Ganey National Client Conference, to be held February in Orlando.

“We are thrilled by this honor, which shows day-in and day-out dedication of our radiation oncology team,” said Kristen Murphy, assistant vice president of patient experience. “This is a true testament of the care, compassion, and collaboration provided by this experienced group of providers and staff.”

Delivering Precision Care

As a National Cancer Institute-designated center, Sylvester takes precision radiotherapy to the next level, Dr. Pollack said.

“We have experts for most types of cancer, and we offer national and Sylvester-designed investigator-initiated clinical trials that have been funded through philanthropy, the National Cancer Institute, Department of Defense, and State of Florida Department of Health,” he said.

Radiation oncology’s physicians and medical physicists have deep expertise in a wide range of cutting-edge imaging and therapeutic tools. Commenting on the team’s commitment to patient satisfaction, Dr. Pollack said, “Our multidisciplinary collaborative approach includes specialized teams of nurses, dosimetrists, therapists, financial counselors, administrative assistants, and other support personnel. The repeated Pinnacle awards speak to a long-standing culture of helping patients through difficult times by putting them first.”


Tags: Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Alan Pollack, Pinnacle of Excellence Award, Press Ganey, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center