Moffitt Cancer Center Celebrates 30 Years of Cancer Treatment and Prevention

November 02, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. — When Lori Fox began her nursing career at Moffitt Cancer Center in 1986, she never imagined she’d be a provider and a patient. Fox is one of Moffitt’s original nurses, and she fondly remembers the doors opening and feeling excited as she treated the first patient.

Moffitt opened its doors in 1986 as the only institution in the nation directly financed on tobacco tax. Today, Moffitt is the 6^th-ranked cancer hospital in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report, employs more than 5,200 team members and has an economic impact in the state of $2.1 billion.

Moffitt is celebrating its 30^th anniversary on Wednesday, Nov. 9, with a team member event from 4-6 p.m. Breast cancer survivor and Moffitt Board Member Olivia Newton-John is the keynote speaker and will share her story of survival and her passion for Moffitt.

Interviews will be available with Lori Fox, Olivia Newton-John and H. Lee Moffitt, Moffitt’s founding father, between 2:30-3:30 p.m.

H. Lee Moffitt says, “Think of the lives and the families that the cancer center has been able to touch over the past 30 years and what a difference we’ve made, not only in the care of the patients, but our discoveries have helped elevate the level of care not only in Florida but around the nation and around the world.”

Moffitt currently has 2.5 million square feet of facilities on 52 acres, including two satellite locations in Tampa and plans for expansion are on the horizon.

Fast Facts about Moffitt Cancer Center:

Original facility cost $70 million
Moffitt employed 409 team members on opening day
Moffitt employs 5,200 team members today
162 licensed beds in 1986
202 licensed beds in 2016
First free-standing cancer treatment and research center authorized by the state of Florida
Original facility opened debt-free
66 U.S. patents and 160 license agreements since 2004
Only Florida-based NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of 47 in the United States
Treats patients from every Florida county, every U.S. state and 130+ countries worldwide
Trains more students in oncology than all other Florida institutions combined
333,000 square feet of dedicated research space
$69 million research grants awarded
No. 6 cancer hospital in the nation as ranked by U.S. News and World Report
More than 450 active clinical trials
More than 346,470 outpatient visits a year
H. Lee Moffitt at first prevented his colleagues from placing the bill that named the center on the House floor, but they voted on the special tribute while he was away from the podium.
Moffitt has tissues and tumor samples dating back to 1986, which allows pathologist to go back and re-analyze based on what we know today. For example, after the HER2-positive gene was discovered, pathologists could go back and test old tissues for the gene to see if the patient had the marker even if they are deceased. This is beneficial for family members who may also carry the gene.

Media Opportunity:

WHO: Moffitt Cancer Center

WHAT: Celebrates 30^th anniversary

WHEN: Nov. 9. Interviews from 2:30-3:30 p.m., program 4-5 p.m., team member reception 5 p.m.

AVAILABLE INTERVIEWS: H. Lee Moffitt, Lori Fox (original nurse turned patient) and Olivia Newton-John