Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Expands Oncology Program with Establishment of Region's First Breast Clinic

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) is proud to announce the expansion of the Walker Breast Program - a comprehensive approach to diagnosing, treating and surviving breast cancer - to now include a multidisciplinary breast clinic. Located within the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center, the Breast Clinic provides an unparalleled level of care and a more efficient treatment process by streamlining multiple appointments into a single visit. This compressed timeline means patients receive treatments faster by bringing all of the medical experts together in a single location to create an integrated treatment plan customized to each patient’s unique case.

“A cancer diagnosis comes with so much uncertainty and for years patients have had to anxiously wait to start breast cancer treatments. Through the Breast Clinic, we provide each patient with a multidisciplinary treatment plan in one day and that dramatically decreases worry,” said Shelby Blank, MD, surgeon at TMH. “With the largest and most experienced breast care team in our region, we are also diagnosing and treating patients faster, helping us beat this disease in its earliest stages.”

Typically only offered at nationally recognized cancer programs, multidisciplinary same-day services like the Breast Clinic help to expedite the time between receiving a diagnosis and taking action towards fighting the disease. When the patient arrives at the Breast Clinic, they have an initial evaluation with their surgeon, followed by a relaxing lunch. Meanwhile, the multidisciplinary cancer team collaborates on a comprehensive care plan for the patient. After the patient’s lunch, the medical providers involved in the plan meet with the patient to discuss it in detail.

The services offered through the clinic are led by two of TMH’s surgeons, Shelby Blank, MD, Brett M. Howard, MD, and Oncology Administrator, Kathy Brooks, and are supported by a highly skilled team, including surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, plastic surgeons, registered nurses and dietitians. A dedicated nurse navigator also coordinates all aspects of a patient’s care, from the initial Breast Clinic visit and evaluation through treatment and recovery, including follow-up consultations.

“On behalf of TMH, we are elated by the addition of the Breast Clinic,” said Mark O’Bryant, President & CEO of TMH. “This multidisciplinary clinic is a first of many strategic steps in growing our oncology program with the focus of providing the highest quality of cancer care for our patients. Thank you to our many physicians, nurses and valued team members for bringing this new level of cancer care to our community.”

The Breast Clinic is an incredible expansion to the Walker Breast Program, which is part of Florida’s longest continuously accredited comprehensive community hospital cancer program and the Big Bend region's only accredited breast program by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). The Walker Breast Program provides patients in the Big Bend region personalized, comprehensive and compassionate care for breast health. Offering a wide range of services, patients have access to advanced screenings for preventive care, diagnostics and testing, state-of-the-art treatments, as well as breast health education and support programs, all conveniently located on TMH’s main campus.

To learn more about the Breast Clinic, please call the clinic at 850-431-0712.