Sarasota Memorial Hospital breaks ground on Cancer Pavilion

Sarasota Memorial Hospital took the next step on Nov. 15 toward expanding its cancer care with a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction of a new Cancer Pavilion at the Sarasota campus.

It is the third premier facility in the expanding Jellison Cancer Institute.

“This is really us continuing to bring hope home to Sarasota and our surrounding communities, to bring comprehensive cancer care here,” said Kelly Batista, executive director of the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, in a recorded interview.

The new, seven-story Cancer Pavilion is being built across the street from the inpatient/surgical Oncology Tower that opened on the SMH-Sarasota campus Nov. 15, 2021, according to Batista.

SMH opened its first Cancer Institute facility — a state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology Center — in 2020.

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Since opening, the Jellison Cancer Institute team has provided advanced cancer care to nearly 7,000 patients and performed more than 9,300 surgeries. 

The Jellison Cancer Institute was recognized nationally in 2023 in the Becker’s Hospital Review list of “100 Hospitals and Health Systems With Great Oncology Programs.”

The annual list recognizes hospitals and health systems that offer clinical trials and pioneer research discoveries that expand access to care and enhance patient outcomes.

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When the new Cancer Pavilion opens in late 2025, the 200,000-square-foot facility will support a continuum of cancer care — from prevention, screening and diagnosis to treatment, clinical trials, survivorship care and lifetime support.

It will offer outpatient services, including:

• A new and expanded breast health center
• Outpatient surgery suites
• Advanced HDR brachytherapy
• Radiation oncology
• Infusion center
• Diagnostic imaging suite, with latest CT and MRI technology
• Medical, surgical and radiation oncology physician practices
• Integrative care clinics
• Patient navigation and support