Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has announced the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute's inaugural team of community physicians. Medical oncologist Richard Brown, M.D., who serves as the medical director of the institute, will oversee the team of more than 70 community physicians, which includes surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other specialists.

Organized by specialty teams, the cancer institute physicians are focused on the most common tumor sites, including breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, lung, gynecologic and neurologic cancers, with additional tumor sites planned in the near future. Each team is multidisciplinary, with physicians working alongside oncology nurses, patient navigators, counselors, and other cancer-care professionals. They will evaluate and integrate best practices, monitor adherence to national clinical pathways, and incorporate emerging technologies with the goal of advancing cancer care delivery. Team members will participate in multidisciplinary cancer conferences, called tumor boards, where they collectively and prospectively review cancer cases to ensure patients receive the optimal treatment and highly individualized care. The physicians also are involved in clinical research, oncology education, community service, medical staff leadership and other Cancer Institute activities.