Welcome to the Charles Lewis Institute
The Charles Lewis Institute was created in 1997 as an advisory and philanthropic entity for the purpose of supporting the mission and work of MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. The mission, "to use every available resource to defeat cancer," has existed as the focus of MD Anderson - Orlando since our formation in 1991, and will continue to guide our future for generations to come.
As the first cancer center in the United States created by an academic medical center, the world renowned University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, and a community healthcare organization, Orlando Regional Healthcare, MD Anderson - Orlando serves as an innovative model for future cancer programs. The Charles Lewis Institute exists to support and guide this groundbreaking organization as we continue to move forward, making new inroads into understanding, treating, and defeating cancer.
MD Anderson - Orlando
Programs, Services and Departments Supported by the Charles Lewis Institute
To fulfill the mission and vision of MD Anderson - Orlando and the expectations of the Institute as called for in its "purpose statement," the Charles Lewis Institute supports the following programs, services and departments at the cancer center:
Education
MD Anderson - Orlando is committed to providing the best educational programs available in oncology to physicians, clinicians, staff and to all patients and their families. By providing the latest information available on medical advances and research related to cancer through innovative technologies, caregivers and patients alike are well-equipped to wage war against the enemy: cancer.
For example, every week physicians at MD Anderson - Orlando connect with internationally renowned cancer specialists at MD Anderson via "telemedicine" to discuss the most difficult cancer patient cases.
For patients and their families, our website provides convenient access to the latest cancer information. Finally, MD Anderson - Orlando educational specialists, reach out to the community about cancer prevention, early detection and other programs available through the center.
Research
Our clinical research department develops and oversees all biotechnological, basic and translational research activities of MD Anderson - Orlando. Today, cancer research is making significant strides toward understanding this terrible disease, and as a result, promising new treatments for cancer are being developed.
Collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando in Houston, among the largest clinical and basic cancer research centers in the world, has permitted MD Anderson - Orlando to be one of the few cancer centers in the United States able to provide several of the newest anti-cancer agents, still under investigation, to patients coming for treatment in Orlando.
MD Anderson - Orlando's Cancer Research Institute conducts basic laboratory research using animal models, in vitro culture techniques, and highly sophisticated bench research technologies. The lab's purpose is to further the scope of knowledge of processes that spark cell transformation into malignant forms and perpetuate the cancer growth phenomenon in an effort to identify the many variables in retarding or ceasing the cancer process.
Technology
As MD Anderson - Orlando seeks to fulfill its mission to "use every available resource to defeat cancer," technology has emerged as a vital link to winning the war against this disease. A technology steering group is charged with advising MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, Orlando Regional Healthcare, Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation and Orlando Regional Healthcare Foundation about the most effective and appropriate technologies. Dramatic advances have been made in two primary areas: radiation therapy and medical information systems (also known as "informatics").
Wellness
MD Anderson - Orlando's Wellness Program is intended to create a bridge between standard medical care and spiritual healing through complementary and integrative medicine and includes the following:
- Spiritual care services with elective spiritual and/or grief counseling and a non-denominational chapel in the Charles Lewis Pavilion
- Multiple disease-specific, stage of treatment-specific and gender-sensitive support groups
- A peaceful, inviting atmosphere suited for contemplation or meditation within the Lewis Pavillion
- Access to palliative and supportive care programs with emphasis on end-of-life issues, advanced directives and assessment for hospice care referrals
- Sessions in meditation, guided imagery and other "expressive" therapies
- Lectures on complementary and integrative therapies
- Social services, including mental health counseling
- Nutritional counseling by a licensed oncology-specific dietitian
- The Charles Lewis Institute will continue to support these important programs, services and departments and others that will undoubtedly emerge as MD Anderson - Orlando grows in the scope of services provided as well as in prestige and recognition for its medical excellence