Nestor Villamizar Grows Mesothelioma Program in Miami

Thoracic surgeon Nestor Villamizar saw the glaring need for a comprehensive mesothelioma program in bustling South Florida, even when he was 1,500 miles away in Boston. He is filling that void today. Villamizar joined the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2014, hoping to slow the stream of mesothelioma patients who are leaving Florida to seek treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He has been a much-welcomed addition to the state. The early results are impressive. "When I was working at the Brigham, we kept seeing more and more mesothelioma patients coming for surgery from Florida, and it always kind of amazed me. It's very difficult for a patient and a family to make the commitment to do that. It's not easy," Villamizar told Asbestos.com. "So it just made sense for me to come here. Those patients won't have to travel so far anymore." Villamizar brought some Boston flavor to South Florida, including the surgical skills and expertise he learned at Brigham and Women's, the most acclaimed mesothelioma program in the U.S., built by renowned surgeon Dr. David Sugarbaker. "We want to build that same kind of program here. That's what we hope to replicate, the best of the best," Villamizar said. "We want to offer the same great care, and let those in Florida stay closer to home." Villamizar Sparks Team Concept for Treatment The Sylvester Cancer Center already had been handling a small number of mesothelioma cases, but Villamizar’s expertise in the agg...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Treatment & Doctors Source Type: news