Palm Beach Children’s Hospital OffersOnly Long-Term Oncology Care Follow Up Clinic in Southeast Florida

Left to right: Tracey Flood, RN, outpatient services manager; Neya Charles, registered dietician; Megan Hammerdinger, licensed clinical social worker; Dr. Matthew Ramirez, medical director of the KITE Center; Mary Prokop, RN, KITE Center coordinator; Candyce Deblasiis, unit secretary.

West Palm Beach, FL (May 26, 2016) – The K.I.T.E. (Knowing the Importance of Treatment Effects) Center at the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital is the only survivor resource available for children who have completed cancer therapy 2+ years ago. This multidisciplinary center is the first of its kind in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Led by Dr. Matthew Ramirez, pediatric hematologist/oncologist, this outpatient cancer survivorship program is dedicated to empowering survivors by providing them with information about their post-cancer medical care, monitoring them for potential late effects from cancer therapies and helping them reach their life goals.

“As a childhood cancer survivor and medical director of this new program, Dr. Ramirez has committed himself to healing the children of our community who have been affected by this disease,” said Gabrielle Finley-Hazle, CEO of St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital. “There have been many breakthroughs in medicine and the team at the K.I.T.E. Center is here to help former pediatric cancer patients continue their recovery process.”

“At the K.I.T.E. Center, our mission is to ensure that each child remains healthy long after their completion of cancer therapy” said Dr. Matthew Ramirez, medical director of the K.I.T.E. Center. “We do this by having patients undergo various screening tests and evaluations to help determine their need for further treatment.” 

As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital uses the latest research to provide personalized care to each cancer survivor treated at the K.I.T.E. Center. Patients have access to: 

• Specially trained pediatrician and pediatric nurses
• Respiratory therapy
• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Dietary specialist
• Licensed clinical social worker
• Pediatric outpatient rehab

For more information on the K.I.T.E. Center and other pediatric oncology services at the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, please visit www.palmbeachchildrenshospital.com/our-services/cancer.