Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center

03/30/2026

Please join us in wishing a very happy to all of our outstanding physicians! 🩺

Robert Zaiden, MD, has been with our Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center team since 2015. As a medical oncologist, he helps patients navigate some of life’s most challenging diagnoses. We sat down with him to get to know him a little better and hear what drives his work.

Q: How would you describe your specific field of practice?

A: I am a GI/GU Medical Oncologist – a doctor specializing in the care of patients with cancer of the digestive system as well as the urinary/reproductive tract. My role is to administer and manage systemic medical treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal agents, and other targeted therapies to help control or cure their cancer.

Q: What drove your passion for medicine and led you to become a doctor?

A: I am an extrovert by nature and love interpersonal interactions. I also enjoy problem-solving and have always been fascinated by how the human body works. In medicine, and perhaps especially so in oncology, we see patients when they’re at the most difficult and vulnerable points in their lives and have the privilege of helping them navigate this challenging time. We get to use the best scientific breakthroughs to fight humanity’s worst disease.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a physician?

A: I enjoy the physician/patient interactions and knowing that I have helped make someone’s life better, whether by helping to cure their cancer or by extending the quality and quantity of life when their disease is incurable. Although it can be stressful and demanding at times, there are not many professions that give you this level of satisfaction.

Q: What is the most significant thing you’ve learned about caring for patients and the impact you have on their health?

A: Patients often connect with you as a person before they do so as a doctor. If they don’t feel that you truly care about them, then it’s difficult to get that trust you need to develop a meaningful therapeutic relationship.

Q: What does being a physician mean to you and have your feelings about this evolved over the years?

A: Being a physician means that I have been entrusted with the care and well-being of my patient. It means I am the link between scientific advances and the bedside care of the person. Over the years, the volume of medical knowledge has accelerated at a faster pace, and with this growing complexity, it has become even more critical to focus on efficient, collaborative and compassionate communication with patients who have put their trust in us.

The care, compassion and expertise Dr. Zaiden brings to every patient interaction make a meaningful difference. We’re proud to have him on our team and caring for our community. 💙 Happy Doctors' Day!

03/26/2026

We’re not going to sugarcoat it — colonoscopies can be a pain in the butt. You know what’s worse, though? Colorectal cancer.

Did you know that the survival rate of colorectal cancer is 91% when it’s detected before it spreads? Rates of colorectal cancer are rising in adults younger than 50 and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends colon cancer screening starting at age 45 for patients, which most insurances now cover.

Colonoscopies also get a bad rap, and the technology has advanced extensively over the years. Our own Dr. Ron Landmann says: “Since I've been in the profession, colonoscopies have advanced leaps and bounds. The bowel prep process, which is often the most intimidating part, has become more streamlined and easier to handle. Split-day dosing has markedly improved tolerance and experience."

The actual colonoscopy doesn’t take long, and the patient is typically sedated for the duration. The brief 30-minute procedure involves finding and sometimes removing polyps in the colon or re**um. Polyp removal is quick and painless. It’s certainly a much better alternative to dealing with treatment for colorectal cancer!

Why you shouldn’t put off your colonoscopy.

03/25/2026

What started as a routine walk to the gym for Jon Copeland, a beloved baseball coach of 20 years at Trinity College of Jacksonville, turned into emergency surgery for a ruptured esophagus, a rare, life-threatening emergency that nearly cost him his life. During the following year, Jon experienced:

• Complex surgeries to both disconnect & reattach his esophagus to his stomach
• Consuming food solely via a feeding tube
• A 75-lb weight loss
• Missing out on much of the 2024 and 2025 spring baseball seasons

But thanks to the quick actions of Baptist Health Jacksonville and Oakleaf emergency departments, and the seamless collaboration between Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Jon got a second chance — and last season, he was back coaching the game he loves. ⚾❤️ His team never wavered in their support, constantly sending cards and signed posters during his rehab.

Visit https://go.baptistjax.com/3Notz06 to read his incredible story of survival, resilience and return.

03/21/2026

🌸 ✨ When Jeannie Blaylock, co-founder of Buddy Check and longtime First Coast News anchor, sat down to share her breast cancer diagnosis with her mother, it was one of the hardest conversations she's faced. But because her cancer was caught at stage zero, the earliest stage possible, it was also a moment filled with reassurance, healing and hope.

At Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, her care team confirmed her cancer was non-invasive and highly treatable - a powerful reminder that early detection can change everything. 💕

Mammograms can find cancer before it can be felt, when it's most curable. With programs like the Buddy Bus, we're bringing lifesaving screenings directly to our community.

Early detection can change everything — and in Jeannie’s case, it did.

🩷 Read more about Jeannie's story here: https://go.baptistjax.com/4rBnACQ (📸 First Coast News)

03/20/2026

THE POWER OF PREVENTION! 🙌 Colon cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the U.S. — but it's also one of the most preventable. This March, during , we're proud to support a FREE community event bringing together some of the best minds in cancer prevention.

Join us at The Power of Prevention: Protecting Generations Through Early Detection, hosted by the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Health Service Executives.

Hear from an incredible panel:
💙 Ron Landmann, MD, FACS, FASCRS — Colon & Re**al Surgeon, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center
💙 Tra'Chella Johnson Foy, MD — Family Physician, Baptist Primary Care
💜 Dr. Durado Brooks — Associate Chief Medical Officer, Exact Sciences

Moderated by:
💙 Timothy Groover, MD, MBA, FASA, CPE, FACHE — EVP & Chief Medical Officer, Baptist Health

🗓️ Friday, March 27 | 5–7 PM
📍 Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center | 1301 Palm Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207
🎟️ FREE — Reserve your spot now: https://go.baptistjax.com/47xHw2H

This event is free, open to the community, and the conversation could save your life — or someone you love. Seats are limited. Click the link to register today. ⬆️

03/13/2026

A milestone in prostate cancer care! 🙌

Last Friday, the team at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center successfully performed their first High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment utilizing a robotic system for prostate cancer, led by urologic oncologist Sumit Isharwal, MD.

HIFU is a non-invasive treatment that uses focused ultrasound energy to precisely target and destroy cancerous prostate tissue while sparing surrounding healthy structures. For many patients, it offers a treatment option with shorter recovery time and reduced side effects compared with more invasive approaches.

“Adding HIFU therapy truly rounds out our prostate cancer program,” said Dr. Isharwal. The robotic platform allows us to deliver this therapy with exceptional precision, improving safety and efficiency while maintaining excellent outcomes. We’re now able to offer patients a broader spectrum of treatment options from focal therapies such as HIFU and irreversible electroporation (IRE) to surgery and radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer."

This advancement further strengthens the comprehensive prostate cancer care available at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center – bringing innovative treatment options to the communities we serve.

Interested in learning more about how we treat urologic cancers? Visit https://go.baptistjax.com/4bnsnlk.

03/12/2026

Our friend and longtime community advocate Jeannie Blaylock has helped women across Northeast Florida prioritize their breast health through Buddy Check 12, a program she created with Baptist Health Jacksonville to encourage monthly self-exams and regular mammograms.

Now, Jeannie is sharing her own health news after being diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer. Because it was caught early, her prognosis is very positive.

Jeannie also shared her gratitude for the physicians and care team at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center who are guiding her through the next steps of her journey. We’re honored to support Jeannie and grateful for the trust she has placed in our team.

Her story is a powerful reminder of the message she has helped share with our community for years:

💗 Early detection saves lives
💗 Don’t delay your screenings
💗 Pay attention to changes in your body

We’re grateful for Jeannie’s advocacy and the awareness she continues to bring to women across our community.

Watch Jeannie share her story and the impact Buddy Check 12 has had not just in Jacksonville, but around the world:

Jeannie Blaylock, who founded Buddy Check 12, shares her cancer diagnosis, and how Buddy Check allowed her to catch it early.

03/06/2026

Today is , and we’re profoundly lucky to have the best team there is! Our team members don’t just treat their work as a job, but as a calling. There’s no greater feeling than helping patients through their cancer journey, and we couldn’t do it without every single person inside our building. 💙

Let’s hear it for the Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center team in the comments! 🥳

02/25/2026

Please join us in saying congratulations to Megan on receiving a much-deserved LOTUS Award for exceptional compassionate care, dedication, and service! 🏆

As a Clinical Oncology Pharmacist and the PGY-2 Heme/Onc Residency Director, Megan treats all of our patients like they’re family. If there’s a definition of impeccable bedside manner and relationship-building with patients, then Megan is it, based on her nomination. Here’s an excerpt from her nomination story from a colleague:

“To Megan, patients are not just names on a chart or prescriptions to be filled; they are family. She takes the time to provide thorough education, ensuring each patient and their loved ones fully understand their treatment, while never making them feel rushed or unheard. Her patience and willingness to spend extra time with every individual reflect her deep respect for the people she serves.

What makes her truly remarkable is the personal connection she builds with each patient. She takes the time to learn about their hobbies, interests, and life stories, remembers those details, and uses them to bring comfort, smiles, and laughter. Her presence alone can brighten a room. Her laugh is contagious, and when she laughs, staff and patients alike know she is nearby and can't help but smile themselves. She brings joy, warmth, and positivity wherever she goes.”

Megan embodies our patient-first approach to health care, and we hope you’ll celebrate her with us in the comments! 🎉 💙

02/18/2026

Marcele is living proof of the importance of regular mammograms. 🩷

This grandmother of six didn’t feel any lumps or anything that would raise flags, but she still kept her mammogram appointment. It was there that tests revealed clusters of white dots, called pleomorphic spots or calcifications, in her right breast. First Coast News asked Marcele's doctor, our very own Dr. Karen Ching-Tismal, to explain what that meant for Marcele:

"Pleomorphic spots are the same calcium you have in bones and teeth, but sometimes they grow in breast tissue and can be the earliest manifestations of breast cancer," she said.

We’re thrilled to report that Marcele has rang the bell and returned to her adoring grandchildren. Catching her breast cancer early had a profound impact on her. 💪

“It gives you a different outlook on life... and you can't go through it without God holding your hand," she said.

You can watch Marcele’s inspiring story and learn how to schedule visits from our mobile mammogram Buddy Bus at the link in the first comment! ⬇️

02/09/2026

Some recognitions are truly bittersweet, and perhaps none more than the Team Miller Strong Award recently given to members of our team by the family of Robert J. Miller IV.

Robert courageously battled brain cancer for ten months, and members of his family were on hand for the presentation of this award. The Miller family wanted to ensure the Neurological Oncology team and select members of the Revenue Cycle team were recognized for the exceptional care and compassion provided to Robert. As this recognition included Neuro Oncology, Hospital-Based Revenue Cycle, and Physician-Based Revenue Cycle, all the teams were joined together under the name of the patient who united them, creating Team Miller Strong.

Robert may no longer be with us, but his courage and his strength remain a part of every member of Team Miller Strong. It's actually our team that owes Robert and his family the heartfelt gratitude. 💙 💙

02/06/2026

Heart disease doesn't always look the same in women. Symptoms can be subtle and easily dismissed, which is why awareness is so important. 🫀❣️

On Wear Red Day, we're shining a light on women's heart health and the importance of knowing the signs, understanding the risk factors and seeking care when something doesn't feel right.

Your heart matters - today and every day. ❤️ 💪