Santa Rosa Medical Center Attracts International Attention

posted on December 22, 2011 at 2:39 pm

This past October, The Women’s Place at Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton, Fla., celebrated its official grand opening, and, in the meantime, gained international attention for its breast cancer and treatment services.

A grand welcome

On October 11, The Women’s Place welcomed more than 300 members of the community to tour its facility, enjoy refreshments and hear live music by a trio from the Pensacola Symphony. As the only comprehensive diagnostic imaging facility in Santa Rosa County, the center combines medical expertise and advanced technology in a tranquil environment. Available services include bone densitometry, digital mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy and ultrasound.

The center is led by Medical Director Dr. Pam Schurman, a board-certified general surgeon, and assisted by Sherry Pitts, a certified breast patient navigator who provides personalized assistance for breast cancer patients. “I am excited to be a part of a center focused on meeting women’s needs,” Dr. Schurman said.

To international acclaim

On October 20, The Women’s Place hosted the International Visitor Leadership Project (IVLP), an international delegation sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The delegation, which consisted of medical professionals involved in women’s breast cancer treatment and prevention, toured The Women’s Place to learn more about the facility’s patient-centered approach to detect breast cancer and help women through the process. The visiting delegation represented nine nations, including:

• Czech Republic
• Fiji
• Ghana
• Kazakhstan
• Korea
• Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

“We were honored to have been asked to host this influential group of international leaders, and enjoyed sharing our story of how The Women’s Place came to be and what it is today,” said Phillip Wright, CEO of Santa Rosa Medical. “The fact that we can have a global impact on women’s health initiatives with The Women’s Place is exciting and rewarding.”

Lonnie Hilliard, a U.S. Department of State English Language Officer who traveled with the delegation, called the visit to Santa Rosa Medical the highlight of their entire three-week project focusing on breast cancer awareness. “Each international visitor enjoyed the lovely luncheon and benefited from the tour and free-flowing discussions with doctors and staff,” he said.

“What I will always remember and take back to Holland is the warm welcome by Santa Rosa Medical Center with the huge banner outside made just for us,” said Sandra Kloezen, a delegation member from the Netherlands. “The passion of the team and of the director especially touched my heart. Thank you all.”