According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 171,960 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Florida in 2025.
Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute’s St. Petersburg Bayfront office, at the new Orlando Health Institute Square (725 6th Avenue South), opened earlier this month.
The approximately 31,000-square-foot space was designed based on the growing needs of the community. Physicians began to see patients at the office in December.
“When Orlando Health acquired Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, it realized that it wanted to increase its oncology presence and care,” FCS medical oncologist and hematologist Michael Diaz explained. “That’s when the organization approached us about coming to a new cancer center that it was going to build.”
The office has 18 private exam rooms and 47 infusion chairs. It also has an on-site laboratory
In collaboration with the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, patients have access to a variety of services including radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgical sub-specialities at the facility. These include breast and colorectal surgeons. More will join “as appropriate.”
Additionally, the campus offers PET and CT imaging capabilities.
“It makes it very convenient for the patients to get all their care in one place,” Diaz said. “They don’t have to drive around and they can have multiple appointments in one day.”
Clinical trials are another key aspect of the experience.
“We’re attempting to identify where we can have synergy on both ends – which means clinical trials that involve both the surgeons as well as the medical oncologists and even the radiation oncologists,” he explained. “A lot of the clinical trials that are being developed involve more than one discipline because the trials are more longitudinal.”
Diaz said that since the Orlando Health complex is bringing various oncology specialists together, this can lead to the expansion of patient programs.
“For example, we have a bone marrow transplant doctor that works in my clinic now and he is going to be developing a cellular therapy center of expertise,” he added. “We will be able to provide more advanced treatments that involve cellular therapies here in St. Pete.”
Institute Square was first unveiled in 2022. It includes a 132,000-square-foot medical pavilion and a 60,000-square-foot women’s care center.
“Our mission is for patients to have access to world-class cancer care close to home,” Diaz said. “By investing in this facility with Orlando Health and dedicating our practice to be on this campus, it allows us to give better care to our patients.”
FCS offers services at six other locations in Pinellas County.