MIAMI, Fla. – Michael J. Zinner, M.D., a world-renowned and highly respected cancer surgeon and researcher, has been named founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, announced Brian E. Keeley, president and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida.

“Dr. Zinner’s credentials are indicative of the sophistication and high-quality medical care that Miami Cancer Institute will provide,” Keeley said. “Under his leadership, the Institute will deliver leading-edge cancer treatment via state-of-the-art technology, including South Florida’s only proton therapy center. We will also engage in innovative research that will accelerate discovery.”

An expert in pancreatic-hepatobiliary diseases, Dr. Zinner joins Miami Cancer Institute from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston, where he was Clinical Director, and Surgeon-in-Chief at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is also the Moseley Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and founder of Harvard’s Center for Surgery and Public Health.

Dr. Zinner is co-founder and co-director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a multidisciplinary clinical program of surgeons, oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists and pathologists. The author of more than 230 academic papers, Dr. Zinner is a member of the editorial boards of Annals of Surgery, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

“With Dr. Zinner at the helm, along with our other highly regarded experts, Miami Cancer Institute will provide world-class, precision cancer care throughout the region, including South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Wayne Brackin, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Baptist Health South Florida.

From 2008 to 2010, Dr. Zinner was the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), which has more than 80,000 members, and he is now a Vice Chair of the Board of Regents of the College. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee for the American College of Surgeons.

“Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Zinner has been widely recognized for his extraordinary clinical accomplishments, his contributions to cancer treatment and research, and his mentorship to students, physicians and researchers worldwide,” said Jack Ziffer, Ph.D., M.D., executive vice president and chief physician executive, Baptist Health South Florida. “Dr. Zinner’s esteemed reputation will help us attract and retain the best and brightest experts in cancer care, who will deliver evidence-based treatments to our patients.”

“We are delighted that Dr. Zinner will be joining us at a pivotal moment in Baptist Health’s history,” said S. Lawrence Kahn III, founding chairman of the board of directors for Miami Cancer Institute.

A Miami native, Dr. Zinner received his M.D. degree from the University of Florida and did his surgical residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

About Miami Cancer Institute

Miami Cancer Institute offers comprehensive cancer services and is expanding its clinical services, clinical trials and state-of-the-art technology, including offering the first proton therapy treatment in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Cancer Institute, designed to be a world-class clinical center and research facility, will move into its new spectacular facility in 2016.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit Baptist Health has more than 16,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians and also includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health is listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#23 in the nation) and has remained on the list for 15 years. It was also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fourth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute. Visit BaptistHealth.net.

About Baptist Health International

Baptist Health International, based in Miami, is one of the largest international hospital programs in the United States. Thousands of people travel each year from all over the world to receive care by our respected physicians. Baptist Health International is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high quality services to physicians and their patients worldwide, including hospital admissions, outpatient medical exams medical consultations, and counseling services.