BOCA RATON, Fla., August 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Officials at Boca Raton Regional Hospital today announced that Frank D. Vrionis, MD, MPH, PhD, has been appointed the new Director of the organization's Marcus Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Vrionis' hiring comes after an extensive national search to secure leadership of the state-of-the-art, $57 million facility. He will assume his new duties on October 1^st.

"It is extremely gratifying for us to have such an outstanding clinician, academician and researcher as Dr. Vrionis head the team at the Marcus Institute," said Jerry Fedele, President and CEO at Boca Regional. "His skill set, achievements and qualities are perfectly suited for this important position within our organization."

Dr. Vrionis currently serves as Chief of Neurosurgery at the renowned Moffitt Cancer Center, and Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Oncology at the University of South Florida. Moffitt is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida.

During his 16-year tenure, he initiated a host of programmatic advances including the development of a Spine Biomechanics Laboratory and Spine Fellowship Program, as well as authoring guidelines for the National Cancer Center Network for Spine and Brain Tumors.

A prolific researcher, Dr. Vrionis has authored or co-authored three books on brain and spinal tumors, 150 abstracts and 100 publications in such prestigious peer-reviewed publications as the Journal of Neurosurgery, European Spine Journal and Lancet Oncology.

Dr. Vrionis received his medical degree from the University of Athens School Of Medicine in Athens, Greece, where he graduated second in his class. He performed his residency training in Neurosurgery at Tufts University and completed a fellowship in Skull-Base Surgery at the University of Tennessee.

He holds a Master's in Public Health from Harvard University and PhD in Brain Tumor Immunology from Duke University – widely regarded as one of the premier brain tumor programs in the world.

Dr. Vrionis has been the recipient of multiple honors and recognitions. He is listed in the Guide to America's Top Surgeons and was Moffitt's Physician of the Year in 2013.

"Dr. Vrionis brings to the position impeccable credentials as a surgeon, scientist and teacher," commented Anthony Dardano, DO and Chief Medical Officer at Boca Regional. "Moreover, he is a proven leader who is especially adept at galvanizing a diverse team of individuals. This amalgam of skills will be vitally important as we continue to evolve the Marcus Neuroscience Institute into one of the most advanced sites in the nation for patient care, training tomorrow's practitioners and exploring new therapies in the neurosciences."

Dr. Vrionis is looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. "I could not be more enthused about my new role and being a part of a group of such talented professionals we have at the Institute," he said. "My primary objective is to combine this talent with that we find in other clinicians in the region to create a nexus of care that is unequaled in South Florida."

Dr. Vrionis also emphasized his vision to open new vistas in research. "Understanding the causes of neurological disease and developing new ways to treat it will be a vital and robust component of the Marcus Institute. Not only will we work with our colleagues at Florida Atlantic University, but we will also be much more vigorous in being part of clinical trials with other notable institutions such as Duke and Emory Universities."

"We are very excited and enthusiastic about Dr. Vrionis' appointment and extend our congratulations to him as well as Boca Raton Regional Hospital on this great mutual decision," said Arthur J. Ross, III, MD, MBA, Interim Dean and Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. "He is exactly the person we need to help us collaborate both effectively and successfully in the neurosciences, which is an area of great interest and commitment for both of our institutions. We look forward to welcoming him to our College of Medicine faculty."

Opened in 2014, the Marcus Neuroscience Institute was created through a core gift of $25 million initiated by Bernie Marcus, Chairman of the Marcus Foundation and co-founder and former CEO of The Home Depot, and his wife Billi. The 56,000 square-foot facility houses a 20-bed Neuro Intensive Care and Step-Down Unit, a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit and four dedicated operating rooms. It also presents the most advanced technology available in medicine today – including intra-operative MRI and CT scanners, Flash CT and a Biplane angiography Suite.

"The appointment of someone the caliber of Dr. Vrionis as Director of the Marcus Neuroscience Institute is indicative of our deep commitment to ensure that the largesse of philanthropists in the community results in a program that changes the landscape of care in the neurosciences for South Florida," said Mark Larkin, President of the Hospital's Foundation.

About Boca Raton Regional Hospital – Advancing the boundaries of medicine.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an advanced, tertiary medical center (BRRH.com) with 400 beds and more than 800 primary and specialty physicians on staff. The Hospital is a recognized leader in oncology, cardiovascular disease and surgery, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedics, women's health, emergency medicine and the neurosciences, all of which offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging capabilities. The Hospital is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

Boca Raton Regional Hospital was the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence^™ for 10 years running and was named one of America's 50 Best Hospitals in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, both by Healthgrades^®. Boca Raton Regional Hospital was also recognized in U.S. News & World Report's 2016–2017 Best Hospitals listing as a top-ranked regional hospital in the South Florida metropolitan area and the highest ranked hospital in Palm Beach County.

SOURCE Boca Raton Regional Hospital

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