Page 35 - SFHN March 2021

HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN & FACILITY PLANNING

Danto Builders' Owners Do It All

BY LOIS THOMSON same attention. She mentioned a younger couple they helped –
both of whom were doctors who wanted to buy real estate and
With more than four decades of experience in the construc- open their own medical office. "That's smart, because that's their
tion business, Craig Danto and his wife Debbie have devel- nest egg – they eventually will retire but will still have this real
oped a firm that is capable of handling most projects in the estate. But it's very challenging because the bank wants plans and
design build field. Debbie Danto explained that her husband budgets before they approve the loan. So we had to help them
is a fourth-generation builder who came to South Florida well expedite plans and they had to put money down for plans even
over 40 years ago, and has done every type of construction before they knew they were going to get the loan. That's a tough
imaginable. situation."
"We're a design build firm," she said, "which means we love She mentioned trends that are currently taking place in the
to take a client from concept through completion, and even industry, saying that more facilities are focusing on telemedicine
beyond that, because of other services we offer. We are able to than on brick-and-mortar, especially since COVID came on the
start with the client with a complete design build team so scene. However, she added that hospitals do not want to feel ster-
everyone understands the project – their vision, their goals, ile, but rather feel more like a hotel. "That's great for us, because
their budget; even tax incentives, and how to maximize those our strongest background is probably in hospitality – hotels and
to give a better ROI. So there really are benefits to starting restaurants. So we are able to bring that into hospitals and make
with the design build team up front, and then working with Debbie and Craig Danto them feel comfortable; that's been an ongoing trend and I'm sure
the client all the way through construction." PHOTO CREDIT: JASON LEIDY, it will continue. An ongoing focus, especially with COVID, is
Danto said she and her husband have always included med- MIDDLE RIVER ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY maintaining safety in hospitals with cleaner air, which is also part
ical facilities as part of their business, but they really started of what we do."
focusing on that after the downturn of the market. Before that they were building a Danto believes that their Midwest backgrounds enhance the quality of their serv-
lot of custom homes and multi-family developments, but when the market dropped, ice. "Craig is from Michigan and I'm from Ohio, and we both are very down-to-earth
they realized they would be wise to diversify. and ethical. We're hardworking, and we take a personal interest in clients. If it's not
"We said we need to focus more on the healthcare industry, and with aging baby a big job, it doesn't matter, we're going to treat it the same and with the same urgency,
boomers and the increasing older population here, we knew that was a good segment because we know that's (the small customer's) livelihood."
of the market to focus on. We design and/or build medical office buildings, and build Danto said all of this works well because she and her husband are partners/owners.
out separate medical offices like ear, nose, throat; MRI centers; primary physician; "He was born and raised in the business and has tremendous construction and engi-
dental offices; patient rooms; and miscellaneous medical offices." They have also neering knowledge. I come from the business side, so I oversee operations and
completed renovations for Broward Health and Holy Cross over the last decade. administrative processes; and we're both in business development." She said they also
Danto pointed out that Danto Builders is a woman-owned business, which has care about the community, serving on boards and being engaged in various activities
enhanced its growth. The changeover was made four years ago when she was in a such as holding fundraisers for Special Olympics, and now helping young people
meeting with Broward Health and they explained their diversity program. "I under- learn about the trades and helping to get them enrolled into a certification program.
stood the competitive advantage of being woman-owned, so I got my GC license and "Craig and I are very involved with our clients and community. We are thankful to
we made that transition. We're a WBENC firm, which is a national woman-owned our team and colleagues for helping us make everything happen."
business designation. We made that transition so that we could be more competitive
with hospitals like Broward Health, and we are an approved woman-owned contrac- For more information, call (954) 229-2006
tor for them." or visit www.dantobuilders.com.
Danto emphasized that whether a project is large or small, each one is given the

The Anderson Family Cancer Institute at Jupiter Medical Center, Marking

a New Era of Cancer Care from the Treasure Coast to South Florida

Jupiter Medical Center has long been demic medical center. because it allows Jupiter Medical Center
the region’s leader in cancer treatment, With 31 private infusion to further build its medical oncology
providing world-class cancer care for rooms, patients can receive division, complementing a growing team
more than 35 years. However, with the chemotherapy and other of renowned surgical oncologists and
recent opening of the iconic healthcare types of infusions in a calm- radiation oncologists.
facility’s new 55,000-square-foot ing environment outfitted This exceptional team includes Dr.
Anderson Family Cancer Institute, with specialized chairs to Debra Brandt, Director of Medical
Jupiter Medical Center’s new era of early maximize comfort. Oncology. A board-certified, fellowship-
detection, diagnostics and treatment sets Features at the Institute trained, hematologist/oncologist, Dr.
the bar to which hospitals across the designed to enhance patient Brandt will be expanding the oncology
nation aspire. and family comfort and sup- clinical trials program, offering patients a
The facility is state of the art, bringing port include: broader range ot treatment options.
together multidisciplinary cancer • A healing garden for Local clinical trials allow participation in
experts, the most sophisticated treat- den of a cancer diagnosis, versus the patients and family to gather state-of-the-art research about cancer or
ments in the field and unique amenities logistics of having to travel to multiple and visit hematologic disorders without having to
designed for patient and family comfort locations over the course of sometimes • A 45-seat auditorium for travel long distances.
and healing. The Anderson Family weeks potentially delaying their care. physician/patient educational events Prior to joining Jupiter Medical Cen -
Cancer Institute enables patients to visit The institute also holds Jupiter Meraki Juice Café with outdoor seat- ter, Dr. Brandt was Assistant Professor of
one place for physician appointments, Medical Center’s cutting-edge radiation ing Clinical Medicine at Smilow Cancer
lab work, radiation therapy, chemothera- technology, including a TrueBeam™ • A 2,000-gallon saltwater aquarium Hospital in Yale, Connecticut, and served
py, infusions and support services. Radiotherapy System, which precisely filled with salt water tropical fish to aid as Medical Director of the Torrington
Virtually all services at the center are target and destroys cancer cells while relaxation Care Center in the Yale New Haven
integrated into one location, allowing preserving healthy tissue, the • A Patient Resource Center equipped Health System. Her distinctions include
patients to see multiple oncology special- CyberKnife® M6™ Robotic with computer stations multiple “Top Doctor” awards, and a Yale
ists and support team all in the same day, Radiosurgery System, which treats • Publix Pharmacy for easy access to Cancer Center Award for Clinical
and receive a comprehensive treatment tumors nonsurgically and Electron Beam filling prescriptions Excellence.
plan so they know what to expect from Intraoperative Therapy (e-IORT), which • And a boutique and lab will be com-
diagnosis through survivorship. This is a reduces the number of radiation treat- ing soon For more information about Jupiter
remarkable concept for patients and ments for breast cancer patients. This The Anderson Family Cancer Institute Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2234
their families who already carry the bur- technology rivals that of any major aca- also marks a transformative point or visit www.jupitermed.com.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com March 2021 35