Ascension St. Vincent's opens neuro-oncology clinic in St. Johns

Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County opened a clinic for brain and spine tumor patients at 300 St. Elizabeth Way on Thursday.

The neuro-oncology clinic, in Suite 270, combines neurosurgery, oncology and support services in one location. Patients who previously would have traveled to Jacksonville for specialized brain tumor care can now coordinate appointments, treatment planning and follow-up through a single team in St. Johns. That means fewer trips and no juggling separate schedules with different specialists.

"Our goal is to remove as many barriers as possible for patients during one of the most challenging times in their lives," Aristotelis Filippidis, the clinic's director of neurosurgical oncology, said in a hospital press release. "Through the opening of this new clinic, we can provide individualized treatment plans and coordinated care that keeps the patient at the center of every decision and closer to home."

Director Brings Experience From Jacksonville Hospital

Filippidis is fellowship-trained in neurosurgical oncology. Before joining the St. Johns clinic, he performed brain and spine tumor procedures at Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside in Jacksonville, according to a July 29, 2025, Ascension blog post. That hospital was named a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-25.

Sean McAfee, president and CEO of Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County, said the clinic makes advanced treatment easier to reach locally. He said patients facing a brain tumor diagnosis deserve care that is simple to navigate, and the new model brings specialists together under one roof.

St. Johns Campus Continues to Expand

The hospital is also building a Women's Services Tower and Family Birth Place. The press release lists a summer 2027 opening, though the exact timeline has not been independently confirmed. Ascension St. Vincent's, based in Jacksonville, operates four hospitals and more than 90 other care sites across Northeast Florida.