Dr. Ilicia Shugarman is board certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology and practices at our Beaches location. As someone who truly enjoys interacting with people from all walks of life, she especially loves the patient/physician relationship that develops through mutual trust and respect with each other. Her philosophy when it comes to helping patients is, “Treat every patient as I would treat a member of my own family. I strive to maintain respect, honesty, and humility as I care for my patients.” She continues, “I truly respect the universal strength of cancer patients, and I consider empathetic and compassionate care to be an important part of my role as a physician.”
Dr. Shugarman’s mother was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in 2005 and was one of the first patients on Imatinib (Gleevec), one of the first targeted therapies. “I was able to witness her incredible strength, courage, and determination, and this inspired me to enter the field of oncology,” she says. Her mother and her mother’s physicians taught her that the field of oncology is not only about medical treatment, but also about emotional support for patients and families as well. Dr. Shugarman wants her patients to know that she has walked in their shoes.
“I have experienced the positives of cancer treatment, such as when my mother responded well to Gleevec. I have also experienced the difficulties and challenges of being a caregiver, such as when my mother’s chronic health issues worsened and I became her primary caregiver while also raising my own family.”
Dr. Shugarman is originally from the Gulf Coast of Florida and got engaged in St. Augustine. She and her husband both love the Jacksonville area and were excited to be able to return and enjoy the area as a family. She is a devoted mother, wife, and friend. She enjoys spending her free time in the company of the ones she loves, preferably at the beach.
She is excited to have joined CSNF because, “CSNF is a group of physicians dedicated to treating patients with the utmost dignity and state-of-the-art medical care. I am excited and honored to be joining a practice with a talented multidisciplinary team of physicians offering cutting-edge treatment options, enabling me to provide patients with truly personalized care.”
