JUPITER, FL-Bruce A. Rendina was a well-known healthcare real estate developer and leader of Rendina Cos. When he died after a battle with brain cancer in 2006, the leadership of the company shifted to his son, Richard M. Rendina, who was 26 years old at the time.

During his seven years at the helm, the young chairman and CEO has had to undergohis own battle with cancer ( non-Hodgkins lymphoma) as well as overcome doubts about whether the firm would remain a viable developer in the medical office building sector. These days, Rendina reports that the company has a strong pipeline and is poised to remain one of the sector's key firms for years to come.

In the first three parts of a four-part interview with Healthcare Real Estate Insight's Murray W. Wolf, Rendina discussed the company's pipeline, its turnaround, and thoughts about the healthcare real estate sector. In this segment, he shares stories of a more personal nature.

HREI: It must have been a difficult time after your father passed away.

Rendina: It was, both personally and professionally. But God blessed me with a great family, friends and colleagues who provided me with a much needed support system. (At the time), I think many in the industry just wanted to wait and see if we were still going to be around in a few years, which could have been case in point you look at our pipeline in the years 2007 and 2008. Those were tough chugging. I think the first shovel we put in the ground after my father's death was the middle of 2008.

HREI: When did things start to turn?

Rendina: When I actually was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. I remember talking to (executives at) the company and letting them know what I was facing – all the while thinking about how I had addressed them just five years prior to let them know that my father had passed away. But at the same time I was telling them that I think we had the team to succeed whether I was there every day or not.

HREI: You talked about picking up good, healthy habits as a result of your illness and recovery.

Rendina: Acupuncture and Yoga and exercise (were a part of it). I've always stressed the importance of balance in my life and of our employees. Having my son turn one year old during those five months (of chemotherapy) put a lot of things into perspective. All work and no play is not a good way to spend your day, and you won't be around long, either.

HREI: How did the cancer diagnosis affect your perspective?

Rendina: (It) gave me some tremendous insight into the patient experience, the extreme value of the nurses and physicians that you are working with. They are working to save your life. At the groundbreakings I go to I talk a lot about what goes on behind those walls we build.

HREI: Has your experience affected your business in other ways?

Rendina: Health and wellness. We completed a project for Akron (Ohio) General Medical Center – both a 100,000 square foot Health & Wellness Center and a 41,000 square foot attached MOB. They're certainly pioneers. They've been in the health and wellness business for 20 years and they do it successfully and they do it profitably. We're working with them to take their model out to our client base because we believe it is the future of healthcare.

Murray W. Wolf is the Founder and Publisher of Healthcare Real Estate Insights™, the nation's first and only publication totally dedicated to covering news and trends in healthcare real estate development, financing and investment. For more information, please visit www.HREInsights.com.