Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

As we close out 2024, we reflect on an unforgettable year at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. From scientific breakthroughs and access to innovative treatments to moments of pride and community support, this year has been filled with impactful milestones. Join us in celebrating the achievements and the incredible people—patients, caregivers, researchers, faculty, staff and donors—who made it all possible. Together, we're shaping the future of cancer care and creating a world with more survivors. Here's to even greater strides in 2025! #OnlySylvester #YearInReview #EndofYearRecap

Dr. Jessica Firdman Moore, a University of Miami Miller School of Medicine alumna and graduated PGY-4 OBGYN resident at University of Miami Health System/Jackson Health System, is a stage 2B high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) survivor. During her residency, Dr. Moore developed a passion for reproductive health advocacy and supporting women through their care. She eventually set her sights on becoming an oncologist. But before she could complete her training, cancer became a personal chapter in her story. Diagnosed during residency, Jessica—an active, healthy, BRCA-positive woman who exercised regularly and prioritized wellness—knew something wasn’t right. Her diagnosis brought an unexpected sense of relief, knowing she would be treated at Sylvester, a place she trusted and trained. She enrolled in the TEAL clinical trial and has shared her experience with DigniCap, fertility preservation and research participation as part of her journey. Dr. Moore will continue sharing her story across our channels to inspire and inform others navigating similar paths. 🩵

It’s been nearly one year since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a major step forward in accelerating multiple myeloma #research. Last April, an FDA advisory committee voted in favor of using minimal residual disease (MRD), a biomarker that detects tiny amounts of #cancer in the body—as a surrogate endpoint for the accelerated approval of new therapies. While final #FDA guidance is still pending, the impact is already being felt across the field. C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., who led the pivotal research behind this shift, shares key developments since the ruling, many of which will be explored at the upcoming Miami Myeloma MRD Meeting 2025 on April 11. 🙌 Discover how #MRD is changing the landscape of multiple myeloma care and clinical trial design and paving the way for faster, more targeted drug approvals. https://loom.ly/1v9DO54

We gathered for our Sylvester Survivorship Celebration to honor the strength, milestones and resilience of our survivors—alongside the families, friends and loved ones who support them. 🧡 Our cancer support services team showed up with a range of offerings, from exercise and nutrition to music therapy and more, sharing tools that empower patients through every phase of survivorship. To our survivors: thank you for allowing us to walk this journey with you. And to our dedicated teams: your commitment fuels our mission. 🙌 Learn more about Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care: https://loom.ly/LSEgRO8.

🖥 WEBINAR 🖥 "Clinical Trial Literacy: Empowering Nurses to Educate Hispanic Patients" May 1 at 6pm ET | Free 1-hour CE-eligible webinar Presented by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in collaboration with NAHN and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) REGISTER: nahnnet.org/webinars This informative session will explore the evolution of clinical research in the U.S. and how clinical trials contribute to medical advancements. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the clinical trial process—including the phases and their significance—and the nurse’s role in guiding patients through this journey. The webinar will address common barriers to trial participation within Hispanic communities and offer culturally sensitive communication strategies to help build trust, dispel myths, and empower patients to make informed decisions. Participants will also learn how the LLS Clinical Trial Support Center can assist both providers and patients, and will receive valuable educational resources in English and Spanish from ONS and LLS to support their practice and their patients. Speakers include: Jessica MacIntyre, DNP, MBA, APRN, AOCNP®, FAANP President, Oncology Nursing Society Assistant Vice President, University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Christopher Otero, BSc, MSN AGNP-C APP Team Manager- Oncology Clinical Research/Oncology Care Clinic University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Leah Szumita, MS, RN, CCRN, ACNS-BC Director, Clinical Trial Support Center The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, ask questions, and better support your patients through every step of their care.

Tune in for a #DayInTheLife with Christopher Otero, BSc, MSN, AGNP-C, APP team manager and oncology clinical researcher. At Sylvester, turning research breakthroughs into effective treatments remains a top priority, and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are vital to making that happen. From coordinating clinical trials to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care, APPs like Chris sit at the heart of the cancer care team — moving research forward while keeping patients front and center. 🙌 Learn more: https://loom.ly/Y6qBz_Q

This past Saturday, April 6, we came together for an unforgettable day honoring Sylvester cancer survivors and the care teams who stand by them. 🧡 Our second Survivorship Celebration was filled with connection, support and joy. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day so special! What was your favorite moment? Don’t forget to tag us in your photos. Learn more about survivorship at Sylvester: https://loom.ly/LSEgRO8 Stephen Nimer Frank J. Penedo Jessica MacIntyre

We’re proud to welcome Emanuela Palmerini, M.D., Ph.D., to the Sylvester Sarcoma Team! Dr. Palmerini is a world-renowned leader in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, with a focus on Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma—two rare and complex cancers that disproportionately impact children and adolescents. After 20 years of groundbreaking work at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute in Bologna, Italy—including 30+ clinical trials, multiple global research leadership roles, and prestigious awards—Dr. Palmerini joins Sylvester to accelerate innovation in sarcoma care and research. Read the full story. ⬇️

Our 4th Biennial Miami Leukemia Symposium will provide clinicians with a forum to explore a wide range of topics, including the genetic and epigenetic landscape of myeloid neoplasms, the clinical management of acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as the indications for transplantation in each of these diseases. Learn more and register today: https://loom.ly/H3uc_iw. Mikkael Sekeres Justin Watts

Co-leader of the Tumor Biology Program, Dr. Priyamvada Rai conducts research that looks broadly at vulnerabilities associated with the metabolic “greed” of cancer cells. Cancer cells grow aggressively and rely heavily on energy-producing metabolic pathways, which become points of vulnerability that Dr. Rai leverages in her research to eliminate cancer cells while protecting normal cells. 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙪𝙢𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢? The cornerstone of research at Sylvester is collaborative excellence. The way to spark collaborations is by tapping into the natural curiosity of scientists and by building rapport and shared interests. Our program faculty members excel in different aspects of biology that converge on multiple aspects of cancer initiation, progression and treatment resistance. As a program leader, I help provide resources and funding to develop new collaborative ventures that arise from these interactions. 🔗 Read our Q&A to learn more about Dr. Rai's work: https://loom.ly/34vEO5I