This month, we are thrilled to celebrate a truly special milestone—the 20th anniversary of the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). To mark this occasion, we are honored to welcome a very special guest, Judge Mark Pizzo, one of the original members of PFAC. Judge Pizzo will share his remarkable journey, from his distinguished career in law to his family's profound connection with Moffitt. His invaluable contributions have shaped the culture of Moffitt in countless ways through his dedicated role on PFAC. Join us as we reflect on the past two decades and look forward to the future with gratitude and hope.

In this episode, Joel passionately underscores the importance of learning about and referring patients to the available resources that can profoundly benefit them, just as they did for him. Joel's story is a powerful reminder that when we come together as a team to provide the right support tailored to each patient's specific needs, it can be life-sustaining. In Joel's own words, it was a gamechanger!

Let's listen closely and take Joel's experience to heart, ensuring that every patient receives the support they need to thrive.

In this episode you will hear from Greg Feldman, one of our pancreatic cancer survivors, and his medical provider, Physician Assistant Tiffany Valone. 

Greg and Tiffany share with us their insights into how their 9-year relationship, built on trust, care and respect, provided the support he needed to sustain him throughout his long cancer journey at Moffitt.

In this episode you will hear from Alexander Dojcinovski, a supervisor in our experimental cell therapy department. He was a patient here before he was a team member, having endured a long and arduous treatment regimen for stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As he finished his treatment and was thinking of his future, he was so impacted and inspired by the care he received at Moffitt that he knew he wanted to be part of our mission, bringing hope to patients. 

Randy Isaacson shares how his wife Lynn’s 162-day journey with Acute Myeloid Leukemia did not define their beautiful 34 years together even though she died of the disease at 55 years old. He tells us how important the nurses were to creating comfort for Lynn and himself during their long stays in the hospital and how he now volunteers in multiple ways at Moffitt, for Lynn.

This podcast highlights the work of Lloyd Goldstein, a Certified Music Practitioner in our Arts in Medicine Program. Lloyd shares his journey from a professional base violin player in the Florida Orchestra to a Moffitt volunteer, to one of our Artists in Residence. Through being present and meeting patients where they are, Lloyd uses his music to help patients transcend their pain and suffering, give their families comfort and a sense of peace, and in the process builds a bridge between hearts.

At just 18 years old, while most young adults were starting college and navigating the challenges of young adulthood, Moffitt team member, Jackie Beaushaw was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and undergoing cancer treatment at Moffitt. For someone so young, this experience could have been incredibly frightening, isolating, and overwhelming. And it was. But Jackie’s journey took a pivotal turn when she came across a flyer for the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program at Moffitt. 

This past year, we've had the privilege of hearing our patients share their heartfelt stories, showcasing incredible courage and resilience during challenging times. We're deeply inspired by the respect, care, and compassion demonstrated by our team members—it's often the smallest acts that make the most significant difference in the lives of our patients and their families. We invite you to take a moment to glimpse these impactful stories, reflecting the true essence of our Promise and the care we strive to provide every day.

In this episode Rick Salomone shares with us how he had some critical decisions to make concerning his care, and how grateful he was for the support and respect of his Moffitt team that empowered him to choose a treatment path that aligned with his beliefs, priorities and lifestyle. 

In this episode you hear from Jasmine Cherry, one of our Moffitt team members. After seeing her grandparents both treated at Moffitt, she was excited to get her dream job at age 24 working in the cell therapy lab. Little did she know that just one year later, she would be diagnosed with leukemia and need those very same cell therapies to survive. She shares with us how her experience has deepened her connection and commitment to excellence in her work.