Frank J. Penedo, Ph.D. is the Associate Director for Population Sciences and Associate Director for Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship at the NCI-designated University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center He also serves as a Sylvester Professor of Psychology and Medicine. Over the past 24 years, his research has focused on evaluating the role of psychosocial and sociocultural processes in adjustment, health related quality of life (HRQoL) and health outcomes in diverse chronic disease populations including and primarily in cancer. His research program focuses on understanding the roles of sociocultural, biobehavioral, care delivery and psychosocial mechanisms underlying disease activity and health outcomes, and the efficacy of evidence-based psychosocial interventions in promoting optimal chronic disease management and health outcomes. In his role as Director of Cancer Survivorship at Sylvester, he oversees implementation of ACOS-CoC standards of supportive and survivorship care and translational research evaluating the impact of distress screening, symptom monitoring and survivorship care programs within Sylvester and via collaborations with Northwestern Medicine. As prior or current PI of multiple NCI and other NIH studies, he has considerable experience in cancer control and survivorship, measurement and management of symptom burden, the delivery of psychosocial interventions, care delivery and health services research and community-based and -engaged approaches to optimize health outcomes in cancer survivors. He has expertise in adapting, implementing and disseminating evidence-based interventions (in-person, via e/mHealth) and EMR-integrated symptom and needs monitoring, triage and intervention in ambulatory cancer survivors. He is past president of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine and elected Fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research and the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Penedo has over 300 peer-reviewed publications, has served as associate editor of several major journals in his field, and has been a standing member of several NIH study. He is the inaugural recipient of the Sylvester DCC Living Proof Endowed Chair in Cancer Survivorship and was recently elected to the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities. He is the 2023 recipient of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine Distinguished Scientist Award.

Dr. Alan Dal Pra is an Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He also serves as the Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Lennar Foundation Medical Center in Coral Gables.

Dr. Dal Pra earned his Medical Degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and completed his specialty training in Radiation Oncology in both Brazil and Canada. He further advanced his expertise through postdoctoral fellowship training in Genitourinary Oncology at McGill University and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, where he also received specialized training in Genitourinary Translational Oncology at the Bristow Lab.

Before joining the University of Miami, Dr. Dal Pra was a senior consultant and investigator at the University of Bern in Switzerland. He currently leads a European multicenter trial as the principal investigator and has contributed significantly to numerous prospective studies as an investigator or co-investigator. His scholarly work includes over 100 publications in top-tier journals such as Nature, Nature Genetics, European Urology, Lancet Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, and the Red Journal.

In his clinical practice, Dr. Dal Pra specializes in treating genitourinary and thoracic tumors. He works closely with multidisciplinary teams at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care, tailoring treatment to the unique needs of each patient.

Dr. Reid is a cancer epidemiologist, Distinguished Professor of Oncology, Chief of Cancer Screening and Survivorship, and Director of Collaborative Research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RPCCC). She has over 20 years of experience directing cancer screening and surveillance studies on upper aero-digestive cancers, particularly those evaluating the natural history of epithelial premalignant lesions. In 2014, under Dr. Reid’s leadership, RPCCC developed a mixed model comprehensive cancer screening and survivorship clinical and research program, with a central clinic and small satellites. The comprehensive cancer screening program includes lung, breast, cervical, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers and has a general screening clinical service. The survivorship program provides comprehensive patient centered survivorship care, symptom management, referrals to an array of support services and the generation of a detailed care plan for all patients and community providers. Over 4600 patients have been seen in the clinical program since its inception from multiple disease sites. The entire multidisciplinary team of providers places great emphasis on wellness, cancer screening and risk reduction while supporting research that will enhance the evidence base of comprehensive screening and survivorship care.

Bill Brummel is an award-winning documentary producer/director. He and his films have been recognized with a Peabody Award, two International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards, five national Emmy nominations, and been named to an Oscar shortlist. After having his voice box removed in 2016, Brummel produced and directed “Can You Hear My Voice?”. The film chronicles London’s Shout at Cancer choir, whose singers are also living without voice boxes.

Many of Brummel's previous films have focused on civil rights and human rights issues. Some of Brummel’s other credits include Selma-The Bridge to the Ballot, Erasing Hate, Blood Diamonds (Emmy nomination), Rwanda-Do Scars Ever Fade? (Peabody Award, two Emmy nominations, IDA award), Viva La Causa (Oscar shortlist), Bullied, Inside Pol Pot's Secret Prison (IDA award, two Emmy nominations), Opus Dei Unveiled, Civil Rights Martyrs, Standing Tall at Auschwitz, Child Warriors, The Greensboro Massacre, Inside North Korea, and The Ku Klux Klan: A Secret History.

After finishing the film “Can You Hear My Voice?”, Brummel has become a sought-after speaker on the psychosocial issues of cancer survivorship, especially head & neck cancers. As a 26-year cancer survivor and after 7 years speaking with a voice prosthesis, Brummel tells his cancer story and addresses the stress, isolation, and despair that often accompanies the disease - and he does so with empathy, compassion, film clips (or full screenings), and a little bit of humor.

Brummel has given keynote speeches, conference presentations, and participated in webinars and screening events for cancer support and advocacy organizations, medical universities, hospital groups, and professional clinician organizations. A partial listing of event follows.

Michelle Mollica, PhD, MPH, RN, OCN, serves as deputy director of the NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship and is responsible for developing, supporting, and promoting research efforts focused on improving outcomes for people impacted by cancer. Dr. Mollica also holds a secondary appointment as a program director in the Outcomes Research Branch (ORB) of the Healthcare Delivery Research Program, where she manages a research portfolio of grants focused on cancer survivorship and healthcare delivery across the lifecourse, from childhood through older adulthood.

With an enduring interest in improving care for those impacted by cancer, Michelle focuses her research on the intersection of survivorship and healthcare delivery, including the transition into post-treatment survivorship, models of survivorship care, integration of oncology and primary care providers, and specific survivor populations (e.g., individuals living with advanced and metastatic cancers). Michelle has a background in mixed methods research and community-engaged research, and has experience conducting qualitative research and intervention development in underserved populations. Prior to her position at NCI, Michelle worked clinically as an oncology nurse.

Felicia Marie Knaul, BA (International Development, University of Toronto), MA, PhD (Economics, Harvard University), is internationally recognized for her transformative, translational research in global health, health systems, and health economics focused on reducing inequities. Her research has influenced policy and improved the condition of at-risk populations in low- and middle-income countries and especially in Latin America. Her work is focused on access to pain relief and palliative care, cancer and especially breast cancer, violence against women and children, health systems and reform, health financing, women and health, medical employment, poverty and inequity, female labor force participation, and at-risk children and youth. She has held numerous leadership positions in academia, including Director of the Harvard Global Equity Initiative and Associate Professor at the Harvard Medical School. At the University of Miami, she is the Director of the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas and the Office for Hemispheric and Global Affairs where she leads the Secretariat of the Hemispheric University Consortium, a Professor at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine with secondary appointments at the School of Nursing and Health Studies, the Miami Herbert Business School and the College of Arts and Sciences, and a Full Member of the Cancer Control Program at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr Alencar is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and the Chief Medical Officer at University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is a member of the lymphoma program at Sylvester and the lymphoma committee at the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology with a focus on clinical research of b-cell lymphoid malignancies with special interest in minorities, particularly elderly and Hispanics. His research focus is on the application of novel agents to improve responses and minimize toxicity on the care of elderly patients. Dr Alencar also focuses on improving access to care and defining the impact of social determinants of health on outcomes of patients with lymphoid malignancies. As the hematology section lead for the Sylvester’s Global Oncology Program, Dr Alencar serves as an important bridge to the United States for Latin American hematologists through research and clinical collaborations.

After obtaining his MD degree in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2005, Dr. Bruno Nahar completed a 2-year residency in General Surgery followed by a 3-year residency in Urology, leading to his Board Certification in Urology in Brazil. He worked as faculty at a large hospital in Rio de Janeiro for 4 years before pursuing further training. Dr. Nahar completed a 2-year Clinical Fellowship in Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/ Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Nahar's exceptional dedication and contributions to the field of Urologic Oncology have recently been recognized with the prestigious Eric and Elizabeth Feder endowed chair for Urologic Oncology research. This honor highlights his remarkable expertise and outstanding achievements in urologic cancer care.

Currently, Dr. Nahar serves as an Assistant Professor of Urologic Oncology at the University of Miami, where he continues to make significant advancements in the field. His particular focus lies in the study and treatment of malignant conditions affecting the prostate, kidney, and bladder. Dr. Nahar's comprehensive knowledge and innovative approach have positioned him as a pioneer in the field of Focal Therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Throughout his career, Dr. Nahar has made significant contributions to Urologic Oncology research. He has authored numerous publications and books, solidifying his position as a respected authority in the field. Due to his expertise and reputation, Dr. Nahar serves as a reviewer for all major academic journals, providing valuable insights and guidance to fellow researchers and medical professionals.

With his extensive training, passion for patient care, and groundbreaking research, Dr. Bruno Nahar continues to shape the landscape of Urologic Oncology, bringing hope and improved outcomes to countless individuals affected by urologic cancers.

Dr. Ritch is a fellowship-trained Urologic Oncologist, and Associate Professor of Urology at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, University of Miami, Miller school of medicine where he is the Director of Urology for UHealth Tower, the flagship university hospital. His clinical interests include the treatment of prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer. His research interests are in prostate and bladder cancer. He oversees the institutional non-muscle invasive bladder cancer database at the University of Miami and has conducted a randomized controlled pilot trial investigating the role of nutrition intervention in patients undergoing radical cystectomy. He also has active research studies on prostate cancer in Afro-Caribbean men. He is a member of the American Urological Association (AUA) Guideline Panel for the Management of Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and co-developed the interactive guideline based web app "BlaTUR" www.blatur.com to aid clinicians with the management of bladder cancer. He has an active role in the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) as the representative to the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). He also serves on the Editorial Board for Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, the official journal of the SUO and is a member of the Board of Directors for International Volunteers in Urology (IVUmed). Dr. Ritch did his undergraduate studies at Duke University and then matriculated at the University of Chicago, where he obtained a joint degree in medicine (MD) and business (MBA) from the Pritzker School of Medicine and Booth School of Business. He then completed his residency in Urology at Columbia University Medical Center/NY Presbyterian Hospital followed by a two-year fellowship in Urologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Daniel A. Sussman, MD, MSPH is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine with clinical interest in the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC), gastric cancer, and pancreas cancers, as well as heritable cancer syndromes of the gastrointestinal tract. He completed a medical degree at the University of Miami School of Medicine. His postdoctoral training includes an internship, residency in Internal Medicine, and fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Sussman is actively involved in a number of efforts at the University. He is devoted to improving methods to identify and prevent GI cancers, including underused non-invasive modalities, attenuating disparities in access to screening, and improving strategies to identify families with heritable GI cancer syndromes. His public health degree has provided experience in public health, community-based research, statistical management, and bioinformatic investigations that have laid the foundation for his niche in understanding racial/ethnic disparities in CRC, its prevention through screening uptake, and the role of molecular markers of GI malignancy. He has been able to incorporate further intensive training in cancer risk assessment and cancer genetics into his clinical practice. He is actively developing a clinical registry for patients at high risk for cancer, in addition to a preventive care passport for these individuals and families at increased risk.

Dr. Sussman manages a multi-disciplinary Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Clinic in collaboration with the Genetics Department, including the services of cancer genetic counselors for patients requiring risk assessment for heritable GI tract cancers. This shared service offers comprehensive genetic counseling and GI medical and endoscopic care for families with a history of cancer, generating a personalized risk management program for each family, including recommendations for cancer screening and medical preventive measures.

My journey started in June 2010, when I detected a lump during a self-exam. I was only 48 years old. Due to a family history of multiple cancers, including breast cancer which took the life of my mother at age 44, my oncologist recommended genetic testing which revealed I was positive for the BRCA1 genetic mutation. After a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer, multiple treatments, and surgeries, I am cancer free. When I was 35 years old, I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on my lip. I had surgery and it was completely removed. That same year I had colon surgery to remove a few polyps. These experiences encourage me to learn and advocate for the hereditary cancer community.

I am passionate about encouraging anyone with a family history of cancers to get genetic testing so they can avoid going through what I had to go through. I am volunteer and board member of FORCE (Facing Hereditary Cancer Empowered). I volunteer with many organizations to advance research for hereditary cancer patients. I am also passionate about access to care for our Latinx community. I am a 13-year survivor. I am the mother of 2 sons (Michael 27 and Alex 28).

Dr. Elizabeth Franzmann, M.D. is a certified Otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon who works as a Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Franzmann's clinical research focuses on selective salivary biomarkers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and has led to several patents and the foundation of biotech start-up companies. Her work has been funded by various foundations, state and federal agencies, and industry. Dr. Franzmann earned her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed her residency training in otolaryngology and head and neck surgical fellowship at the University of Miami.

Dr. Erin Kaye MD is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She grew up in Miami, Florida and graduated from the University of Florida. She completed both medical school and Otolaryngology residency at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She completed her surgical training with a fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery, Microvascular Reconstruction, and Transoral Robotic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

As an academic head and neck surgeon, Dr. Kaye is actively involved in research and medical education. She is developing a head and neck tumor bank to study molecular and cellular mechanisms of perineural invasion in cutaneous head and neck cancer, with the long-term goal of identifying target-directed treatments that may improve survival. She is a clinical educator and mentor for residents, fellows, and medical students in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Oncology, Microvascular Reconstruction, and robotic surgery and was recently appointed as the Otolaryngology Clinical Clerkship Director for the medical school.

Dr. Kaye is passionate about extending patient care initiatives beyond the clinic and operating room. She serves as a Survivorship Ambassador and has been collaborating with SCCC Survivorship team to develop a head and neck cancer survivorship program that aims to improve quality of life for cancer patients from time of diagnosis through recovery.

Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez is Associate Director of Community Outreach and Clinical Research Lead of the Thoracic Site Disease Group of the NCI-designated Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She has a special interest in the early phase clinical trials and is an active member of the Experimental Therapeutics Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Rodriguez received her bachelors degree from Columbia College and her medical degree from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency at Columbia University’s New York-Presbyterian Hospital and her medical oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Rodriguez also has a master’s degree in Public Health from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain. She has given numerous lectures as invited speaker on issues related to lung cancer and healthcare disparities.

Dr. Merchan is a tenured Professor of Medicine in the division of Medical Oncology. He is the Co-leader of the Translational and Clinical Oncology Research Program, the Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program, and the Associate Director of the NIH funded Calabresi Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Award. As a physician scientist, his contributions to science include redefining the role of the plasminogen activator system in cancer progression, the development of novel preclinical and clinical strategies to overcome resistance in RCC and angiogenesis dependent cancers, and the preclinical and clinical development of tumor and stromal targeted oncolytic viruses and virus-drug combinations. He leads the only academic phase I program in South Florida, bringing novel treatment strategies to many patients with advanced cancer. Dr. Merchan has an established track record in translational cancer research, bringing lab discoveries to the clinic, and has been involved in the development of novel, effective treatment strategies in genitourinary cancers, which resulted in practice changing publications and introduced new treatment options for cancer patients.

Tang Associate Professor in Dept of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. Associate program director for Mohs micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology fellowship. Co-leader of cutaneous malignancies site disease group. Clinical and research interests include management of high risk skin cancers including transplant patients.

Dr. Jessica MacIntyre is the President of the Oncology Nursing Society and Executive Director of Clinical Operations at the University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, Florida. She is also an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and the Director of the Oncology Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program at the University of Miami, the first program in Florida to be accredited with distinction.

Dr. MacIntyre received her Doctor in Nursing Practice and MBA from Johns Hopkins University and has over 20 years of experience in oncology nursing and leadership. She has several publications and is an avid speaker both nationally and internationally. Her areas of expertise include gastrointestinal malignances, advanced practice, patient navigation, survivorship, and supportive care.

Dr. MacIntyre is actively involved in research on oral treatment adherence, patient reported outcomes, cancer prevention, and survivorship clinics outcomes.

Dr. Jose Lutzky is Director of Cutaneous Oncology, Cutaneous and Ocular Oncology Site Disease Group Lead and Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Coordination Office at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, Florida . Dr. Lutzky graduated from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Medical School, Brazil in 1980, completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami and a Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Columbia University in New York. His main interest is the search for new treatments for cutaneous malignancies and uveal melanoma.

Dr. Amin earned her medical degree at the University of Buffalo and completed her Urologic Surgery residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY) from 2012-2017. Dr. Amin completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery/Urogynecology (2017-2019). As a fellow, Dr. Amin pursued her research interests in pelvic floor disorders, specifically in stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and overactive bladder.

As an Assistant Professor of Clinical Urology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine since 2019, Dr. Amin has continued to her career in research and education. In 2022, Dr. Amin was one of two awardees to receive grant funding through the University of Miami Calabresi Clinical Oncology Research Career Development K12 Scholar Program to understand the effects of Aromatase Inhibitors on the Genitourinary Microbiome in Women with Breast Cancer. Dr. Amin is also interested in research to explore improving pelvic floor disorders among cancer survivors, effects of diet and hormonal therapy on the genitourinary microbiome, health care disparities, and improving women's health.

Dr. Traeger is a clinical researcher in cancer control at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami. At Sylvester, she serves as an Assistant Director of Clinical Research and the Lead for Translational Behavioral Medicine in Cancer and Aging. Dr. Traeger’s research focuses on the development and testing of multidisciplinary supportive care interventions to improve resilience, quality of life, and care experiences of adults affected by cancer. She has focused specifically on enhancing medical adherence among older adults and patients navigating complex treatment regimens. She also has specific expertise in leading and mentoring mixed methods research to guide intervention development, dissemination, and implementation in healthcare settings. Dr. Traeger received her graduate training in clinical-health psychology from the University of Miami. She completed fellowships at the Mass General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where she served on faculty prior to joining the University of Miami.

Martha Botero is originally from Colombia, where she completed her medical school and worked as a primary care physician. Having moved to the US, she passed her U.S. medical exams and obtained her Foreign Medical Graduate Certification in 2014. She graduated as a physician assistant from Miami Dade College, obtained her Certification from the National Commission of on Certification of Physician Assistants.

She chose ENT because the field offers a unique setting. The scope of the field is incredible and encompasses principles of various specialties including primary care, infectious disease, oncology and plastic surgery amongst some specialties.

Martha Botero is currently a fellow member of Florida Academy of Physician Assistants, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. She brings to the practice more than ten years of expertise providing "patients-first" medical treatment in a variety of clinical settings in the United States and Colombia. She has a significant background in ENT practice.

Dr. Melissa Lopez-Pentecost is a Registered Dietitian and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Lopez received her Ph.D. in Clinical Translational Sciences at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. As a translational scientist, Dr. Lopez focuses on leveraging the skills, knowledge, and expertise across the pillars of biomedical research (clinical, community, and basic science) to develop lifestyle interventions for cancer prevention and control throughout the cancer-care continuum with a focus on addressing cancer disparities.

Dr. Antoni is Director of the Health Psychology Division in the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami, Sylvester Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami, a College of Arts & Sciences Cooper Fellow, and a member of the Cancer Control program and the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), and a licensed psychologist in the State of Florida.

He has received extensive continuous extramural support from NIH for 3+ decades (including P50 and multiple R01s) and published nearly 800 journal articles, books, book chapters and abstracts on clinical health psychology and biobehavioral medicine topics including effects of stress factors, social resources and stress management interventions on psychological adaptation, biological processes, and clinical health outcomes in chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and breast, prostate and cervical neoplasias.

Dr. Antoni lead clinical translational work that has adapted the content, format and delivery of stress management and health behavior change interventions through community based participatory research methods, linguistic and cultural translation, and remote delivery technologies (telephone, eHealth and mobile phone apps [mHealth]) to reach the most underserved cancer populations in South Florida.

Over the past 20+ years Dr. Antoni served as Associate Editor for two interdisciplinary behavioral medicine journals: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Psychology and Health. Dr. Antoni is a Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Fellow and previously received Young Investigator Awards from the SBM and the American Psychological Association, the Career Research Award from the International Association of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from SBM’s Cancer SIG.

He directed federal training grants from the NIH and Department of Defense, mentored multiple faculty K-grant recipients and mentored over 60 doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in behavioral medicine and health psychology.

Dr. Antoni is also on the scientific advisory boards of Blue Note Therapeutics and Atlantis Healthcare, two digital healthcare companies.

Nima Sharifi, M.D is the Scientific Director of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute and member of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. His laboratory and translational research is focused on the discovery and clinical implications of new mechanisms of hormone therapy resistance.

Dr. Sharifi’s research group discovered that prostate cancer becomes resistant to androgen deprivation therapies using a hyperactivated form of the enzyme 3βHSD1 that allows tumors to make their own androgens – enabling cancers to feed themselves and shortening survival. These basic discoveries have been translated with drug development all the way into clinical trials. His research program is very actively engaged in the discovery of other fundamental mechanisms of metabolism in therapeutic resistance and human physiology.

Dr. Padideh (Padi) Lovan is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and an Adjunct Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami. She received her Bachelors’ degree in Nutrition Sciences from Iran, and her Masters’ and PhD from the Florida International University in Dietetics and Nutrition, where she also completed her dietetics internship and became a registered dietitian. Dr. Lovan completed a 2-year NCI-funded T32 postdoc training in cancer disparity and equity (C-TIDE) at Sylvester and currently, she is in her 4th year of postdoctoral training working with Dr. Frank Penedo, Dr. Willy Prado, and Dr. Jose Szapocznik. Dr. Lovan’s research focuses on multilevel influences on cancer risk behaviors including poor nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption in Hispanic youth. She aims to create a study model that examines the impact of several factors spanning from individual-level psychosocial factors and family environment to social determinants of health and the built environment in this population. Dr. Lovan is extremely passionate about helping underrepresented communities and as her future step, she aims to broaden her research model to encompass other minority or disadvantaged population groups within the community. In addition to her research and teaching responsibilities, she actively mentors both undergraduate and graduate students at the School of Nursing. She provides them with valuable opportunities to gain experience in various areas, including manuscript writing, developing research training materials, and managing patient data. Dr. Lovan is actively engaged in multiple interdisciplinary projects and holds two leadership positions within the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. She serves as the Chair-Elect for the Nutrition Education for Children Division and is a member of the Board through her role as the Chair-Elect for the Membership Committee.

Dr. Moreno is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is also Lead of Evidence-Based Supportive Care and Survivorship at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The overarching aim of Dr. Moreno’s research is to improve quality of life and health across the cancer continuum and help every person live as well as possible beyond a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Moreno has received grants from the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, V Foundation, and John Templeton Foundation. She also has experience providing evidence-based care to English- and Spanish-speaking cancer patients and survivors across three NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers: UCLA, Duke University, and Northwestern University.

Dr. Sabrina Taldone is a board-certified internal medicine physician with special expertise in medical education and health system sciences. She graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s MD-MBA program and continued her residency in internal medicine at UM and Jackson Memorial Hospital. She completed her training in 2018. After a year as Chief Resident, she started her academic career in 2019, when she joined the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. As a clinician educator, she was Associate Program Director in the Internal Medicine Residency Program until the end of 2022, when she became the Associate Chief Medical Officer for Ambulatory Services at UHealth. She is the Associate Medical Director for Population Health for Internal Medicine. Dr. Taldone was recently appointed as Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine in August 2024.

Sara Fleszar-Pavlović, Ph.D., Research Director, Biopsychosocial Mechanisms and Health Outcomes. Her work focuses on developing and evaluating evidence-based psychosocial and supportive care interventions to reduce symptom burden and improve health-related quality of life within cancer survivorship.

Shria Kumar, MD, MSCE is a clinical epidemiologist and gastroenterologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. She received her medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She then completed her internal medicine residency at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University in New York. Following that, she pursued a gastroenterology fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), and an advanced endoscopy fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. During her gastroenterology fellowship, she completed a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) at the University of Pennsylvania, which has formed the foundation of her investigational career. She has since conducted high-impact research in gastric, pancreatic, esophageal, and neuroendocrine cancers, and has clinical expertise in advanced endoscopy. Dr. Kumar’s research focuses on the screening, early detection, and early endoscopic management of GI cancers, the identification and management of risk factors for GI cancers, and mitigating cancer disparities.

Dr. Nimer has been studying the transcriptional regulation of normal and malignant hematopoiesis for decades, with the aim of understanding how the normal processes of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation are regulated and how these processes are aberrant in the myeloid malignancies. Overall, his lab has focused on defining genes that contribute to the development and progression of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and on identifying novel ways to target hematologic cancers and make them more responsive to treatment.

As a physician-scientist, Dr. Nimer has cared for patients with MDS, AML, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma for over three decades. This melding of clinical studies and care, with both basic laboratory and translational studies, reflects the fundamental focus of his career.

Since coming to the University of Miami-Miller School of Medicine in 2012 and assuming the Directorship of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the center received the prestigious National Cancer Institute designation in July 2019. Sylvester is the only cancer center in South Florida to achieve this designation and the second in the state of Florida. Dr. Nimer is currently supported by two NCI R01 grants and a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) multi-project Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) award. In November 2019, Dr. Nimer was named the inaugural Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. In November 2021, Dr. Nimer assumed the role of Executive Dean for Research for the Miller School of Medicine, and in May 2022, he assumed a secondary appointment as Professor of Chemical, Environmental & Materials Engineering.

Prior to his arrival at the University of Miami-Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Nimer was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York for nearly 20 years, where he held the Alfred P. Sloan Chair and served as Head of the Division of Hematologic Oncology, Vice Chairman for Faculty Development, and Chief of the Hematology Service. He was also a Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Nimer has been elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigators and the Association of American Physicians. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and serves on the editorial board of several medical journals. In April 2021, Dr. Nimer was inducted into the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida. Dr. Nimer is also the Chairman of the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation, and the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.

Dr. Crane is a distinguished leader in cancer control and is passionate about her commitment to the science of better outcomes for patients and community. Her work sits at the intersection of lifestyle medicine and digital health with a goal of developing targeted interventions, utilizing digital biomarkers to deliver the right intervention, at the right time to the right person. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona and is an R25 Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) NCI Fellow.

Dr. Crane was recruited to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to colead the Cancer Control Research Program and direct the Lifestyle Medicine, Prevention and Digital health initiative. She serves on the University of Miami IRB’s consent to contact committee as the Sylvester representative for cancer-related studies and is an appointed cabinet member to the Executive Dean for Research of the Miller School of Medicine. As the population science representative, she serves on the Gynecologic Oncology and Lymphoma site disease groups and works with clinical and research faculty members. She was recently appointed the Vice-Chair for NRG Oncology NCORP Cancer Prevention and Control Committee.

Dr. Crane joined Sylvester from the College of Nursing, Biobehavioral Health Sciences Division, at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she served as co-lead of the Behavioral Measurement and Interventions Shared Resource at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. She also held joint appointments in the Department of Nutrition Sciences, Data Science Institute, and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Dr. Trent Wang is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine within the Division of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Since joining Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, his clinical focus has been treating patients with hematologic cancers who require allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and other cellular therapies.

Dr. Wang's research focuses on complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including conducting interventional, behavioral and retrospective studies of graft-versus-host disease, infectious transplant complications, and transplant survivorship.

Amanda Demane is a Speech Language Pathologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, based in the Department of Otolaryngology. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of oropharyngeal swallowing disorders, as well as head and neck cancer speech and swallowing restoration. She is proficient in conducting videofluoroscopic swallow studies across the lifespan (modified barium swallow studies), and management of voice prostheses following tracheoesophageal voice restoration after total laryngectomy. As the lead clinician at the University of Miami Hospital, she is responsible for the development of programs and protocols that promote a multidisciplinary approach to providing a standard and continuity care for our patients. In addition, she is proficient in conducting evaluations for voice banking candidacy. As a co-facilitator of our Head and Neck Support Group at our Deerfield Beach Sylvester Cancer Center Clinic, she assists in providing resources, outreach and care to caregivers of and individuals with Head and Neck Cancer in our local community