Scientific Sessions
Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
The Ritz Carlton, Coconut Grove
All Times are EDT
Program is subject to change
| 7:15 – 8:15 | Registration, Exhibits, Trainee Posters & Breakfast | |
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| 8:15 – 8:20 | Welcome Remarks |
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| Morning Sessions | ||
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| 8:20 – 9:00 | Rehabilitation Medicine & Palliative Care |
Optimizing Quality of Life:A Shared Mission of PM&R and Palliative Care
Moderator:
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| 9:00 – 9:40 | Frailty, Accelerated Aging & Comorbidities |
Evaluation and Management of Frailty in LymphomaFrailty, Accelerated Aging & Comorbidities
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| 9:40 - 10:30 | Morning Keynote Improving Care Delivery and Outcomes for Older Cancer Survivors & Caregivers |
Wilmot Cancer Institute University of Rochester Medical Center Moderator: |
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| 10:30 – 11:00 | Morning Break, Exhibits & Trainee Posters | |
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| 11:00 – 11:40 | Stress Management & Cognitive Retraining Interventions |
Cognitive RetrainingAdvancing Cancer Survivorship through an Evidence-Based Psychosocial and Stress Management Intervention in Community-based Primary Care
Moderator:
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| 11:40 – 12:20 | Technology-Enabled Psychosocial & Behavioral Interventions |
Developing and Evaluating Digital Lifestyle Interventions for
Hispanic Families across the Cancer Control Continuum
Integration of Digital Health Interventions into Survivorship Care
Moderator:
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| 12:20 - 1:20 | Lunch, Networking & Trainee Posters | |
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| 1:00 - 1:10 | Special Announcement | |
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| Afternoon Sessions | ||
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| 1:20 – 2:00 | Caregiving and Dyadic Influences |
Sleep Intervention for Adults with Cancer and their Partners
Couples Coping with a Biopsy:
Bridging Cancer Detection and Survivorship
Moderator:
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| 2:00 – 2:40 | Lifestyle Medicine in Cancer Survivorship |
Harnessing Circadian Biology to Optimize Cancer
Treatment Response
Malnutrition Risk in Ambulatory Cancer Patients:
Prevalence, Determinants, and Outcomes
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| 2:40 - 3:30 | Afternoon Keynote Pediatric & AYA Cancer Survivorship |
Winship Cancer Institute Emory University School of Medicine Moderator: |
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| 3:30 – 4:00 | Afternoon Break, Exhibits & Trainee Posters | |
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| 4:00 – 4:40 | Pediatric and AYA Survivorship Care Delivery Research |
Bridging the Gap in Survivorship: Improving Comprehensive Follow-UpSupporting the Reproductive Health of Adolescent
Girls who are Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Moderator:
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| 4:40 – 5:20 | Special Keynote From Promise to Practice: The Future of AI in Supportive Cancer Care |
BC Cancer The University of British Columbia Moderator: |
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| 5:20 – 5:50 | Survivorship Care Models in Primary Care Panel |
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| 5:50 - 6:00 | Closing Remarks | |
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| 6:00 - 7:00 | Reception | |
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Alvaro Alencar, M.D.
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.
Joycelyn Lee, M.D.
Dr. Joycelyn Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and clinical psychologist at Sylvester Cancer Support Services. She specializes in helping patients manage symptoms of psychosocial distress to better engage in value-focused living during and after cancer treatment. Her interests include increasing dissemination of evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments, adolescents and young adults with cancer, and reducing health disparities. She was the recipient of the 2018 Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Support Services Outstanding Patient Care Award. A University of Miami undergraduate alumnus, she earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alabama. Dr. Lee completed her internship at The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, which included a rotation at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center Stem Cell Transplant Unit. Dr. Lee also has an MBA from Florida International University. Prior to joining the Department of Psychiatry, she was a research scientist at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Frank J Penedo, Ph.D.
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.
Lara Traeger, Ph.D.
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.
Mariana Khawand-Azoulai, M.D.
Dr. Mariana Khawand-Azoulai is a board certified, fellowship trained Hospice and Palliative Medicine Physician. She currently serves as the inpatient director for palliative medicine at Uhealth and as the Program director for the UMiami/Jackson Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship. She was also newly appointed as the Institutional Leader for Palliative Care for Jackson Health System. Her focus is on medical education and training, enhancement of serious illness communication skills across disciplines and specialties, and bridging inequities in palliative care and hospice access for patients.
Melissa Lopez-Pentecost, Ph.D.
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.
Mike Antoni, Ph.D.
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.
Patricia Moreno, Ph.D.
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.
Sabrina Taldone, M.D.
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-Pavlovic, Ph.D.
Dr. Sara Fleszar-Pavlović is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her research focuses on developing culturally relevant, scalable supportive care interventions to improve quality of life, symptom management, and survivorship outcomes among cancer patients, with a particular emphasis on older adults and historically underserved populations. She has published extensively, secured federal funding, and leads efforts integrating eHealth and psychosocial approaches into survivorship care.
Stephen Nimer, M.D.
Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
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.
Tracy Crane, Ph.D.
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.
Carmen Calfa, MD
Dr. Calfa is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Medical Co-Director of the Survivorship Cancer Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also serves as the Clinical Research Lead for the Breast Site Disease Group and Physician Leader of the Genetic Predisposition Syndrome Initiative at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Carmen Calfa, M.D., dedicates her efforts to increasing cancer survival through access to innovative research and improving the quality of life for survivors and their caregivers. Dr. Calfa is the recipient of the Zubrod 2020 Outstanding Clinical Researcher of the Year Award and the 2020 Miami Dolphins Everyday Hero Award. She is the institutional principal investigator for several clinical trials, and she leads the Precision Medicine Clinical Trials Initiative at Sylvester. She earned a medical degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu-Mures in Romania and has completed Internal Medicine Residency as well as Hematology-Oncology Fellowship training at Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.
Diana Molinares, MD
Dr. Diana Molinares Mejia is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She serves as Program Director of the PM&R Residency Program and Director of Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she also leads the Cancer Rehabilitation Fellowship. Nationally, she is the Chair of the Cancer Rehabilitation Consortium of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Her academic and clinical work focuses on cancer prehabilitation, survivorship, lymphedema, and the integration of rehabilitation principles into oncology and palliative care. She has published extensively in the field and is a frequent invited speaker at national and international conferences.
Jennifer Horawski, MD
Dr. Jennifer Horawski is a dedicated physician specializing in Primary Care Sports Medicine. With a solid foundation in Family Medicine and a wealth of research experience, Dr. Horawski has demonstrated expertise in managing sports-related injuries and conditions, emphasizing the role of physical activity in overall health. She is committed to advancing her field through both clinical practice and scholarly contributions.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Horawski went to the University of Waterloo and earned her Bachelor of Science in Honors Kinesiology. She proceeded to medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica. She completed her Family Medicine Residency and Chief Residency at one of the largest Hospitals serving North and South Carolina Grand Strand Medical Center. She then moved down to Miami, Florida and completed a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Horawski is a passionate advocate for the integration of physical activity in medical treatment, with a strong commitment to patient care and medical education.
Marcio Soares, MD
Dr. Marcio R. Soares is a highly experienced geriatrician with over 20 years of practice. He serves as the Chief for both the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine and the Division of Hospital Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Soares has extensive expertise in treating a wide range of Geriatric based conditions such as falls, urinary incontinence, delirium, dementia, frailty, and pressure ulcers.
Sara St. George, PhD
Dr. Sara St. George is a behavioral scientist and licensed clinical psychologist whose program of research is dedicated to improving healthy lifestyle behaviors and promoting healthy weight in multigenerational Hispanic families to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases. Her program of research has been funded by approximately $4.2 million, including NIH K01 early career investigator and R01 grant awards. Dr. St. George also contributes her expertise in qualitative and mixed methods to the adaptation and evaluation of other preventive interventions, including those focused on improving youth mental health. Aside from research, Dr. St. George contributes to the University’s mission of training the next generation of prevention scientists through the teaching and mentoring of students. She directs the Masters of Prevention Science and Community Health program, teaches three courses in the Department of Public Health Sciences (qualitative methods, obesity, intervention development/adaptation), and mentors’ undergraduate, graduate, and medical students as well as postdoctoral trainees.
Youngmee Kim, PhD
Dr. Kim is Professor of Psychology and Member of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Miami. Dr. Kim received her Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology from the University of Rochester. She completed two years of Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and was on the faculty of the Ruttenburg Cancer Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Director of Family Studies at American Cancer Society and Adjunct Associate Professor of Behavioral Science and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.
Dr. Kim's research focuses on various aspects of quality of life of cancer survivors and their family members and close friends, such as psychological and spiritual adjustment, coping with caregiving stress, gender, relationship quality, and cancer preventive behaviors, as well as the interpersonal mechanisms of the impact of cancer in the family.
Dolores Perdomo, PhD
Dr. Dolores Perdomo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Miami with more than 30 years of experience in dementia care and cancer research. She serves on the faculty of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, as well as the University of Miami Memory Disorders Clinic. Dr. Perdomo also leads a specialty clinic dedicated to the care of older adults (55+) and their families and is among a select group of UM faculty with expertise in geriatric psychiatry. In recognition of her leadership in caregiver education and advocacy, she received the Claude Pepper Education and Advocacy Award in 2014.
Her research contributions include serving as Co-Investigator on numerous national clinical trials and studies involving dementia caregivers and patients with chronic conditions, including cancer. She has advanced evidence-based interventions for stress management, caregiver support, and psycho-oncology, with a strong focus on adapting these approaches for remote delivery and for Hispanic caregivers and cancer survivors.
Passionate about aging, dementia, and cancer care, Dr. Perdomo is deeply committed to improving the lives of older adults and their care partners through clinical innovation, research, and community engagement.
Jennifer Coto, Ph.D.
Dr. Jennifer Coto is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. She is a licensed clinical psychologist working on the hematology/oncology/BMT team. Dr. Coto earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science at the University of Miami and her PhD at Florida International University. She went on to complete her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development where she became faculty in 2022. As a clinician scientist, her work focuses on evaluating the effects of chronic illness on children’s cognitive, social, and behavioral development.
Judy Simms-Cendan, MD
Dr. Judy Simms-Cendan is a Professor and the Founding Division Director of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Simms-Cendan graduated from the University of Miami with her Bachelor of Science, and from the University of Florida College of Medicine with her MD degree. She completed her residency training in OBGYN at the University of Florida in 1995. She has held faculty positions at the University of Florida and University of Central Florida, and in July 2021 she joined the University of Miami faculty in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences to develop a dedicated Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology practice in South Florida. She works closely with her colleagues in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and has a courtesy appointment in Pediatrics.
She is the Past President of the North American Society of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology and on the Executive Board of the International Federation of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology. She serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology. She truly values her work with colleagues in the US and abroad in development reproductive health education, research, and advocacy for adolescent girls worldwide. Current work includes advocacy for fertility preservation, and development of a dedicated reproductive health clinic for girls who are childhood cancer survivors.
Pasquale Patrizio, MD, MBE, HCLD, FACOG
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Chief, Division Reproductive Endocrinology, and Infertility
Program Director, REI Fellowship
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Pasquale Patrizio is a board-certified internationally renowned specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Andrology and has a Master in Bioethics. Dr. Patrizio’s primary clinical focus is to take a collaborative approach to patient care and research. His most significant research and clinical innovation accomplishments include Co-pioneering the technique of microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) for men with congenital absence of the vas deferens and discovery of its cause as a mild form of cystic fibrosis; Discovery that some cases of male infertility are due to Y-chromosome deletions; Pioneering the technique of whole ovary cryopreservation; Deciphering molecular mechanisms responsible for oocyte aging. Current research interests include improving the efficiency of protocols for fertility preservation in cancer patients ART, enhancing fertility preservation strategies with ex vivo ovarian perfusion; simplify and standardize the IVF laboratory by automation; and lyophilize gametes, embryos and reproductive tissue for better long-term storage.
A native of Italy, Dr. Patrizio earned his medical degree followed by additional training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Napoli and completed a residency in andrology at the University of Pisa. He moved to the United States for a second residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California Irvine where he also completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Before moving to the University of Miami, Dr. Patrizio was first at the University of Pennsylvania for 7 years, where he founded and directed the male infertility program and establishing the male fertility preservation program. Dr. Patrizio was then recruited at Yale University as Professor and Director of the Yale IVF center where he opened the comprehensive Yale Fertility preservation program at the Smilow cancer center. He was at Yale School of Medicine for 17 years.
Dr. Patrizio is a section editor for the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biomedicine Online and is associate editor for Journal Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. He co-founded the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP) in 2007, serving as President (2015-2017) and currently Treasurer (2025-2027). He also served as Chair of the ASRM Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group (2019-2020). He has authored 9 books, 646 scientific papers (96 book chapters, 246 peer-reviewed publications and 304 published abstracts) and holds 2 issued patents. He is Honorary member of the Italian Society of Fertility and Sterility and Fellow of the International Academy of Human Reproduction and has received prize paper awards from both ASRM and ESHRE.
Vasileios Stathias, PhD
Vasileios Stathias, Ph.D., serves as the Assistant Director for Data Science at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Lead Data Scientist in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at the University of Miami. He oversees the development of the Sylvester Data Portal, a comprehensive multi-omics data platform supporting the FAIR management, automated processing, and intuitive analysis of high-throughput research and Real-World data generated at Sylvester. Dr. Stathias’ research leverages AI and bioinformatics to develop novel precision medicine approaches, and he has led multiple high-impact projects in national cancer research consortia, including NIH LINCS, NCI CPTAC, and AACR GENIE. Dr. Stathias earned his B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the Democritus University of Thrace and completed his Ph.D. in Human Genetics and Genomics at the University of Miami.
Joycelyn Lawrence, MD
Dr. Joycelyn Lawrence is the Chief Medical Officer of Jessie Trice Community Health System (JTCHS), a prominent family medicine physician and passionate advocate for accessible healthcare, particularly in underserved communities.
She received her medical degree from University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson and has been in practice for more than 25 years. Dr. Joycelyn J. Lawrence has expertise in treating arthritis, hypertension & high blood pressure, diabetes, among other conditions.
Veronika Panagiotou, PhD
Director of Advocacy and Programs
Veronika Panagiotou, PhD, joined Cancer Nation in the summer of 2021 and has served as the Director of Advocacy and Programs since 2024. Her responsibilities include managing the Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT), Survivorship Champions and various advocacy initiatives.
Dr. Panagiotou’s passion for working in survivorship and advocacy emerged after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when she was 25 years old. As a young adult cancer survivor, she has witnessed firsthand the need for recognition of the financial toxicity of treatment, the creation of more supportive services, and the availability of survivorship care. Before joining Cancer Nation as a staff member, Veronika was an active CPAT member. She has met with her representatives to share her story and to advocate for policies such as the Affordable Care Act that saved her life by giving her access to cancer treatment.
Dr. Panagiotou obtained her doctorate in Community Engagement at Point Park University in 2021. She defended her dissertation entitled, “Do Service-Learning Models Create an Opportunity to Cultivate Civic Engagement Outcomes at Point Park University? A Phenomenological Study of Students’ Perspectives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.” Dr. Panagiotou was awarded the “Student Award for Excellence in Community Engagement” for the academic year of 2017-2018 after creating the Pioneer Pantry which serves college students, faculty, and staff experiencing food insecurity on campus.
Kassandra Bosire, MD
Kassandra Bosire, M.D., is the new chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Bosire has served as interim chair of the department, the first academic family medicine department in the United States at its 1965 founding, since August 2023. She brings to the role a strong record of leadership and clinical expertise and a deep commitment to advancing the department’s mission. With this appointment, she formally steps into the leadership of a department long recognized for its excellence in primary care and community health and central to training physicians and improving care across South Florida.
Since joining the Miller School in 2016, Dr. Bosire has consistently demonstrated her dedication as an educator and clinician. She began as medical director for the J.T. McDonald Foundation-supported School Health Initiative, overseeing 13 school clinics within the Miami-Dade Public School System in partnership with the Department of Family Medicine. She went on to serve as assistant program director of the Miller School’s family medicine residency program for two years. For the past five years she has led the program as director, mentoring residents, shaping a forward-thinking curriculum and maintaining a strong focus on academic excellence.
With more than a decade of experience in community-based practice and academic medical centers, Dr. Bosire’s background gives her a well-rounded perspective on the evolving challenges of modern primary care. Dr. Bosire earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed her residency in family medicine at the University of Michigan. She is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has published widely on medical education and innovations in primary care.
In addition to her administrative and academic leadership, Dr. Bosire continues to provide patient care at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the Miller School, in Plantation. Her thoughtful leadership, collaborative approach and clear vision for growth will be instrumental in expanding the department’s clinical footprint, strengthening academic programs and enhancing care delivery throughout South Florida.
John-Jose Nunez, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Dr. John-Jose Nunez is the Associate Medical Director of Supportive Care at BC Cancer and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. A dual-trained cancer psychiatrist and computer scientist, his research uses artificial intelligence to improve outcomes for patients facing both cancer and mental illness. His work, published in leading journals and featured internationally, ranges from predicting cancer survival to identifying patients in need of counseling or psychiatric care, bridging the gap between data science and supportive cancer care.
Jordan Marchak, PhD, ABPP
Associate Professor — Pediatrics
Emory University School of Medicine
Behavioral Scientist
Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center
Session Title: Pediatric and AYA Cancer Survivorship
Dr. Marchak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a behavioral scientist at Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Marchak is also a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute. She received her PhD in Psychology from the University of Georgia. She completed a residency in clinical psychology at the Medical College of Georgia and the VA Medical Center and a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Marchak's research focuses on healthcare self‑management, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and psychosocial functioning. She also seeks to expand patient access to evidence‑based supportive‑care programs by leveraging technology and implementation‑science methods.
Dr. Marchak co‑chairs the Society of Pediatric Psychology's Hematology/Oncology/BMT SIG and the Psychosocial Guidelines Working Group for the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group. She serves on the Children's Oncology Group Supportive Care Committee and the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Psychology Steering Committee. She has published extensively in peer‑reviewed journals and serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.
Supriya Mohile, MD, MS, FASCO
Wehrheim Professor of Medicine and Surgery
Wilmot Cancer Institute
University of Rochester Medical Center
Session Title: Improving Care Delivery and Outcomes for Older Cancer Survivors and their Caregivers
Supriya Gupta Mohile, M.D., M.S. is the Philip and Marilyn Wehrheim Professor of Medicine and Surgery at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester. She directs the Geriatric Oncology Research Group and is a board‑certified geriatrician and oncologist. Dr. Mohile earned her M.D. from Thomas Jefferson Medical School and completed residency as well as fellowships in hematology/oncology and geriatrics at the University of Chicago, where she also obtained an M.S. in health‑outcomes research.
Her research—supported by the Patient‑Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the NCI—focuses on geriatric assessment to improve outcomes for older adults with cancer. Results have appeared in Lancet, JCO, and JAMA Oncology. Dr. Mohile chairs national initiatives on geriatric oncology guidelines and serves on multiple NCI committees.
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