RECEIVING A CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS ALWAYS A FRIGHTENING THING. But at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, South Florida’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated and nationally ranked cancer center, you won’t face this alone. With a team of world-renowned physicians, researchers, and nurses, we focus on the individual to help ensure access to the most innovative treatments, Phase 1 Clinical Trials program, and a precision medicine program tailoring treatments to increase survivorship with the best outcomes possible for their specific cancer.
In 2022, we continued to strive to accomplish our mission including the establishment of a fully integrated program of patient care, education, and research, and promoting community responsive health care (like the Firefighter Cancer Initiative and Game Changer Vehicles). We also broke ground on the Transformational Cancer Research Building, slated to open in 2025, that will double our research footprint and serve as our hub for innovative cancer research in pursuit of your cure.
We celebrated Dolphins Challenge Cancer XII, the NFL’s largest fundraising event, in partnership with the Miami Dolphins on February 26, 2022. Raising more than $8.4 million and participation of 4,484 walkers, runners, and cyclists, the event covered more miles and raised more funds than any other DCC event. The DCC included in-person and virtual options and pushed the fundraising total in the event’s history to a then-record, $53.9 million (a number that has since grown thanks to the recent DCC XIII)!
Following in the tradition of creating “firsts” at Sylvester, we recognized three profound physicians/researchers who received inaugural endowed Chairs. Lifelong supporters of Sylvester, John and Judy Schulte arranged to support research and education after their passing with the establishment of two endowed chairs. Their legacy will now live on in perpetuity through their bequest to Sylvester, including the John K. and Judy H. Schulte Senior Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, which was recently presented to Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., M.P.H.; and the John and Judy Schulte Senior Endowed Chair in Cancer Research which was awarded to Wael El-Rifai, M.D., Ph.D. In recognition of his accomplishments in the field of cancer survivorship and psychosocial oncology, Frank J. Penedo, Ph.D., was recently inducted during a special ceremony as the inaugural holder of the Sylvester Dolphins Challenge Cancer Living Proof Endowed Chair in Cancer Survivorship.
As you read through the next pages of our 2022 accomplishments report, I hope you feel the same sense of pride as I do. Your continued support remains invaluable as we put the patient first and search to make cancer obsolete.
With gratitude,
Adam E. Carlin
Chair, Board of Governors
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center