Sylvester unveiled the Sylvester Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute (SSCI), a bold step toward redefining life after cancer diagnosis, Oct. 30, 2025. One of only a handful of such institutes nationwide, SSCI reflects Sylvester’s commitment to guiding patients “from diagnosis through life.”
“The Survivorship Institute sets Sylvester apart from other cancer centers in that it brings a fully integrated, multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach of care that is holistic, wellness-focused and patient-focused,” said Frank Penedo, Ph.D., associate director for population sciences and director of the Sylvester Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute. “It not only provides clear evidence-based care for survivors but also provides opportunities for innovative research, from cancer care delivery to digital health and community-engaged programs.”
Led by Dr. Penedo and Carmen Calfa, M.D., co-director and medical director, with Jessica MacIntyre, D.N.P., APRN, overseeing clinical operations, SSCI elevates survivorship care to national prominence. It blends medical expertise with research and community engagement, ensuring that every patient has the tools to thrive beyond treatment.
A New Way
Survivorship today is more than follow-up visits, it’s a comprehensive, patient-centered framework. SSCI integrates medical care with psychosocial support, lifestyle interventions and rehabilitative therapies. Survivors receive personalized care plans and ongoing evaluations through tools like My Wellness Check, which assesses pain, emotional health, nutrition and physical activity. These insights guide referrals to services such as nutrition counseling, exercise oncology and creative therapies like art and music therapy.
Massage therapy designed for oncology patients, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy help reduce stress and improve function. With tens of thousands of supportive care encounters annually, Sylvester demonstrates that holistic care, addressing body, mind and spirit, is essential for long-term well-being.
Spirit Matters
Faith and spirituality often provide comfort and resilience during the cancer journey. Sylvester integrates chaplains and psychologists into care teams to help patients explore mindfulness, prayer and meditation tools linked to improved emotional well-being and fewer physical symptoms.
As SSCI expands into areas such as geriatric, cardio-oncology, and pediatric survivorship, Sylvester continues to set national standards and shape policy. Its mission is clear: to advance survivorship science and ensure that every patient not only survives cancer but thrives in life beyond it.
The Patient Perspective
For patients like Mike Hellem, survivorship is a journey. When a precancerous condition progressed into cancer, Hellem turned to Sylvester for care. His multidisciplinary team crafted a personalized plan that included targeted chemotherapy and a complex robot-assisted surgery to remove his esophagus and part of his stomach.
Recovery didn’t stop at surgery. Hellem embraced Sylvester’s supportive care programs, physical therapy, yoga, art and music therapy, with plans to explore acupuncture. “All of these resources helped me become stronger and more independent,” he said. “It’s really opened my eyes to a positive path for healing after cancer.”
A Fresh Tune
Adding another dimension to survivorship, Sylvester launched the Jaelan Phillips Music Program, funded by the former Miami Dolphins linebacker and University of Miami alumnus. The program offers patients access to a portable music studio for therapeutic engagement, reinforcing music’s role in emotional healing. Community support, including a professional keyboard donated by Coldplay, underscores the program’s impact. Phillips plans to visit patients personally, inspiring young survivors through the power of music.
