A grant from VoLo Foundation will augment federal funding for the Southern Environmental Health Study, an initiative to determine whether environmental exposures are contributing to cancer cases in the region.

The study received its initial funding from the National Cancer Institute and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. A grant from VoLo Foundation — a private nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating global impact through science-based solutions, education enhancement, and health improvement initiatives — will allow investigators to recruit additional participants and conduct methylation- and proteomics-based biological aging assays to check for biomarkers of early disease risk.

On cancer incidence and mortality maps, some of the highest rates in the country appear in the southern U.S., but whether environmental exposures are a contributing factor has not been scientifically determined. The study is a long-term cohort investigation that will follow participants for at least 10 to 20 years. The participants are between the ages of 40 and 70 and live in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia.

“Humans are exposed to large numbers of chemicals and their mixtures with more than 80,000 chemicals having been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Wei Zheng, MD, PhD, MPH, the Anne Potter Wilson Professor of Medicine and the director of the Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center. “However, very few of them have been adequately investigated in relation to human cancers and other diseases in epidemiologic studies. There are considerable challenges in studying environmental exposures in epidemiologic studies.”

Participants will wear silicone wristbands designed to collect chemicals, which researchers will use to measure exposure to approximately 500 compounds. They will also analyze blood samples to assess the internal exposome using both liquid chromatography and gas chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry, allowing them to detect approximately 1,500 confirmed chemicals and endogenous metabolites. To identify potential environmental carcinogens, the researchers will use an innovative exposome-wide association study to link chemical exposures with disease biomarkers, including indicators of biological aging and inflammation.

“Supporting the Southern Environmental Health Study aligns with our mission to advance data-driven solutions that can lead to healthier, more resilient communities. This research has the potential to uncover possible links between environmental exposures and chronic diseases,” said David Vogel, co-founder and chief scientist of VoLo Foundation.

Vogel and his wife, Thais Lopez Vogel, formed the VoLo Foundation in 2014.

“We are very grateful for the support of the VoLo Foundation and believe that this study will generate significant amounts of novel data regarding potential impacts of environmental exposures on human health and pave the way for future studies in this important area,” Zheng said.

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From his infusion chair, Matt Duckworth would clap and yell “woohoo” each time he heard another cancer patient ring the bell to mark the completion of chemotherapy treatment, even though he knew he would never get that opportunity. 

On Friday, April 25 — seven months after his death — the bell pealed loudly at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center infusion clinic as a plaque was unveiled in his honor and the announcement was made that patients receiving palliative chemotherapy would also get to ring the bell going forward. 

Duckworth was in the prime of his life at age 41, working as director of Population Health Operations for Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network and doting on his three dogs with his wife, Suzanne, when he was diagnosed in 2020 with Stage 4 gastroesophageal cancer that had metastasized to his liver.  Although the chemotherapy didn’t cure his cancer, the treatments did extend his life for four years. 

“Matt had infusions weekly, and as we were sitting in the infusion room for hours at a time, we would hear the bell ring, and we would hear everybody clapping,” said Suzanne Duckworth. “He would clap and yell, ‘Woohoo!’ He just emitted such a positive vibe and aura. I would sit there and think, ‘He’s never going to get that because he has terminal cancer.’ Now, that thought might have come into his brain, but you would never know it because he never said it.” 

She asked Vanderbilt-Ingram about adding a plaque, and a ceremony was held in Matt’s memory to mark the occasion. Colleagues, family and friends shared stories about the man, who was beloved for his sense of humor, love for trips to Disney World and his affinity for dogs. His physician, Michael Gibson, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine, spoke about the relationship he developed with Matt and how much he enjoyed spending time with him.  

Suzanne Duckworth stated, “This is for you, Matt,” and rang the bell. 

His mother, Betsye, stood nearby wiping away a tear. On the plaque that had just been unveiled was a poem written by his sister, Jill Comfort.

I stand before the bell today 

Not for an end, but to proudly say 

I fought with every breath I had  

Through days of pain and times of glad 

I ring this bell for all I’ve done 

For every battle, fought and won 

For every day, for every try 

I ring the bell — head held high 

Ten years younger than Matt, Comfort had come to Nashville from Mississippi, to help Suzanne, who is a Vanderbilt nurse, with her big brother when he began hospice care. It had also bothered her that Matt never got to ring that bell, so she bought him one and read him the poem she had written.  

“But he wouldn’t ring the bell because that was admitting defeat,” Suzanne Duckworth said. 

A native of Clinton, Mississippi, Matt excelled in life, attaining an undergraduate degree in journalism, a Master of Science in public relations and then a Juris Doctor from Mississippi College of Law with honors followed by a Doctor of Healthcare Administration.  

He and Suzanne married in 2003 and eventually moved to Nashville, where they both established careers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  

“When things were running down, he didn’t want to give up,” Comfort said. “Then one day, he asked me if I would read the poem at his funeral and ring the bell. That somehow transpired into where we are today. We talked about how there were other people in his situation that don’t get that opportunity who are needing treatments for years and years. They need some encouragement.” 

Suzanne Duckworth approached Julie Bulger, manager of Patient- and Family-Centered Care at Vanderbilt-Ingram about allowing any chemotherapy patient to ring the bell regardless of whether they had completed treatment or achieved remission. 

“When Suzanne shared her idea about a new plaque, I deeply appreciated what she said, how when Matt heard the bell, he felt happy for those who rang it,” Bulger said. “It is rung traditionally at the end of treatment, but many patients may never have that opportunity. This thought comes from a lot of places, not only from Matt, but Suzanne articulated it so beautifully.  I believe this is going to resonate with many people.

“The bell can be rung at any time. It doesn’t have to be the last day of treatment. It can be rung because you’re having a bad day, and you’re fighting, and it’s hard. Or you have achieved a different milestone. You want to ring that bell because it’s going to mean something for you, and you want to feel uplifted,” Bulger said.

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Experts on the research, clinical use, governance and ethical use of artificial intelligence gathered for the recent Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center 26^th Annual Scientific Symposium. 

In a twist from years past, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows took the helm in selecting the topics and inviting speakers focused on “Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research and Clinical Care.”

The keynote speakers were Eytan Ruppin, MD, PhD, chief of the Cancer Data Science Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute, and Gelareh Zadeh, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Neurologic Surgery at Mayo Clinic.  

Ruppin detailed how he is developing computational approaches for advancing precision oncology, and Zadeh explained how she is using integrated multi-platform molecular analysis of brain tumors to predict patients’ responses to targeted therapies. Ruppin participated in panel discussions about artificial intelligence. 

“I am enriched talking to you guys,” Ruppin said. “I develop AI materials, but I am not using them to treat patients. I am learning a lot.” 

Douglas Flora, MD, executive medical director of Oncology Services at the Yung Family Cancer Center at St. Elizabeth in Edgewood, Kentucky, and the editor-in-chief of AI in Precision Oncology, replied, “All of us are cross pollinating. That’s why I love a symposium like this.” 

In opening the first panel discussion that focused on ethics, Ellen Wright Clayton, MD, JD, the Craig-Weaver Professor of Pediatrics, professor of Law and professor of Health Policy at Vanderbilt, framed artificial intelligence from an historical perspective, noting that “decision support is not new to medicine.” She gave specific examples of how clinicians can use artificial intelligence for decision support but stressed that they should not rely solely on it for treatment plans. 

“It is not OK simply to get the AI output and just do what it says,” Clayton said. “Maybe it is OK, but it is always required to see if that’s the right advice. Always.” 

In another twist from years past, the Mission Moment, which is a personal testament from a patient, was presented by a pediatric cancer survivor for the first time. Easton Reeder, 13, who has undergone surgery and chemotherapy for pilocytic astrocytoma — a type of brain tumor — shared about his experiences living with cancer. He told his story vividly with flashes of humor, describing how being tossed in the air like a rodeo clown by a Great Dane led to his diagnosis.

Clinicians initially concluded that he had a concussion because of persistent headaches that followed, but his mother, who is a nurse, insisted on a brain scan. Reeder, a committed athlete, who continued playing sports even while undergoing chemotherapy, was given a jersey signed by Vanderbilt baseball players.

“I learned that tomorrow isn’t a promise, and I have to make the best of every moment I have,” Reeder said. “I also learned that there is no ‘normal button.’ I have been trying to learn that power since forever, until I realized that power is not to be . . . God has proven to me that anything is possible through him.” 

In his welcoming remarks, Vanderbilt-Ingram director Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, emphasized the importance of training new generations of cancer researchers and clinicians. 

“This is an opportunity for us to celebrate all the cancer research going on at Vanderbilt-Ingram,” Park said. “For all of you who don’t know, we really run the spectrum of everything research: clinical, population science, laboratory science and everything in between. This is our time of the year when we get to showcase and highlight not only the great science that our external panelists and presenters are going to bring — but you will be duly impressed, as I always am, by what our trainees bring to the table. The future really is bright, and we have to keep sustaining our future by encouraging and mentoring the next generation, which will ultimately lead to more cures.” 

Two tied in voting for the Graduate Student of the Year. Candace Grisham, MS, received the honor for her research into brain tumors, including a study she authored that was published in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery. Xiaopeng Sun, PhD, is the other co-awardee for his research into biomarkers to predict immunotherapy outcomes in patients, and his prolific contributions to that field of study, including 12 studies published in scientific journals. 

Guochong “Damon” Jia, PhD, MPH, is the Postdoctoral Scholar of the Year. He was selected for his high-impact research that has advanced the understanding of cancer genetics and epidemiology, including the largest genetic study ever conducted on breast cancer in African ancestry populations, which was published in Nature Genetics. 

The poster exhibition was one of the largest ever for the annual event. Sarah Reed took home the overall winner award for her entry “Identifying Genotype-Specific Effects of CHIP on Solid Tumors Using Chimeric Mouse Modeling and Clinical Data.” 

In the Translational Science Category, Julia Steele won first place; Alexander Kwiatkowski, PhD, won second place; Heather Beasley, PhD, won third place; and honorable mention went to Jacey Marshall. 

Robust participation in the Basic Science Category resulted in duplicate prizes due to the number of entries. Rachel Sinard and Lincoln Brown won first place prizes. Emily Green and Logan Vlach received second place awards, andAnna Gilbert and Alyssa Jarabek received third place awards. Honorable mentions went to Sydney Bates, Nicholas Eleuteri, Sarah Glass, PhD, Gabriela Gonzalez Vasquez, Maxwell Hamilton, Yash Pershad, Jared Rhodes and Brenda Rios. 

In the Population Science Category, Michael Betti received first place; Duc Huy Le, MD, MBA, received second place; and there was a tie for third place with Melissa Goldin and Jiajun Shi, PhD, both receiving awards. Honorable mention went to Grace Xu. 

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The cellular therapy programs at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System have received reaccreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).

Founded in 1995, FACT establishes standards for high quality medical and laboratory practice in cellular therapies. FACT is a nonprofit corporation co-founded by the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy for the purposes of voluntary inspection and accreditation in the field of cellular therapy.

“FACT is an internationally recognized accrediting body for hospitals that offer stem cell transplant and cellular therapy, and recognition by FACT indicates that the accredited institution has met the most rigorous standard in every aspect of cellular therapy,” said Adetola Kassim, MD, professor of Medicine and director of the Vanderbilt Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program. “This covers the entire spectrum of stem cell therapy from clinical care to donor management, cell collection, processing, storage, transplant, administration and cell release.”

The Vanderbilt and VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System programs received accreditation notification on April 14 after on-site inspections in October 2024. The accreditation is effective for three years.

“Congratulations to the entire Vanderbilt University Medical Center and VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System team on achieving FACT accreditation and providing quality care for the people we serve,” Kassim said.

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Kimberly Dahlman, PhD, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, has been elected to the board of directors of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE). 

Dahlman, who is the assistant director of Cancer Research Training and Education at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, will begin serving her three-year term upon the closing of the association’s annual conference on June 17. She serves as co-director of the third- and fourth-year undergraduate medical education curriculum at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and as co-director of the Research Education Core of the Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership.

She is also director of the VERTICAL post-baccalaureate program, the V-EXCEL undergraduate cancer research program and the VISTO medical student research program at Vanderbilt-Ingram. Nationally, she is president of the Association of Biochemistry Educators.  

With more than 2,000 members, the IAMSE’s mission is to advance health profession education through teacher development and to ensure that the teaching and learning of medical science continues to be firmly grounded in foundational sciences and the best practices of teaching. 

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Eunyoung Choi, PhD, associate professor of Surgery and of Cell and Developmental Biology is the recipient of the Young Investigator Award in Basic Science from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). 

Each year, the AGA honors two early-career investigators, one in basic science and one in clinical science, for their research achievements. The honorees must have held an academic faculty position for less than seven years. 

The AGA honored Choi for her work defining key oncogenes critical to gastric carcinogenesis, and for identifying potential drug candidates to target gastric precancerous stem cells. Choi specializes in the cellular mechanisms that drive the evolution of precancerous cells in gastric cancer and has pioneered the use of transgenic animal and precancer organoid models. 

An active AGA member, she serves as an abstract reviewer and council member for the AGA Council Cellular & Molecular Gastroenterology Section. Her accolades include the NIH/NCI Outstanding MERIT Award and the AGA-R. Robert & Sally Funderburg Research Award in Gastric Cancer, American Association for Cancer Research-Debbie’s Dream Foundation Innovation Grant, and the Vanderbilt University Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund Award. 

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Pelayo Correa, MD, professor emeritus of Medicine and Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and John Kuriyan, PhD, dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, have been elected to the 2025 class of fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy.

The mission of the fellows of the AACR Academy is to recognize and honor extraordinary scientists whose groundbreaking contributions have driven significant innovation and progress in the fight against cancer.

Fellows of the AACR Academy constitute a global brain trust of leading experts in cancer science and medicine, working to advance the AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, collaboration, communication, advocacy and funding for cancer research.

Fellows of the AACR Academy are nominated and elected through a peer-reviewed process that rigorously evaluates each candidate’s scientific achievements and contributions to global cancer research. Only those whose work has made a profound and lasting impact on cancer research and related fields are considered for election and induction into the AACR Academy.

Correa was recognized for his “illustrious work defining the histological stages of gastric carcinogenesis through the ‘Correa Cascade’ and establishing the link between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer, fundamentally advancing the understanding of the pathology, epidemiology, and prevention of this disease.”

Kuriyan, Mary Geddes Stahlman Chair and University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Cell and Developmental Biology, was recognized for his “heralded contributions to cell signaling and kinase biology, including the elucidation of the switching mechanisms of tyrosine kinases such as SRC and EGFR, which has advanced the fundamental understanding of signal transduction regulation and informed the development of kinase-targeted therapies for cancer and other malignancies.”

Correa and Kuriyan are among 33 new fellows who will be recognized at the AACR Annual Meeting on April 25-30 in Chicago. Including this year’s class, only 375 cancer researchers have been named fellows of the AACR Academy.

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Some cancer patients experience durable remissions from immune checkpoint inhibitors that spur their T cells to attack cancer cells, but these immunotherapies can also cause reactions.

One of the adverse effects of these treatments is skin reactions known as cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAEs), although it is not known how often they morph into a chronic condition. Research led by investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center published in JAMA Dermatology provides insight into chronic cirAEs. They recommended long-term follow-up for patients by dermatologists familiar with cirAEs and consideration of corticosteroid-sparing treatment options.

“Understanding the potential for side effects to become long-lasting has been an important advance recently, and managing them more effectively is a key unmet need,” said the study’s corresponding author, Douglas Johnson, MD, MSCI, professor of Medicine, holder of the Susan and Luke Simons Directorship, and co-leader of the Translational Research and Interventional Oncology Research Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

The investigators reviewed the records of 318 patients from a previous study who had been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Of that number, 100 or 31% developed cirAEs with the skin conditions becoming chronic for 24 of the patients — nearly 8% of the full cohort. The study looked at 21 of those patients who underwent detailed follow-up. Another 31 patients were added from Vanderbilt clinics who were treated for cirAEs.

The 52 patients had received either pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab or anti-PD1 and CTLA4 combination therapy.

The types of skin reactions varied, with 15 experiencing pruritus or itchy skin, 12 experienced morbilliform eruptions or drug-induced skin rashes, 12 experienced dermatitis or inflamed and scaly rashes, eight experienced bullous pemphigoid-like eruptions (fluid-filled blisters that resemble a rare autoimmune skin disease), five experienced eczema, four experienced lichenoid (flat-topped, scaly lesions), two experienced psoriasiform (breakouts that resemble psoriasis), and one experienced acneiform or acne-like eruptions.

The median duration of cirAE from treatment cessation was 446 days. Rare cases lasted more than five years.

Other Vanderbilt authors on the study included the study’s lead author, Kylie Fletcher, BS, Rachel Goodman, MD, MBA, J. Randall Patrinely, MD, MBA, and Anna Dewan, MD, MHS.

The research received support from Medical Scholars at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, the Susan and Luke Simons Directorship, the James C. Bradford Jr. Fund in Melanoma Cancer Research and the Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund.

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Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Understanding factors that contribute to the development of colorectal cancer could point to new targets for treating the disease at earlier stages, when survival rates are highest. 

Nicholas Markham, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine, and colleagues are exploring how bacteria in the colon may contribute to cancer development. They previously showed that C. diff (Clostridioides difficile) isolated from human colorectal cancer samples accelerated tumorigenesis in the colon in a mouse model of intestinal cancer. 

Now, they have combined single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and immunofluorescence to build a multiomic atlas of gene expression and protein abundance in C. diff-associated colorectal tumorigenesis. 

They report in The Journal of Pathology that the protein DMBT1 (Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1) shows striking differences in regulation in areas of the colon with inflammation versus dysplasia (abnormal cellular changes). DMBT1 is a protein with roles in mucosal immune defense and epithelial cell differentiation. 

In a mouse model, the researchers found that expression of DMBT1 increases in normal absorptive colon cells exposed to C. diff, but that its expression is reduced in dysplastic areas compared to normal adjacent tissues. 

Immunofluorescence studies confirmed that DMBT1 protein was downregulated in dysplastic regions from three mouse models of colonic tumorigenesis and in colorectal precancerous adenomas from human samples. Using mouse and human organoids, the researchers implicated WNT signaling in the downregulation of DMBT1 mRNA and protein. 

The findings suggest that loss of DMBT1 could be a mechanistic link between bacterial infection and colorectal cancer development. Further studies will explore how DMBT1 might function to limit tumorigenesis. 

Emily Green, a graduate student in the Molecular Pathology and Immunology program, is the first author of the study. Collaborators at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine contributed to the study. The research was supported by grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs (BX005699, BX002943) and the National Institutes of Health (P30DK058404, P30CA068485, R00CA230192, P50CA236733).

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The growing number of pediatric and adolescent patients with cancer at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt will soon have access to expanded and upgraded space for outpatient cancer infusion treatments and clinic visits, as well as updated inpatient space — a project made possible through the generous support of individuals and businesses in the community.

The expansion and renovation, part of a philanthropic initiative, “A Campaign Against Childhood Cancer,” will also help support research and training efforts.

“When the opportunity arose to envision a space dedicated entirely to clinical care for pediatric and adolescent cancer, allowing us to accommodate even more patients and families in a more age-appropriate way, philanthropic supporters truly rallied around Monroe Carell to meet this critical need and make this vision a reality,” said Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell. “We are so very grateful to the many individuals, families and businesses in the community who gave generously to support our children and families through this project.”

Currently, outpatient infusion happens in two large rooms on the sixth floor of Monroe Carell’s Doctors’ Office Tower (DOT), with patients of all ages seated side by side in recliners. The renovation will provide private infusion rooms and dedicated, tailored space for young children, teenagers and young adults, all of whom have different needs. Some infusion rooms will have partitions that can be lowered when patients want to interact with each other.

“We see somewhere between 250 to 300 new patients with cancer each year, and we have about 13,000 provider visits each year,” said Debra Friedman, MD, MS, director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and holder of the E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Pediatric Oncology.

“To put that into perspective, when I came here in 2008, we saw 90 (new patients each year), and we have been in the same space since then. The timing is right to expand to accommodate our growing community and patient population.”

Two years ago, Monroe Carell had a record number of visits in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, with last year’s number being about the same.

The new outpatient space will occupy the entire sixth floor of the DOT — currently it inhabits a little less than half of that floor, with the remaining half occupied by other specialties who have relocated to the eighth floor.

This current renovation is the final of a three-phase expansion that also included moving the pediatric primary care clinic from DOT to a newly constructed clinic space at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks and renovating the eighth floor of DOT to prepare for the move of medical specialties.

Besides the side-by-side infusion chairs, the prior outpatient space on the sixth floor of DOT had three private infusion rooms and 10 exam rooms for clinic visits.

The renovations will include 25 individual infusion spaces, with two rooms set up for patients who are getting partial exchanges of blood cells (apheresis), and 25 exam rooms.

“With each of the patients in their own infusion area, there will no longer be a young adult seated next to a 2-year-old. They’ll each have their own space but will have the ability to walk around the infusion area if they want to,” Friedman said.

“On the other hand, if there are siblings getting infusions at the same time, or kids who have become friendly with each other and want to hang out while they are getting infusions, the partition can come down so they can talk to and see each other.”

There will also be a designated consult room and a designated room where Child Life Services can meet with patients, or where patients can watch a movie or play with toys while they are getting infusions. An expanded nutrition area will be incorporated in the space with snacks and an ICEE machine.

“The new area is really patient- and family-centric and also allows us to be much more efficient in our clinic. Our growing number of patients won’t be waiting so long to be seen because we have more exam rooms to seat them,” Friedman said.

Patients and families were instrumental in planning the new space, she noted.

“We listened to what they told us. We met with them to ask if we were going to redesign this space, what would be important to them. We did this when we created the teen lounge on the sixth floor of the inpatient unit,” Friedman said. “When we talked about individual infusion rooms, we heard from several parents that they often scheduled infusions on the same day as a friend so the kids could sit next to each other and talk. Individual infusion rooms would take that away, so designing some of the rooms with the glass partition was a direct response to what we heard from multiple patients and their families.”

Lighting and decor were also chosen based on patient and family recommendations.

In addition to the outpatient space, the 31 existing rooms on 6A and 6B of the pediatric hematology/oncology area of the hospital are currently being renovated. The rooms are being updated with renovated cabinetry and an updated sleeping area for parents. There will be brighter lighting and updated hallways. Wallpaper is being removed, and the flooring will be uniform throughout.

“It will be a brighter, more modern and positive environment for our patients and families, particularly for those who have repeated visits or long inpatient visits,” Friedman said.

Many patients with cancer treated at Monroe Carell are participating in clinical trials where tests and imaging are required. The new DOT space will provide more room to accommodate this.

Part of the community’s philanthropy will also support research and training initiatives, developing the next generation of leaders who will contribute to the overall field — ultimately improving outcomes for all patients.

“All of the advances we have made in treating children with cancer have come from discovery brought to patients,” Friedman said. “Donor support allows us to have funds to further ongoing research led by faculty here at Monroe Carell and to recruit new faculty who contribute to our research, educational and patient care missions.”

Allison DeMarcus, who co-chaired this campaign with Kailey Hand, said she hopes the renovation will help both patients and their families deal with a cancer diagnosis. DeMarcus and Hand are both Monroe Carell Advisory Board members and longtime supporters of the hospital and its programs. DeMarcus is former chair of the board.

“We are thrilled that Monroe Carell will be able to offer children with cancer this renovated and expanded space for their clinic visits and infusions,” DeMarcus said. “The children treated here already receive the best care available, but they deserve to receive those treatments in a space that is as comfortable and inviting as we can possibly make it for them. It’s unbelievably hard for families to go through the experience of a child having cancer, but due to the generosity of individuals and businesses in our community, we will soon be able to offer this wonderful space as one small thing we can provide to make their experience a little easier and a little brighter.”

Friedman said the new space will be a win for everyone.

“Providing care in an atmosphere that’s more spacious and bright affects everyone’s morale — the patients, their families, and our staff and faculty. Our donors recognized that, and also the cost of those renovations, and were very generous so we were able to really do this well for our patients and families.”

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