Wilmot Cancer Institute

Congratulations to Kah Poh "Melissa" Loh, MBBCh, a geriatric oncologist who recently received the 2025 Jacob Gitelman Award from Cancer Support Community at Gilda's Club Rochester. This award is given to a medical professional who works with oncology patients and has shown outstanding, meritorious service. Loh received this award because she has served on CSC's medical advisory board and has championed the organization's support groups and free wellness services. Congrats, Dr. Loh! In the top photo, she is pictured with some of her colleagues and family members, and the bottom left shows Dr. Loh with Natalie, the daughter of Jacob Gitelman. Read more about Dr. Loh's story: https://urmc.info/2d6

There is no cure for multiple myeloma, but we are seeing an "explosion of new opportunities for different types of drugs and in treating this disease," shared Dr. Brea Lipe, an expert in multiple myeloma at Wilmot Cancer Institute. She helped one of her patients who has multiple myeloma participate in a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, and the treatment option has had promising results. The story from Spectrum News explains more. ⤵️

Wilmot Cancer Institute now has NCI designation, but we are not standing still. We are always working to be better! This is not only our mission, but it is also what our cancer patients deserve. Learn more about NCI designation: https://urmc.info/2aX #WeAreNCIDesignated

Art is about the interaction with the viewer 🎨 That was the goal of an art project that's now on display at the Pluta Comprehensive Breast Care Program at Wilmot: To make viewers feel motivated to support, reflect, and remember others impacted by breast cancer. Created by breast cancer survivor Helen Bishop-Santelli and her nurse practitioner Erin Bodekor, the display features ceramic plates that feature silhouette images of real people who have had breast cancer and received treatment at Pluta. Helen feels proud to be part of the project that celebrates the lives of those impacted by breast cancer. "It was such a pleasure and very emotional," Helen shares. "It was such an honor to be able to put those people up there and hold them up."

Congrats to all on these rankings, but especially our Pediatric Hematology/Oncology team! They ranked #42 in the nation for Pediatric Cancer. Read more: https://urmc.info/2cS

Our region is home to many community groups helping those with cancer, and many of those groups will join our Survivorship Symposium on 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁. 𝟭𝟬, at the Memorial Art Gallery. The event will feature short talks from a few community groups, highlighted here. Additional groups will also have tables so attendees can learn about many valuable community resources throughout the day. The symposium is FREE for cancer patients and caregivers, and you don't have to be a patient at Wilmot to attend. Patients may also participate virtually. Join us: https://urmc.info/2br

Bringing cutting-edge cancer research and care to our region is critical, and NCI designation helps make that possible. Our researchers and clinicians are proud to help improve cancer care close to home. Learn more about NCI designation: https://urmc.info/2aY #WeAreNCIDesignated

From start to finish, Wilmot Warrior Weekend was full of heart 💙 Thanks to so many from the community who joined the day and helped us raise more than $721,000 - and counting! Fundraising is open through October. The more we raise, the more we have to support critical cancer research! #WilmotWarrior

“Finger Lakes is where God rested his hands" goes the legend! I have now been here in this region/Rochester, Upstate NY - for seven years and joined Wilmot Cancer Institute three years ago! Did the honeymoon phase wear off…? No… I argue, the best is yet to come as we recently got NCI designation here at the Wilmot Cancer Institute and we are hiring for multiple positions (in the community settings and at our main location). If you are interested in any of these settings/sub-specialities, I would love to talk to you or connect you with Dr. Aram Hezel Multiple Myeloma Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Leukemia & Myelodysplasia Breast Cancer Gynecologic Oncology Melanoma Gastrointestinal Oncology Genitourinary Oncology Regional/Community practice Arpan Patel MD, MBA Ruth O'Regan, MD Daniel Mulkerin Julie Berkhof, DNP, RN, MS, FNP-C Timothy Winslow Erika Ramsdale Crystal Yero, MS, RN, OCN Allison Cima Meredith Bernhard Jathin Bandari Sindhu Kadambi Lori Medeiros William Archibald, MD

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Wilmot Warrior Weekend kick-off!! So many have worked so hard to support this event and we’re so grateful ❤️🎗️ #WilmotWarrior