Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Staff Spotlights | Three radiation oncology residents at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) share their perspective of transitioning from recent graduate to full-time employees: ⭐ Dr. Gustav Cederquist: "My passion for oncology was sparked as a medical student during a rotation on MSK’s inpatient services, where I was inspired by the unwavering commitment of the entire care team to deliver exceptional patient care. I’m excited to continue working alongside such dedicated colleagues to advance patient outcomes through innovative research and clinical excellence." ⭐ Dr. Matthew McMillan: "I love working at MSK, where I get to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of experts and lead clinical trials combining radiotherapy with novel immunotherapies to improve treatments and outcomes for cancer patients." ⭐ Dr. Christopher Jackson: "It is really a dream come true to join the Radiation Oncology team at MSK and to have the opportunity to treat pediatric patients as well as patients with brain and spinal tumors."

The Radiation Oncology Residency Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is excited to welcome three MSK staff to its leadership team. ⭐ MSK radiation oncologist Dr. Daniel Gorovets begins his appointment as the new Program Director. Dr. Gorovets brings exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to resident education. ⭐ MSK radiation oncologists Dr. Brandon Imber and Dr. Diana Roth O'Brien begin their new appointments as Associate Program Directors. They will play crucial roles in enhancing the residency program and the medical student clerkships. Please join us in congratulating this new leadership team who are dedicated to fostering an environment of excellence, innovation, and support for MSK's residents and students. To learn more about the Radiation Oncology Residency Program, register for one of our Virtual Open House sessions: https://bit.ly/4frFiVi

Staff Spotlight | “MSK is the place where we try to do something good — to cure cancer.” For Dr. Moralba (Mora) Dominguez Garcia, being a Research Scholar at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) developing radiopharmaceuticals against cancer is a dream come true. Mora is a part of Dr. Jason Lewis's lab, where she works in a rapidly evolving field of precision medicine called radiotheranostics, which combines diagnostic imaging with targeted therapy for specific types of cancer. She is investigating strategies that use radiation for the simultaneous early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Additionally, she's exploring the integration of radio chemistry with antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), which are designed to target and kill tumor cells while leaving healthy cells. She describes it as a kind of dual therapy, one part drug and one part radiation to improve the therapeutic effect. “Maybe, one day, my work will help save the life of someone,” Mora hopes. Learn more about Mora and her work in radiotheranostics: https://bit.ly/40RfBYa

New research from the American Cancer Society shows a 62% increase in colorectal cancer screening among adults ages 45 to 50, after the recommended age to begin screening was lowered. Diagnoses in this age group also increased, from 1% to 12%, meaning more cancers were caught early when they are easier to treat, according to experts. Researchers at MSK are investigating why this is happening, from possible environmental exposures to the role of the microbiome and changes in lifestyle. Learn more about how MSK is leading research and care for young adults with cancer.

Staff Spotlight | “As the 'band-aid' sibling, I was always patching up my brothers or friends when I was growing up. Now I’ve come full circle, supporting a team that is working to end cancer for life." Laura Zimmerman, a Nurse Leader at MSK, oversees staff and patients at MSK Monmouth in New Jersey. Since joining MSK in 2019, Laura has been committed to making sure her team feels supported. “I’m very passionate about team building,” says Laura. “I’ve led my team through challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic and bringing the team together has always proven helpful.” Laura has been a nurse for nearly 40 years, half of that time spent in oncology nursing. When she heard that MSK was opening a facility in New Jersey, she was excited to take the next step in her career. “I felt I would finally be working for the top cancer center in the country and that was exciting to me,” says Laura. “I was over the moon when I was hired here as a Nurse Leader.” Even through busy shifts, Laura is most inspired by the team she works with every day — especially after seeing how well they care for her stepsister who is currently undergoing treatment for stage 4 colorectal cancer. “Sitting on the other side, you often see how amazing the MSK staff is,” says Laura. “I’m such an advocate of broadcasting my staff’s great moments. It’s been tough, but I’m drawn to oncology because I’m always looking to make the experience the best possible and to recognize my staff.”

Congratulations to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)'s most recent Awards & Appointments honorees, including MSK being ranked the Best Cancer Center in the Northeast and First in the Nation for Urology Care by U.S. News & World Report, Dr. Jessica Posada for being named Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer's Early Career Investigator in Gastroesophageal Cancer Research, Dr. Daniel Gomez for being honored as the 2025 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Fellow, and more: https://bit.ly/45cLwVz

Staff Spotlight | Dr. Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) earlier this year after serving in several leadership roles at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai since 2010. As CMO, Dr. Smith supports operational excellence and safety across the organization, and oversees clinical quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and enterprise-wide clinical operations. “I am charged with ensuring that every patient at MSK is receiving the safest, highest-quality care, and that their care teams are fully supported and able to do their best work,” says Dr. Smith. “The goal is to make sure that our clinical practices are aligned with our systems, and that we’re constantly learning and improving.” Dr. Smith is a nationally recognized thoracic medical oncologist, specializing in all forms of lung cancer, and a palliative medicine expert. She will also be seeing patients in Thoracic Oncology at MSK Westchester starting in September and plans also to provide inpatient palliative care or supportive oncology consults. Learn more about Dr. Smith: https://bit.ly/4l8OwGY

From the day Shakima Grant, M.A. Grant was hired as a care coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in 2007 she says she knew she had found her purpose. “It always felt like I was meant to be here,” says Shakima. Today, Shakima is Senior Community Programs Manager, and her mission is forging a strong relationship between MSK and the people in its community to improve access to world-class cancer care. “Being part of the community team at this time in MSK’s history is an incredible honor and responsibility,” says Shakima. “We are spreading the word and opening the doors for more patients than ever before to receive the best cancer care in the world, right in their backyard.” Read more about Shakima: https://bit.ly/3UHTXSo

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Cycle for Survival 2026 dates are here. We couldn’t be more excited to be back on the bikes with you for our 20th anniversary. Find your 2026 ride: https://lnkd.in/ervJ2cU8

After life-saving brain surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Maggie picked up a paintbrush and uncovered a talent no one saw coming. Maggie spent years suffering from painful headaches and muscle weakness that baffled her doctors in New Jersey. One day, unable to lift her head, she ended up in the emergency room. Testing by local doctors revealed a brain tumor with an initially grim prognosis by the neurologist. Maggie quickly sought help at MSK, where she met with MSK neurosurgeon Dr. Cameron Brennan. He diagnosed her with NF2, a rare genetic condition. Shortly after, he successfully removed two tumors from her brain. A year later, she had a spine tumor removed by Dr. Mark Bilsky. MSK rehabilitation medicine specialist Dr. Julia Reilly worked closely with Maggie to help her regain strength, manage symptoms, and get back to daily life. But then something unexpected happened: Maggie announced to her family that she wanted to start painting. Her family was stunned. She had never taken an art class and had no history of interest in painting. As her sister put it, Maggie couldn’t even be trusted to paint a wall. Yet, almost overnight, she began creating vibrant, emotional abstract paintings that captured the attention of local galleries and collectors. What is the link between brain surgery and artistic skill? Dr. Reilly notes that Maggie’s surgery was performed on the right side of her brain. “The right side of the brain is often thought to contribute to creativity and art,” she says. “In the process of healing from that surgery, some rewiring occurs." While Maggie discovered her inner artist on her own, MSK's Rehabilitation Services helped her recovery in other ways — the surgery left Maggie with minor physical impairments, including tingling in her leg, which is why she was first referred to Dr. Reilly. Maggie’s artwork is beautiful, but it’s also a powerful inspiration to other rehab patients: “It helps them know,” says Dr. Reilly, “that they have no idea how much they may be able to improve, or what they can return to.” Maggie, who now paints every day, says that while the success and accolades are nice, it’s the act of painting that matters above all else. It brings her joy and a sense of calm. Swipe ➡️ to view some of Maggie's amazing artwork and visit the link to learn more about her incredible story: https://bit.ly/4fbhk08.