Beyond the Diagnosis
- Foundation
- Overview
- About the Foundation
- Beyond the Diagnosis
- Living the Mission
- Making an Impact
- Make a Donation or Pledge Payment
- Recent Graduate Medical Education Highlights
- President’s Message Q4 2024 – Employees
- Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center Construction Update 2024
- Make A Gift
- Leadership
- Contact the Foundation
Beyond the Diagnosis
Through the bonds of trust between patient and physician, Mount Sinai Medical Center’s approach to cancer treatment bridges between cutting-edge innovation and compassionate care to provide lifesaving results.
At Mount Sinai Medical Center, the ethos of patient care extends beyond medical treatment to encompass a deeply compassionate approach by its physicians. Here, the philosophy is clear: To heal a patient, one must first understand them not just as a case number but as a person with hopes, fears, and a life worth fighting for.
This perspective is crucial, particularly in a field as emotionally and physically taxing as oncology. Patients who understand their treatment options and feel supported by their medical team are more likely to maintain a positive outlook and adhere closely to their treatment plans, leading to better recovery rates. From oncologists to nurses to support staff, each member of the Mount Sinai team is dedicated to creating an environment where patients feel truly seen and heard. This patient-first approach is evident in the numerous stories of individuals who have passed through Mount Sinai’s doors and emerged not just as survivors but as advocates for the compassionate care they received.
As Mount Sinai prepares for the opening of the Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center in early 2026, the commitment to revolutionary patient-centered care is more pronounced than ever. The new center promises to be a place where the latest advancements in cancer treatment will be delivered within an environment that prioritizes the patient experience, ensuring that every patient receives not only the finest medical care but also the most supportive patient care.
In the pages ahead, and as we anticipate the unveiling of the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center, we share stories of real-life patients and the physicians who changed their lives. They are reminders that at Mount Sinai, saving lives goes hand in hand with caring for the soul.
COMPASSIONATE CARE:
Malerie Sloshay
Malerie Sloshay had never needed a biopsy in her life — until she did. “You know when you have a feeling something is wrong, and you hope and pray it’s not and that you’re overreacting? I had that feeling,” she remembers. “After all the tests were done, I got a call from the doctor that they had found breast cancer.”
David and Debra Deutch
COURAGE IN CRISIS:
Carol Burgin
At the end of December 2023, Carol Burgin was set to have a right knee replacement. But during standard pre-op testing, she received astonishing news that was anything but routine: The tests revealed cancerous spots on her lung.
EMPATHETIC ENCOURAGEMENT:
Jacqueline Di Calafiori
In January 2024, Jacqueline Di Calafiori began experiencing worrisome symptoms. “I had pain in my stomach. I couldn’t eat anything, and my stomach was distended. I had nausea and vomiting,” the Surfside resident recalls.
FROM TREATMENT TO TRIUMPH:
Danielle Castillo
Danielle Castillo knew something was amiss, but she tried to put it out of her mind. The pain in her chest was “terrible.” But, she recalls, “In my mind, I said, ‘It’s nothing; it will go away.’”
HOPE AT THE HORIZON:
Edna Sosa
“All the lights went out for me.” That’s how Edna Sosa describes the feeling that came over her when she was diagnosed with cancer. All she could think, she recalls, was, “My mother passed away at 58 from cancer. My brother went at 62. My sister was also diagnosed. This came to my mind and I thought, ‘Oh Lord, I’m next on the list.”
A LIFE-CHANGING DECISION:
Jerry Tilis
Jerry Tilis candidly says what he’s most grateful for about his care at Mount Sinai’s Comprehensive Cancer Center during his cancer journey is that he’s “still here. And I’m going to a nice dinner tonight with friends.”
A PATHWAY TO HEALING:
Margarita Yuhico
Margarita Yuhico says her doctors at Mount Sinai’s Comprehensive Cancer Center call her a “miracle patient.” In 2017, the West Kendall resident started experiencing bloating in her stomach, as well as sporadic nausea. She initially waved it off as nothing serious — until one of her co-workers became alarmed that her eyes and skin had dramatically turned yellow.
A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE:
Fritz Smith
It’s been said, “Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.” That’s exactly what Fritz Smith did when he was diagnosed with cancer. He used his diagnosis as motivation to start a support group with his doctor and community to educate others on being proactive about checkups.
RESILIENCE IN RECOVERY:
Jorge Piedra
Earlier this year, Jorge Piedra began experiencing difficulty swallowing and some regurgitation issues, along with sudden weight loss. Concerned, the Miami Beach resident went to see his gastrointestinal doctor at Mount Sinai Medical Center, who later performed an endoscopy.
WINNING THE BATTLE:
Olga Weinstein
When Olga Weinstein was due for a colonoscopy in April of 2023, she decided that while she was under anesthesia, she’d also get an endoscopy as a precaution. As a healthy and active woman in her 60s with no unusual symptoms, she didn’t have any concerns.
More About Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai MEDICAL CENTER
Review the latest health news and updates from across the medical center.
MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
Read about our well-deserved reputation for the highest quality of care.
MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
Learn more about the Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center, scheduled to open in 2025.