Survivors and patients currently undergoing treatment were honored at Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team.
On June 16, 2022, Maimonides Health hosted its 16th annual “Cancer Survivors Day” event at Maimonides Park in honor of cancer patients and survivors who have received treatment at the hospital. Following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the annual event returned to celebrate the gift of life and recognizes the adversity patients face during and after their battle with cancer.
The event included food, live music by the Mazel Tov Cocktail Band (featuring Maimonides’ oncologists), and speeches from Kenneth E. Gibbs, President & CEO, Maimonides Health; Kevin Becker, MD, Chief, Division of Hematology Medical Oncology; and Patrick Borgen, MD, Chair, Department of Surgery. Free shuttle bus service was provided from the cancer center, and families from across the City were invited to attend.
As part of the special event’s programming, the following survivors and patients were honored as 2022 Cancer Survivors Awardees:
- Makhi Williams
- Lisette Caesar
- Christine Rodriguez
- Areita Guy
“To be a survivor, one definition states that the person must cope well with the difficulties in their life. That is exactly what Makhi did at age 14 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor,” said Shari Feinberg, Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner at Maimonides. “Despite having to be taken out of school and isolated from his peers even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Makhi smiled all the way through his treatment, consisting of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, through any obstacles thrown his way. He developed a close bond with the staff in the department that still holds true to this day and often jokes with the providers when he comes to the clinic. He embodies the spirit of our practice, and this is why he was chosen as an honored survivor.”
“It was an honor and a privilege to be able to host and perform at this year’s Cancer Survivor’s Day,” said Dr. Patrick Borgen, Chair of Surgery and Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Maimonides. “Watching these survivors and their families smile, laugh, and enjoy life is what you hope for when first diagnosing a patient. We strive every day to ensure that our cancer survivors can celebrate today and tomorrow by reinforcing our commitment to providing top-notch medical care that save lives.”
Maimonides Cancer Center is recognized for its treatment excellence and is the first fully accredited cancer center in Brooklyn. The comprehensive center is home to New York’s top oncologists, with a fully accredited Breast Center, Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, and Prostate Center offering the latest minimally invasive approaches such as HIFU. Maimonides patients receive personalized treatment plans from experts who use the most innovative treatment therapies and provide access to clinical trials that advance cancer research and outcomes.
