PEP Talks with Moffitt

There are moments in life when everything changes. For Heidi Nash, that moment came not once, but twice. The first was hearing the words "you have breast cancer." After months of treatment, surgery, and radiation, she believed the hardest chapter was behind her. Then, just over a year later, she learned the cancer had returned as Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. But this isn't just a story about...

Sometimes life changes in a single phone call. For Jamie Losito, that call came while she was standing in an Ulta parking lot at just 32 years old, hearing the words no one ever expects to hear: it’s cancer. But what happened next made her story even more extraordinary. Just days after her diagnosis, Jamie discovered she was pregnant. In this episode of PEP Talks, we hear the story of a young moth...

At Moffitt, we often tell the stories of our patients—but behind every patient experience is someone who shows up each day with compassion, purpose, and heart. So… who are the people in your neighborhood? The teammate down the hall who always goes the extra mile. The quiet hero working behind the scenes. The one whose story has shaped the way they care for others. In this new series, we’re turning...

Moffitt’s International Patient Services team is an incredible group of team members who walk alongside patients and families coming from all over the world in search of hope and healing. This episode goes beyond coordination and logistics. It’s about what happens when someone leaves behind everything familiar: home, language and culture, to face one of the hardest seasons of their life. You’ll he...

For more than 22 years, Prado Antolino, Director of Language and Communication Access at Moffitt, and her team have worked to ensure that patients who face language barriers, whether they speak Spanish, an indigenous dialect, or a language spoken by only a few thousand people in the world, are not just translated but truly understood. This conversation goes beyond interpreters and legal requiremen...

This episode was the very first Pep Talks story recorded nearly five years ago and was originally shared only with our internal team members. As we look back on the heart of this podcast—stories of connection, compassion, and intentional care—we felt it was time to share Michelle’s story more broadly. Her experience reminds us that the fundamentals of patient experience never change: listening, pr...

In this special Best of 2025 episode, we revisit some of the most meaningful stories shared on Pep Talks over the past year. From patients and caregivers to team members and advocates, these voices remind us that healing happens in many forms — through presence, compassion, listening, and small moments that leave a lasting impact. Together, these stories reflect the heart of care, the power of hum...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Anne Klein, a pancreatic cancer survivor whose journey reminds us just how powerful human connection can be in the midst of medical crisis. Anne walks us through the whirlwind of her diagnosis, the long days of testing and treatment, and the unexpected moments of compassion that carried her through — from a nurse practitioner who stopped to check on her hea...

In this heartfelt episode of PEPtalks, we sit down with Chaplain Jason Filippini from Moffitt Cancer Center to explore what it truly means to bring hope, humanity, and presence into the most difficult moments of a patient’s journey. With over eight years of experience serving in Moffitt’s ICU and PCU, Jason shares powerful stories of compassion—moments where “healing” takes on a deeper meaning bey...

Meet Margaret Gosira Since 2001, Margaret has brought heart, humor, and dedication to Moffitt Cancer Center. Her smile lights up every room, and her commitment to patients and coworkers makes her a true team hero. From training new staff to celebrating her U.S. citizenship with her Moffitt family—Margaret reminds us what it means to care. #TeamMoffitt #EmployeeSpotlight #HealthcareHeroes #WhoAreTh...

In this inspiring episode of PEP Talks, we sit down with Joshua Rivera — a sarcoma survivor, Moffitt Cancer Center team member, and passionate advocate for patients everywhere. Joshua shares his incredible journey from diagnosis at age 27 to becoming a leader, mentor, and voice for change. From founding roles in the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program to cycling hundreds of miles for cancer a...

Navigating cancer is never easy—especially without the right information and support. When Kerrijo first came to Moffitt, her care team immediately recognized her deep need for knowledge. Just as importantly, they understood that her family needed to be part of the journey too. At Moffitt, our patient-and-family-centered care ensures that both patients and their loved ones receive timely, accurate...

Caught in a Florida downpour, two nurse navigators found more than just shelter—they found a reminder of what makes Moffitt special. After a long day in the Neuro-oncology and GYN clinics, Ralene Simpkins and Elvy Mendez were bracing for a soggy sprint to their cars when an unexpected act of kindness changed everything. A fellow Moffitt team member—someone they didn’t even know—offered them a ride...

This month, we are thrilled to celebrate a truly special milestone—the 20th anniversary of the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). To mark this occasion, we are honored to welcome a very special guest, Judge Mark Pizzo, one of the original members of PFAC. Judge Pizzo will share his remarkable journey, from his distinguished career in law to his family's profound connection with Moffitt. H...

In this episode, Joel passionately underscores the importance of learning about and referring patients to the available resources that can profoundly benefit them, just as they did for him. Joel's story is a powerful reminder that when we come together as a team to provide the right support tailored to each patient's specific needs, it can be life-sustaining. In Joel's own words, it was a gamechan...

In this episode you will hear from Greg Feldman, one of our pancreatic cancer survivors, and his medical provider, Physician Assistant Tiffany Valone.  Greg and Tiffany share with us their insights into how their 9-year relationship, built on trust, care and respect, provided the support he needed to sustain him throughout his long cancer journey at Moffitt.

In this episode you will hear from Alexander Dojcinovski, a supervisor in our experimental cell therapy department. He was a patient here before he was a team member, having endured a long and arduous treatment regimen for stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As he finished his treatment and was thinking of his future, he was so impacted and inspired by the care he received at Moffitt that he knew he wante...

Randy Isaacson shares how his wife Lynn’s 162-day journey with Acute Myeloid Leukemia did not define their beautiful 34 years together even though she died of the disease at 55 years old. He tells us how important the nurses were to creating comfort for Lynn and himself during their long stays in the hospital and how he now volunteers in multiple ways at Moffitt, for Lynn.

This podcast highlights the work of Lloyd Goldstein, a Certified Music Practitioner in our Arts in Medicine Program. Lloyd shares his journey from a professional base violin player in the Florida Orchestra to a Moffitt volunteer, to one of our Artists in Residence. Through being present and meeting patients where they are, Lloyd uses his music to help patients transcend their pain and suffering, g...

At just 18 years old, while most young adults were starting college and navigating the challenges of young adulthood, Moffitt team member, Jackie Beaushaw was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and undergoing cancer treatment at Moffitt. For someone so young, this experience could have been incredibly frightening, isolating, and overwhelming. And it was. But Jackie’s journey took a pivotal tur...

This past year, we've had the privilege of hearing our patients share their heartfelt stories, showcasing incredible courage and resilience during challenging times. We're deeply inspired by the respect, care, and compassion demonstrated by our team members—it's often the smallest acts that make the most significant difference in the lives of our patients and their families. We invite you to take...

In this episode Rick Salomone shares with us how he had some critical decisions to make concerning his care, and how grateful he was for the support and respect of his Moffitt team that empowered him to choose a treatment path that aligned with his beliefs, priorities and lifestyle. 

In this episode you hear from Jasmine Cherry, one of our Moffitt team members. After seeing her grandparents both treated at Moffitt, she was excited to get her dream job at age 24 working in the cell therapy lab. Little did she know that just one year later, she would be diagnosed with leukemia and need those very same cell therapies to survive. She shares with us how her experience has deepened...

In this podcast, you will hear from Heidi Bragg, who is a survivor of 3 different types of cancer, including a cardiac sarcoma that brought her to Moffitt. For Heidi, the combination of the clinical expertise, partnership with her treatment team, inclusion of her family, and being cared for as a human being – created a very strong bond that fortified her for the fight of her life. Heidi has her ow...

For Patient Experience Week, some of Moffitt Cancer Center’s leaders share their passion for patient care and gratitude for our dedicated staff. Moffitt’s heart begins and ends with the patients and that is the unifying force that guides all team members. It’s this definitive culture, characterized by compassion, empathy, and patient-centered care, that makes Moffitt a truly special place for both...