“I have a mission, I have a passion,” Stefanie Spielman and her oldest daughter, Maddie, said in unison. Other voices joined in, repeating: “Continue to fight, continue to live,” at the close of an affecting video Maddie Spielman shared during her speech for the June 2024 At the Table.”
At the Table — a quarterly series of events on timely health care topics — focused on breast cancer in June, giving attendees the opportunity to learn directly from top investigators in the field, including the chance to ask questions about clinical trials, the origins and behavior of cancer cells, and promising therapies.
Maddie Spielman, a director of development at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and an advocate for breast cancer research, was the closing presenter. The video she played splices one of her mother’s speeches with cancer survivors, physicians, her siblings, her father and Maddie herself.
“How inspiring, how empowering, how rejuvenating it is to see the human goodness, believing they can make a positive difference in someone’s life,” Stefanie said in the footage.
Roman Skoracki, MD, the division director for Oncologic Plastic Surgery at OSUCCC – James and medical director of the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, served as keynote speaker. He proudly recognized the attributes that make the Spielman Center unique, including the team-based care format, a holistic approach to patients’ health, and the access, through its relationships with a medical center and a large university, to interdisciplinary teams and tools to fight cancer.
In addition to Dr. Skoracki, other widely respected and knowledgeable breast cancer clinicians and researchers from the OSUCCC – James joined the event: Margaret Gatti-Mays, MD, MPH; Samilia Obeng-Gyasi, MD, MPH; Sachin Jhawar, MD; and Dionisia Quiroga, DO, PhD. These brilliant and compassionate professionals shared a meal and their knowledge with guests at each table.
“That was a very well-done and special event. In fact, I keep thinking about how I can do more to help people get involved,” says a donor and survivor who attended. “Thank you for the dinner, the program and the great company!”
Lea Goldsmith, donor experience engagement consultant with the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Health Sciences Advancement team says, “At the Table events help our dedicated donors gain a deeper understanding of the needs of various areas of the OSUCCC – James. There is nothing like sitting across from an expert and hearing how their contributions are bringing us closer to a cancer-free world.”