City of Hope

Congratulations to Wafa Samara Pharm.D., City of Hope’s vice president and chief pharmacy officer, on being awarded the Chapman University 2024 Gavin Herbert Award for Excellence in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences! The Gavin Herbert Award, presented each year at the white coat ceremony, "recognizes someone who exemplifies the highest standard of professionalism, entrepreneurial leadership, and compassion in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences that our school was founded to support." Wafa, we are so proud to call you a colleague and leader! Thank you for continuing to champion meaningful change at City of Hope and beyond.

On Wednesday, August 21, Marcel van den Brink, MD, PhD, president of City of Hope Los Angeles and City of Hope National Medical Center, and Deana and Steve Campbell Chief Physician Executive Distinguished Chair, threw out the honorary first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers game. It was an exciting moment, not just for Dr. Van den Brink, but for all of us at City of Hope — and it was a great night to celebrate the power of community.

We are proud to celebrate Debra Fields, City of Hope's executive vice president and chief transformation officer, for being included in the Becker's Healthcare 2024 "Chief Transformation Officers to Know" List. Fields' leadership has been instrumental in transforming City of Hope into a national system, serving over 144,000 patients annually. Her dedication to organizational design, culture and talent strategy has not only driven our expansion but also strengthened our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Congratulations, Debra, on this well-deserved recognition!

Entering our fourth year of collaboration, City of Hope and Hospital Albert Einstein, the top-ranked hospital in Latin America, are united in a vision to revolutionize cancer care beyond borders. Combining our leading-edge research with their legacy of innovation, this partnership embodies a shared commitment to deliver hope and advanced cancer care globally. “Renewal of the partnership is grounded in innovation, social responsibility and education. We aim to advance global health care, particularly in the realm of cancer treatment,” shares Edwin McCarthy, vice president of City of Hope’s Center for International Medicine. “We aspire to bring hope and healing to cancer patients worldwide.”

We had a great time celebrating our partnership with Hyundai Hope On Wheels at a handprint ceremony and check presentation featuring the beautiful handprints of patients from City of Hope Children’s Cancer Center. Also participating was Leo Wang, M.D., Ph.D., pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Saro Armenian, D.O., M.P.H., Barron Hilton Chair in Pediatrics, and patient Keira Chang. Dr. Wang was awarded the 2024 Hope Scholar Grant ($400,000 over two years) for his project, CAR T cell acceleration of endogenous anti-tumor immune responses in pediatric brain tumors. City of Hope was also awarded a $100,000 Impact Grant to support the Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Survivorship Program, which supports AYA cancer patients from their cancer diagnosis through survivorship. Dr. Wang passionately shares, “Funding research is critical because we need to invent better therapies for kids and take better care of kids with cancer. Partners like Hyundai Hope on Wheels have the vision and commitment to invest early in transformative projects.” Thank you to Hyundai Hope on Wheels for your compassion and commitment to advance pediatric cancer research and pediatric support programs. #HyundaiHopeOnWheels #CityofHope

Congratulations to Angela Talton, City of Hope’s system senior vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer, on once again being named to the Becker's Healthcare “Hospital and Health System Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officers to Know” List. As a leader, Talton has implemented an integrated strategy to infuse DEI into the DNA of City of Hope, across our entire system and organizational framework, and she has significantly impacted awareness, education, community partnerships and accountability. Since joining City of Hope in 2021, she has collaborated with key clinical, research and administrative stakeholders to craft, lead and advocate for a holistic, integrated DEI roadmap that continues to garner national recognition, from Fair 360 (formerly DiversityInc), the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index, the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Diversity Woman business magazine’s “Media Elite 100 Class,” among other accolades and acknowledgments. “I am humbled to serve City of Hope in championing one of our founding principles of providing equitable treatment for all,” Talton said. “We recognize different races, ethnicities, ages and cultures have varying physical, genetic and environmental factors and vulnerabilities that impact disease outcomes. It is important we have researchers, scientists and clinicians who understand DEI at City of Hope is about scientific discoveries, health equity and finding a cure for all. This is a critical and necessary step in realizing our mission of bringing hope to all touched by cancer and diabetes.” Read more: https://bit.ly/3yOJltE

We’re excited to announce that City of Hope was recognized as the “Top Hospital” at the 2024 Los Angeles Business Journal Health Care Leadership Awards. “At City of Hope, our priority is the patient," said Vijay Trisal, M.D., system chief clinical officer and the Dr. Norman & Melinda Payson Professor in Medicine at City of Hope. "This award underscores our commitment to ensuring every patient who walks through our doors receives not only exceptional care but has access to the latest in research and treatment innovations. It is also testament to the outstanding work of my colleagues who deliver on this commitment every day."

Two years after Hannah donated stem cells to Camila, they met for the first time and created a memory that will be etched in their hearts forever. Because of Hannah's selfless act, Camila views her as the embodiment of hope and heroism — and she feels deeply blessed to have received a second chance at life. This experience would not have been possible without City of Hope’s stem cell transplant program and NMDP. Hannah and Camila, thank you for sharing your inspiring story, showing us all that even in challenging moments, hope can shine through and transform lives. Read Hannah and Camila's story: https://bit.ly/3Au4wBZ

Music industry executive Jonathan Azu's dad and uncle had prostate cancer, so his mom insisted he take a screening test. His numbers came back elevated, and his care began at City of Hope. Today, he is an energetic father and active member of City of Hope’s MFEI volunteer group. “My goal is to share my story of early detection and encouragement and to participate in as many City of Hope events as possible,” he says. We hope you'll join Jonathan in our 2024 Walk for Hope — the first year that City of Hope’s largest annual fundraiser to benefit cancer research will be a national event: https://bit.ly/3znlEZq

A heartfelt thank you to those who supported City of Hope on #NationalNonprofitDay by giving or registering for #WalkforHope. Your support speeds innovative research — and brings us closer to a world without cancer. Together, we’re creating a future where hope conquers fear and cures become reality. If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late. Be part of the journey and walk with us towards a cure. Sign-up or donate: WalkforHope.org