Smilow Cancer Hospital

06/15/2026

Earlier this month, we were honored to host a Lung Cancer Scientific Symposium celebrating the remarkable advances in lung cancer research over the last decade and Dr. Roy Herbst’s 15 years of leadership at Yale.

The afternoon symposium included presentations and panel discussions with experts from across disciplines. The celebration continued with a dinner and reception at the Lost in New Haven Museum, where colleagues, collaborators, and friends shared memorable stories, reflections, and well wishes in honor of Dr. Herbst’s extraordinary contributions to the field and his time at Yale.

06/14/2026

In January 2025, 74-year-old Carolyn received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. With this news also came an opportunity to join a clinical trial at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterbury as well as begin a flurry of medications. As a retiree, Carolyn and her husband live on a fixed income. But thanks to a member of her care team, she learned about a grant that would cover the cost of medications for underinsured patients with cancer offered by the The HealthWell Foundation. She applied and was approved.

“It has been such a godsend,” she says, “because my insurance only covers $200 a month of the cost.” Instead of stressing about money, she has been able to focus on her health and spending time with her family.

More of Carolyn’s story:

A HealthWell grant to cover the cost of Carolyn Shay’s multiple myeloma medications helped save her budget—and her peace of mind.

06/14/2026

Monica Valero, MD, breast surgeon and director of the Hispanic Breast Cancer Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital, joins Yale Cancer Answers tonight at 7:30pm to talk about breast cancer in Latina women.

Listen live on Connecticut Public, download on Apple Podcasts, or listen later on YouTube.

06/13/2026

"The visits are always so pleasant, we often forget that we're there for a brain tumor crisis we experienced. We're treated like "normal" people. It helps when you're treated like a person instead of JUST a sick person. I will remember Dr. Kurz forever for the way she's treated my mom and I. She makes us feel like the most important patients. I would bet her other patients would say the same. :)"

Sylvia Kurz, MD, PhD, specializes in neuro-oncology and provides care for patients with brain tumors as part of the Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center in New Haven. Learn more about Dr. Kurz through her physician profile: https://medicine.yale.edu/cancer/profile/sylvia-kurz/.

06/12/2026

A ‘super responder’ in the Yale clinical trial, 83-year-old Pamela Young has been in remission for three and a half years following the pill-based regimen for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The findings from that trial led to FDA-approval of the treatment for AML.

“I’ve been feeling great the whole time I’ve been treated,” she says. “It turned out to be a very positive thing.”

Read more: https://medicine.yale.edu/cancer/news-article/oral-therapy-enables-at-home-treatment-for-acute-myeloid-leukemia/

06/12/2026

Sanjay Aneja, MD, brought AI in cancer care to life at The Westport Library during a compelling talk on the hope, hype, and reality of this fast-moving field.

From radiology and pathology to drug discovery, the electronic health record (EHR), medical scribes, and even insurance and billing, he explored where AI is already making an impact—and where big questions still remain.

06/11/2026

"When we got to the front door, a gentleman came right over, got my husband into a wheelchair, and escorted us up to where our appointment was. He was so kind! The staff there was great. I couldn't say one negative thing about them, and that includes people who answer phones and the valet service, too!"

Our Quality and Patient Safety team reads every comment submitted by our patients. The full patient experience is critically important to us, and we love to hear how our staff earns your trust and exhibits consideration to those in our care from arrival to departure.

06/10/2026

Last month, Yale Cancer Center (YCC) and Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) hosted the 9th Annual YCC Trainee Research Colloquium. The event brought together trainees, faculty, staff, and institutional partners to celebrate cancer research at Yale.

Ranjit Bindra, MD, PhD, provided the keynote address, and more than 60 trainee-led research projects spanning basic, translational, clinical, and population sciences were featured and shared through oral and poster presentations. The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing exceptional trainee research and contributions to the YCC community.

On May 15, 2026, Yale Cancer Center (YCC) and the Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) Office hosted the Ninth Annual YCC Trainee

06/09/2026

Congratulations to Nikolai Podoltsev, MD, PhD, who was presented with The Fred S. Kantor Teacher of the Year Award by the residents of the Yale School of Medicine internal medicine traditional residency program.

Dr. Podoltsev received the honor during the annual celebration honoring graduating interns and residents, which also features the presentation of teaching awards to residents, trainees, and faculty members. The Fred S. Kantor Teacher of the Year Award is named in honor of the late Dr. Fred S. Kantor, celebrated immunologist and teacher who trained generations of physicians during his 56-year tenure at Yale School of Medicine.

06/08/2026

Our Survivorship Wednesdays webinar series continues with this week’s topic: "Integrative Medicine and Your Cancer Care Where It Fits, What It Offers.”

Join us for an introduction to integrative medicine, a discussion on supplements, followed by a self-massage and acupressure exercise lesson, and a meditation exercise to conclude the program.

Register: https://bit.ly/4wy1uoO