Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Our momentum of discovery has transformed cancer treatment around the world. With the latest unanimous approval from @bostonplans , we’re taking cancer treatment to a new level by creating New England’s only freestanding inpatient hospital dedicated 100% to cancer. We’re raising more than just a hospital – we're raising the standard of cancer care for everyone. We’re deeply grateful to our donors and community whose support fuels this transformative journey.

At @fenwaypark 's Nurses Night, we were honored to celebrate the extraordinary nurses who bring compassion, comfort, and strength to patients and families every day. ⚾ One of the evening’s most special moments came when Dan Wallace, pediatric nurse case manager, stepped onto the mound to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Thanks to support from the McNamara-Evans Fund, 50 Dana-Farber nurses attended the game alongside a donor family honoring the care team who supported their late daughter — a deeply meaningful full-circle moment that reflected the lasting bonds formed through care. From the stands to the field, the night was a powerful reminder that nursing is more than a profession — it’s connection, compassion, and community. 💙

Yesterday, Governor Maura Healey visited Dana-Farber to announce finalized Division of Insurance regulations that eliminate prior authorization requirements for routine and essential healthcare — establishing important new protections and benefits for patients with chronic conditions, including cancer. @massgovernor also stopped by the Jimmy Fund Clinic to greet pediatric patients and spoke with faculty and patient advocates to learn more about the research and patient care taking place across the Institute. “The reforms announced today will allow patients and families to focus on treatment and healing while also giving doctors and nurses more time to care for their patients. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Healey Administration and our healthcare partners to enhance the progress made today, ensuring that prior authorization works better for everyone,” said Benjamin L. Ebert, MD, PhD, president and CEO. We thank Governor Healey for her continued partnership and commitment to improving access to care for patients and families across Massachusetts.

I’m cutting red tape so people can get the health care they need — faster. We’re getting rid of prior authorization for many routine and essential treatments, like emergency care, primary care, reproductive care, and certain treatments for chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma and cancer. You shouldn’t have to wait for the care the doctor orders.

During National Nurses Week, we celebrate the extraordinary nurses whose compassion, expertise, and dedication help define our patient care. 💙 What does nursing mean at Dana-Farber? It means building meaningful connections, being there through life’s hardest moments, and bringing comfort, humanity, and purpose to every patient interaction. We’re grateful to @astoundboston , @nothingbundtcakes , and @firstwatch for helping us recognize our nursing community with special treats for staff across our Longwood and regional campuses. To all of our nurses: thank you for the exceptional care and unwavering support you provide to patients and families every day.

We are proud to celebrate our nurses whose compassion, skill, and dedication continue to elevate the patient experience. A nurse, and the nursing team at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at South Shore Health were recently honored with awards for their extraordinary commitment to patient-centered care. DAISY Award recipient Leah Benson, BSN, RN, staff nurse, was honored for her extraordinary compassion during some of life’s most difficult moments. “When treatment was no longer curative and [my husband] chose comfort over longevity, she took the time to explain every option so we could truly understand,” read one nomination. “She told him that his decision was very courageous. He needed to hear that.” The nursing team was recognized with the DAISY Team Award for creating a consistently warm, supportive, and deeply personal care environment. “Whether it was telling me I was beautiful when I was bald, sharing a joke when I was down, or simply being there — you lifted me through the hardest days of my life,” one patient shared. Another nomination noted: “They remember personal details, celebrate milestones, and help patients navigate resources, manage symptoms at home, and maintain dignity throughout their journey.” The DAISY Award program was established by @thedaisyfoundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes to honor the extraordinary care nurses provide to patients and families every day. We are grateful to our honorees for exemplifying the heart of nursing and the mission of Dana-Farber.

This and deep gratitude for all of the nurses who show up with skill, compassion, and heart — every single day. 💙 Ten of our nurses were honored in the Boston Globe’s Salute to Nurses special section in celebration of National Nurses Week — a recognition that highlights standout nurses across New England, nominated by the patients, families, and colleagues they care for. This year’s honorees reflect what exceptional nursing looks like in action: compassion, clinical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to extraordinary care. Read all of the nomination letters in our link in bio.

This National Nurses Week, we celebrate the extraordinary connections our nurses build every day. When Sandy Cohen, RN, joined Dana-Farber, she wondered whether she would miss the close relationships she valued as a bedside nurse. That changed when she met Sister Nancy Sheridan. As Sheridan continues treatment for stage 4 ovarian cancer, her relationship with Cohen — and fellow nurse Cheri Manzi, RN — has grown into one defined by trust, compassion and shared experience. “Sandy Cohen is an angel of joy,” Sheridan said. “Her welcoming, joyful embrace works miracles each day.” From supporting difficult treatment decisions to sharing meals and life milestones, their connection extends beyond the clinic. It reflects the role nurses play not only in care delivery, but in helping patients feel seen, supported and understood. “There are hard days when I wonder if I’ve made a difference,” Cohen said. “It means so much to know that I have.”

Our care goes beyond medicine — it’s about connection. When pediatric infusion nurse Jolie Bellemore, BSN, RN, met Honoka, a 13-year-old patient who is deaf, she was excited to use her knowledge in American Sign Language. But Honoka, who had recently moved from Japan, used Japanese Sign Language. While Bellemore was able to communicate with the Kobori family through a qualified medical interpreter — a service provided to all patients who require it — she was determined to build a closer, more personal connection. Instead of letting that barrier stand in the way, they built something new, together. Starting with small gestures — like learning Honoka’s sign for “dog” when she met Opry, the clinic’s facility dog — they created their own shared language, blending Japanese and American signs. Even complex concepts like “platelets” became moments of collaboration, combining signs for “yellow” and “blood.” Honoka is receiving ongoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including blood and platelet transfusions following CAR T-cell therapy. Through it all, her connection with Bellemore has grown into one defined by trust, laughter and shared understanding — from choosing flowered bandages to watching gymnastics videos together. Building lasting connections with patients and families is what drew Bellemore to oncology nursing. After working in the clinic as a student and training in Dana-Farber’s Oncology Nurse Residency Program, she credits her mentors and colleagues for helping her provide deeply personal, compassionate care. “It’s so fulfilling to have this connection,” Bellemore said. “When I know she’s on my schedule, I’m so happy to be at work.” Sometimes, the most meaningful care isn’t just what we say — it’s how we show up. 💙

When Ann Daly came to Boston for her first appointment, she noticed that every staff member seemed to share a unique quality. “It’s like everyone has gone through the same training,” she says. “Every staff member, nurse, doctor, and volunteer showed the same compassion.” Ann’s experience is a testament to the emphasis that everyone at the Institute puts on providing patients with the best experience possible. “Patient Experience Week gives us an opportunity to honor those who impact our patients every day,” says Kelly Eng, director for Patient Experience Insights and Improvement. “It’s also fitting that we elevate the voice of our patients and families during this week because they inform how we approach every aspect of care.” The perspectives of patients and families inform everything from clinic signs to floor maps, communication about clinical trials, and the design of the future cancer hospital. Pediatric and Adult Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFAC) provide crucial input on a wide variety of projects. Patient Experience Week also gives staff a chance to refocus and look forward to avenues for improvement. Multidisciplinary efforts led by the Patient Experience division of Quality and Patient Safety analyze feedback to guide compassionate, equitable, and sustainable improvements across all areas of patient care. The Patient-Family Relations Office, another part of Quality and Patient Safety, works to uphold patient rights and engages with patients to address issues that patients may feel were overlooked. “Whether feedback is individual-specific, system-based, or a suggestion for general improvement, we are here to listen and respond,” says Kathleen Horvath, director of Patient-Family Relations. These efforts are what forge long-lasting relationships throughout the Institute. Ann’s final appointment is coming up, but she plans to stay connected to the Institute for much longer as she’s started volunteering as an ambassador. “Everyone is so kind, compassionate, and professional. If you need anything or have questions, there is always someone available to help and ensure you’re completely taken care of,” Ann says of her experience.

Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl® presented by @SharkNinja is coming back to Boston June 2-4! 🍦☀️ Join us in Boston’s Seaport for New England’s biggest ice cream festival, featuring 40+ flavors, live entertainment, and fun for all ages. Every scoop benefits @DanaFarber and helps bring us together against cancer. Use code INSTAGRAM for $3 off each individual ticket at the link in bio! #ScooperBowl #Boston #BostonEvents

The first time Ashley Bernath dropped her daughter, Charlie, off at preschool, there was no hug, no tears, no long goodbye — just a quick “see you later” and a full-steam-ahead dash for the classroom. Charlie had spent the previous 15 months in active cancer treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and even though she still had a ways to go on her treatment protocol, she was stable enough to start this important childhood milestone. “The Jimmy Fund Clinic became a school for Charlie,” say Ashley. “Even though she wasn’t in school that first year, she was seeing the same kids regularly and doing all these wonderful things. At the same time, it was a safety net for us. I'm truly grateful for the consistency it's provided in a time when everything else has been chaotic.” Charlie’s diagnoses started with a broken left femur. But there was no incident her parents knew of that could have caused the broken leg, which prompted more tests. A complete blood count showed that an overabundance of immature white blood cells had formed in Charlie’s bone marrow and blood, weakening her bones. ALL was the culprit. Within a few days after Charlie’s diagnosis, the family was at @bostonchildrens , where Charlie would spend her early days of treatment as an inpatient. They met Barbara A. Degar, MD, medical director of inpatient oncology at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, who would become Charlie’s primary oncologist. In desperate need of reassurance, Ashley and her husband, Ryan, found it immediately. “Dr. Degar is a superhero,” Ashley says. “From the moment we met her, she was like, ‘This is what it is, and this is how we’re going to take care of it.’ It never felt like just Charlie was the patient,” she adds. “The nurses, the social workers, the staff in the playroom -- it feels like everybody is there to support all of us.” Charlie is scheduled to finish her active treatment in June. “Charlie’s treatment has been long and at times very challenging, but her outlook is bright,” says Degar. “We expect that she will be able to do anything she sets her mind to, in the short term and in the future.”