Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood Series - Through Grateful Eyes: Stories from the Gratitude Wall

Jamie Losito: The Life Inside the Fight

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 mother navigating cancer treatment and pregnancy at the same time — while raising a one-year-old son, running a business, and trying to hold onto hope in the middle of overwhelming uncertainty. This is a story about fear, faith, family, and the team of people who reminded one patient that she wasn’t fighting alone.

Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood Series - Through Grateful Eyes: Stories from the Gratitude Wall

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 the spotlight inward—sharing the stories, the “why,” and the heart of the people who make Moffitt what it is. _________________________________________________________________________ Before we introduce you to the people in our neighborhood, we wanted to start somewhere special. At Moffitt, we have a Gratitude Wall—a place where patients and families share messages about the team members who made a difference in their journey. In this episode, you’re going to hear those words… read by the very people they were written about. These aren’t just thank-you notes. They’re moments of connection, compassion, and care—seen through the eyes of the people we serve. So as you listen, we invite you to hear not just what was done… but the heart behind it. Because this is who the people in our neighborhood truly are.

Beyond the Barriers Series - International Patient Services: A Home Away from Home

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 hear how this team becomes more than a service… they become connection, comfort, and family. And you’ll hear from Charlie, a patient, and our host,  whose journey began with a call from Honduras and led him here. This is a story about breaking down barriers to access, but even more than that, it’s a story about compassion, connection, and making sure "no one walks this journey alone.” What you'll learn in this podcast: * Patient access is more than getting in the door, it’s guiding patients through every step of their journey. * Language support isn’t just about translation, it’s about understanding culture, emotion, and fear. * When patients feel seen, heard and understood, fear begins to turn into trust. * For international patients, care goes beyond medicine, it includes navigation, advocacy, and human connection. * Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer is simply to listen. * Healing happens not just through treatment, but through connection. A Special Series from PEP Talks Beyond the Barriers - Patient Access at Moffitt  Beyond the Barriers is a Pep Talks series exploring what Patient Access really means at Moffitt Cancer Center. Access at Moffitt isn’t just about opening doors; it’s about removing barriers. Whether those barriers are language, disability, housing insecurity, financial hardship, religious needs, or something invisible beneath the surface, we believe every patient deserves the same level of care, dignity and hope. In this series, you’ll hear from the people working behind the scenes and at the bedside to ensure that no matter what challenges a patient carries with them, they receive care that is equitable, compassionate and deeply human. Because at Moffitt, one person can make a difference, and access means everyone belongs here.

Beyond the Barriers Series - More Than Words: The Heart of Language Access, with Prado Antolino

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 requirements. It’s about heart. It’s about dignity. It’s about the moment a patient hears their own language spoken in the room and sits up with hope. Because communication isn’t just clinical, sometimes, it’s therapeutic. And sometimes, it’s life-saving. A Special Series from PEP Talks Beyond the Barriers - Patient Access at Moffitt  Beyond the Barriers is a Pep Talks series exploring what Patient Access really means at Moffitt Cancer Center. Access at Moffitt isn’t just about opening doors; it’s about removing barriers. Whether those barriers are language, disability, housing insecurity, financial hardship, religious needs, or something invisible beneath the surface, we believe every patient deserves the same level of care, dignity and hope. In this series, you’ll hear from the people working behind the scenes and at the bedside to ensure that no matter what challenges a patient carries with them, they receive care that is equitable, compassionate and deeply human. Because at Moffitt, one person can make a difference, and access means everyone belongs here.

Michelle Maricic - More Than a Diagnosis

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, presence, kindness, and hope. These are as important now as they were then, and her story continues to reflect the promise we strive to live every day.