Greetings
from the
Chair
Things have returned to normal this fall in Coral Gables. In the classroom, laboratories, and clinics we are almost completely in-person again, although Zoom meetings seem to be here to stay! I am pleased to report that the state of the Department is strong, and we continue to be the most popular major in the College. In addition, we are the largest Ph.D. granting department in the University, and our scholarship and extramural funding is among the best at UM. As always, we are extremely proud of these accomplishments, and I am grateful to the faculty, students and staff who have made this happen. On the pages that follow you will read about the recent accomplishments of many of our faculty and students. We are extremely proud of Professor Frank Penedo, who was just given the Dolphins Challenge Cancer Living Proof Penedo Endowed Chair in Cancer Survivorship. Of course, Frank was an undergraduate, graduate student and faculty member in our department before accepting a position at Northwestern. He returned to UM in 2018 and played a pivotal role in helping the UM Sylvester Cancer Center attain its designation as a National Cancer Institute Center of Excellence. Frank is a leader in cancer survivorship research and clinical intervention. He has established one of the nation’s most robust programs for monitoring patient-reported outcomes to manage patient symptoms, toxicities, and psychosocial needs. All of South Florida, and particularly our Department, is fortunate that Frank decided to return home.
Sylvester Researcher Awarded Endowed Chair in Cancer Survivorship In recognition of his accomplishments in the field of cancer survivorship and psychosocial oncology, Dr. Frank J. Penedo was recently inducted during a special ceremony as the inaugural holder of the Sylvester Dolphins Challenge Cancer Living Proof Endowed Chair in Cancer Survivorship. This unique chair, created through a remarkable partnership of the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation and Dolphins Challenge Cancer, combines the efforts of many into a greater unified impact. LEARN MORE
Over the past year we have also added several bright young faculty members to the Department. Tony Petruzzella is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the new Director of the Psychological Services Center (PSC). He comes to us from Brown University, where he did a postdoctoral fellowship after receiving his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Georgia. In his new position Tony will supervise the clinical training of over 50 graduate students in the Department. Also, joining us on the faculty are Research Assistant Professor Christina Cordero and Clinical Assistant Professor Marc Puccinelli. Christina will play a prominent role in managing the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (Neil Schneiderman, P.I.), and Marc will be working within the UM Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (Steve Safren, P.I.). We are pleased to have these individuals with us, and we are excited about the expertise and enthusiasm that they bring. I hope you enjoy hearing about the department in the pages that follow. Once again, let me thank you for your generous support of the department and its programs over the years, and I look forward to working with you in the future.
Phil McCabe
Phil McCabe, Ph.D. Professor and Chair
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MICHAEL ALESS ANDRI, PH.D., EDITOR and VIVIAN M. PEREZ, L AYOUT & DESIGN
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