Highlighting the Roles of Moffitt Cancer Center Team Members
In honor of Labor Day, when our nation honors the contributions of its workers, we’re shining a spotlight on team members from across Moffitt Cancer Center.
Our patients make meaningful connections with various team members daily. Whether it’s a helpful tip about the MyMoffitt Portal, a compassionate voice on the other end of the line or the guidance of a nutritionist, these Moffitt team members go above and beyond in making sure patients receive world-class care.
Meet Moffitt's Team Members
NAME: Glynis Coy
Glynis Coy, Patient Communications Specialist
TITLE: Patient Communications Specialist
WHAT YOU DO: I take inbound calls from patients, hospitals, facilities, etc. I pass those messages on to the correct clinic. I escalate calls, answer patient questions and transfer to correct departments.
HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I began in August 2021.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: The best part of my job is being able to bring smiles to the faces of all my patients, especially those that are having a rough day. “Hearing” the smiles on their faces or hearty laughs makes my day much brighter!
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Remote
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: Although it’s a little stressful at times when the call volume is high, being able to help my patients gives me such gratification and a new perspective on life.
Abigayle Dhani, Enterprise Equity Education Specialist
NAME: Abigayle Dhani
TITLE: Enterprise Equity Education Specialist
WHAT YOU DO: I work in the Department of Enterprise Equity to develop educational content. I teach teams and their leaders. I also support organizational efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Bachelor of Science in psychology and Bachelor of Arts in criminology from the University of Florida; Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law.
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: Since February of 2021
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Helping people find topics they can become passionate about and equipping them to share that information with others.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Hybrid
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: Diversity, equity and inclusion affects everyone, and everyone can play a role in making Moffitt a great place to work.
Danny Biglow, Cardiovascular Tech
NAME: Danny Biglow
TITLE: Cardiovascular Tech
WHAT YOU DO: I perform electrocardiograms (EKGs) on patients.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: A.A. in Cardiovascular
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: Two years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Working with people.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
Stephanie Wright, Occupational Therapist
NAME: Stephanie Wright
TITLE: Occupational Therapist
WHAT YOU DO: Help patients in the hospital to regain and maintain their independence in self-care and meaningful activities.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in occupational therapy
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: 12 years!
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Helping patients and caregivers feel empowered and seeing how happy they are to be able to do something for themselves without having to ask for help. Also, being able to teach them techniques to make difficult things easier.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: I wish people knew the “occupation” in occupational therapy isn’t just about work. It’s anything meaningful to you! This includes self-care, spending time with family, housework, hobbies and more!
NAME: Debbie Cermak
Debbie Cermak, Cardiac Sonographer
TITLE: Cardiac Sonographer
WHAT YOU DO: I do ultrasounds of the heart or echocardiograms.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer; registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer; graduate of Hillsborough Community College.
HOURS: I work four 10-hour days that rotate.
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: Almost 29 years!
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Taking care of our patients and interacting with them.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: It is constantly evolving and changing. We’re able to see new areas of the heart with each technological advancement.
Justin Sanchez, Patient Access Representative
NAME: Justin Sanchez
TITLE: Patient Access Representative
WHAT YOU DO: I mainly schedule patients and assist the patient in any way possible. I am the first voice the patient hears when calling. I focus on giving them a good experience over the phone. Communicating with the clinical team to accommodate the patient in any way is also a big part of my job.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Moffitt PROMISE, an internal training program focused on the principles of patient- and family-centered care.
HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I began as a patient access representative in the Patient Contact & Communication Center in December 2021.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: I enjoy having the opportunity to help people. Making a difference, small or large, brings me a sense of accomplishment, as well as inspiration to keep doing what I do. I look forward to continuing to progress at Moffitt.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Remote
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR TEAM: I do wish that people knew that we work hard every day to accomplish our goals. We truly strive to make the patient’s experience at Moffitt go as smoothly as possible. I can speak for everyone when I say we enjoy what we do.
NAME: Diane Riccardi
Diane Riccardi, Clinical Dietician
TITLE: Clinical Dietitian
WHAT YOU DO: As a member of the health care team, I provide nutritional support and education to patients at all stages of their cancer journey. Whether a person is at high risk for cancer, is receiving treatment for cancer or has recently overcome the disease, enhanced nutrition can have lasting positive outcomes on their health.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Dietetic internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. After relocating to Tampa, I attended the University of South Florida and completed a Master of Public Health.
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I started in 1990 when Moffitt had just over 1,000 team members. After an eight-year hiatus, I returned in 2017 to witness Moffitt’s expansion to more than 7,500 team members across multiple counties.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Facilitating the SOAR (Survivors Overcoming & Achieving Resiliency) breast cancer workshop, which empowers survivors to make healthy lifestyle choices as they transition from active treatment to a long and healthy life.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Hybrid, completing both on-site and telemedicine consults.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR TEAM: Health is one of the most valuable assets a person can have, and proper nutrition is of utmost importance for disease prevention and treatment.
Patricia Maynard, Registered Respiratory Therapist
NAME: Patricia Maynard
TITLE: Registered Respiratory Therapist
WHAT YOU DO: Respiratory has many responsibilities. Intensive care patients, ventilators, oxygen, bronchodilator therapy, nebulized Pentamidine and Bronchoscopies just to name a few.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Associate degree in respiratory therapy from St. Petersburg College
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (workdays vary)
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I started at Moffitt in April 2004.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: I love talking to and educating patients and their families about what I am doing and why. I also love teaching newer therapists and I love working with the pulmonary critical care team.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR ROLE: We don’t just stay in one area. We take care of all different types of patients. In our field there are many areas of expertise but not all of them are done here at Moffitt.
NAME: Manny Rodriguez
TITLE: Manager in Unified Communications
Manny Rodriguez, Manager, Unified Communications
WHAT YOU DO: I work on the Enterprise Technology Services team managing three critical IT stacks.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Bachelor of Arts in organizational management with a minor in application systems; and a Master of Science in adult education with a concentration in instructional technology.
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I am a returning employee of Moffitt and I’ve been in my current role for 10 months. My first job at Moffitt was back in 2007 as supervisor for the Information Technology Services Desk for about 4 1/2 years.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Working with an amazing group of professional team members who are fully dedicated to being the best at what they do and always proud of their contribution to Moffitt’s mission.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Hybrid
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: In general, Information Technology is often seen as a break and fix response team. What most people do not know is the passion each team member brings to the table when they utilize their expertise to make the life of patients better, as well as positively impacting providers, health care workers and administrative team members by providing better ways to deliver care to our patients. As an example, we accomplish this through enhancement of virtual care technologies to ensure that patients have the best experience possible when it is necessary for providers to engage remotely with patients and their families.
NAME: Kristina Lombardi
TITLE: Senior Adult Clinical Pharmacist
WHAT YOU DO: I provide clinical services to our older patients with all cancer types. This includes evaluating their medication regimens for appropriateness, correct dosing and checking for interactions between drugs and supplements. I provide patients with best treatment options for optimal care and best outcomes.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Southern California; post-graduate residency at Los Angeles County + USC Medical in pharmacy practice; licensed in California, Nevada and Florida; board certified as a pharmacotherapy specialist; and licensed in Florida as a consultant pharmacist.
HOURS: 9 a.m. until whenever the work is complete, Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: 27 years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Meeting the coolest senior citizens ever! I have gained so much respect for our geriatric population. The knowledge and wisdom they hold as a population is astounding. I love these people like my family.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR TEAM: I don’t count pills, place labels on bottles or mix drugs behind a counter (also known as “lick, stick or pour”). I am privileged to interact with an incredible multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, patients and caregivers. My job is rewarding and different every day. Being a pharmacist at Moffitt has taught me valuable lessons as a professional and human being.
NAME: Jessica Halferty
Jessica Halferty, Artist in Residence
TITLE: Artist in Residence
WHAT YOU DO: I am an artist with the Arts In Medicine Program. We are a small team made up of visual artists and musicians that provide expressive healing arts to patients, family members, caregivers and team members.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Master’s degree in art therapy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Colleges and a bachelor’s degree in fine art from University of South Florida. Both assist in my ability to provide expressive healing arts to Moffitt patients.
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: 3 1/2 years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Being able to provide a safe, calm, and healing environment for patients, family members/caregivers, and staff to be creative and express themselves. Also, seeing the positive impact that our time creating art together has had on them.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: That we exist! I wish more patients, family, caregivers and staff knew that we have this studio where these artistic services are available. I wish everyone knew how creating art can positively benefit your wellbeing.
NAME: Erin Guidera
Erin Guidera, Speech-Language Pathologist
TITLE: Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
WHAT YOU DO: As an SLP, I assess, diagnose and treat patients with disorders of swallowing, communication and cognition. I provide both inpatient and outpatient care at the McKinley Campus. A majority of my caseload is comprised of patients with significant swallowing and/or communication challenges related to head and neck cancer and its treatment.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Of approximately 7,300 SLPs in Florida, I am one of only 25 with the distinction of Board-Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. SLPs are required to have a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and a Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-SLP). I have also received specialty certifications and training in alaryngeal voice restoration following laryngectomy, tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis (TEP) management, McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP), myofascial release, respiration muscle strength training (RMST), tracheostomy management, and vocal rehabilitation.
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: 12 rewarding years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: As a therapist, I strive to make a functional impact on my patients’ quality of life. The moments when my patient’s feeding tube or tracheostomy tube can be removed, or when they can resume a functional way to communicate, or simply eat dinner with their family again — those are the moments that inspire me!
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: Many people have the misconception that speech pathologists only work in the school setting and mainly provide articulation therapy to children. Many are not aware of the role of a medical SLP in an acute care setting including swallowing disorders, voice disorders, laryngectomy rehabilitation, tracheostomy care and cognitive-communication disorders.
NAME: Morgan Bean
TITLE: Patient and Family Specialist
Morgan Bean, Patient and Family Specialist
WHAT YOU DO: I work in the Patient and Family Center located at the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Outpatient Center at McKinley Campus, which is a shared space between the Patient Library and Arts In Medicine. As a team member with the Patient Library, I provide educational materials to patients, caregivers and team members. My team also offers free print, fax and copy services for patients. We host virtual Meet the Experts and Patient and Family Orientation. We also assist with patient portal registration.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of South Florida and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia.
HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: 2 1/2 years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Whether it’s providing patients and visitors with educational resources and information about services available at Moffitt or being able to offer them a quiet place to relax while they’re here, I love being able to help them.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR TEAM: I wish more people knew about the Patient and Family Center and where to find us! We’re located on the first floor of the McKinley outpatient center, right beside the Publix Pharmacy.
NAME: Meg Blount
Meg Blount, Sr. Metadata and Applications Librarian
TITLE: Senior Metadata and Applications Librarian
WHAT YOU DO: I handle daily technical operations of the Biomedical Library and its many systems, including internal and external databases, the library’s online public access catalog and much more. I also work with Moffitt’s homegrown database, MARCENE, to tag publications for Moffitt faculty and staff. I provide publications reports and work with the MARCENE development team to improve and expand functionality of the database.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Master’s degree in Library and Information Science
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: More than five years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Helping faculty, nurses and team members find the research materials they need.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Hybrid
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR TEAM: That librarians do way more than just read books!
NAME: Marilyn Thomas
Marilyn Thomas, Pulmonary Function Technologist
TITLE: Pulmonary Function Technologist
WHAT YOU DO: I perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which are diagnostic tests for your lungs.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Associate of science degree in cardiopulmonary science; registered Pulmonary Function Technologist; licensed Clinical Lab Technologist in Arterial Blood Gases.
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: 36 years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Interacting with our patients.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR ROLE: Patients have to work very hard to performs PFTs correctly. It often takes a lot of coaching, patience and compassion to get them through the procedures that are required to ensure accurate testing data.
NAME: Laura Bosselman
Laura Bosselman, Supervisor, Patient Contact & Communication Center
TITLE: Supervisor, Patient Contact & Communication Center
WHAT YOU DO: I supervise team members that fulfill the roles of patient access representative, patient communication specialist and portal support specialist.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Certified Specialist Business Intelligence and Certified Revenue Cycle Representative from the Healthcare Financial Management Association; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace certification from the University of South Florida; and completed the HealthEquity Train-the-Trainer Program.
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I began as a patient access representative at Moffitt Cancer Center at International Plaza in 2016.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: I really appreciate being in a position where I can focus on the development of my individual team members and help foster a culture of integrity and inclusivity!
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Hybrid
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR TEAM: From relaying messages between patients and their clinical team to connecting callers with the right team, we have a multitude of responsibilities that also include scheduling, providing portal support and finding answers for patients and callers.
NAME: Laura Lubinski
Laura Lubinski, Patient Portal Specialist
TITLE: Patient Portal Specialist
WHAT YOU DO: I assist patients when they have a question or issue with the MyMoffitt Portal. I work in the Patient Contact and Communication Center.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of South Florida
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I started at Moffitt in May of 2021.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: It’s extremely gratifying to be able to help someone with their patient portal needs. I truly feel like I’m doing something fulfilling if I can make any aspect of their Moffitt experience easier.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Remote
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: When I hear that a patient has been struggling with an issue for a long time, I wish they knew they could’ve called for help sooner. The patient portal team can help anyone, regardless of their level of personal technology experience. Our team is always happy to walk patients through the functionality of the portal. We can also troubleshoot when something doesn’t seem to be working as it should. We take a personal interest in our patients and want to be a part of their success story.
NAME: Margaret “Meg” Cass-Garcia
Meg Cass-Garcia, Nutritional Support Nurse
TITLE: Nutritional Support Nurse
WHAT YOU DO: I work in the Nutrition Therapy Department and manage parenteral nutrition (TPN) patients (inpatient and outpatient). I also problem solve feeding tube problems and place nasoenteric feeding tubes.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Certified Nutrition Support Clinician with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in nursing from Loyola University.
HOURS: Monday through Friday and several weekends throughout the month
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: I started in 1988 as a Nutrition Support Nurse.
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Mutual goal setting with the patient to achieve their best quality of life.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: On-site
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: I am so passionate about nursing. There have been so many advancements since I sent home my first patient on TPN in 1972!
NAME: Jessica Alvarez
Jessica Alvarez, Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietician
TITLE: Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietitian
WHAT YOU DO: I work with patients with poorly controlled, preexisting or newly diagnosed diabetes to help manage their glucose control to minimize hyperglycemia side effects.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATION: Registered and licensed dietitian; certified diabetes care and education specialist.
HOURS: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WITH MOFFITT: Nine years
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: It is very rewarding knowing that I help patients manage diabetes and nutrition before, during and after treatment.
REMOTE, HYBRID OR ON-SITE: Hybrid
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD: Hyperglycemia can cause increased cellular proliferation, fatigue, dehydration, weight loss, muscle breakdown and decreased immunity, among many other side effects. It is important for cancer patients going through treatment to control glucose for better treatment outcomes.
