OUR WORK

Warrior

Maddie Neumann

“Warrior” honors the legacy of Maddie Neumann, a young woman whose experience with cancer inspires us to love deeply, celebrate friendship, and never stop reading.

Maddie wanted to create this film to share her advice and help others diagnosed with cancer. Her story reminds us that even when meaning is difficult to find in pain, we can still make a meaningful life.

Thank you to Maddie and her family for sharing their story.

Healing in Selflessness

Gabriel Dantzler

Gabriel Dantzler’s experience with cancer is at the center of “Healing in Selflessness,” a short film from Heroes of Medicine.

Finding a Reason to Fight

Kayla Smith

“Finding a Reason to Fight” features Kayla Smith’s story and experience with cancer.

Climbing

Rebecca Head

Rebecca’s experience with cancer is at the center of “Climbing,” a short film from Heroes of Medicine.

It Will Be Grand

Sarah Stedman

Sarah Stedman brings dry humor to a frightening diagnosis, then speaks plainly about the toll of chemotherapy. Her account makes room for laughter, frustration, and the difficult parts of treatment she wants others to understand.

Lilly’s Strength and Gratitude

Lilly Toxavidis

In loving memory of Lilly Toxavidis.

Lilly was the very first patient we filmed and an inspiration for the work that became Heroes of Medicine.

“Lilly’s Strength and Gratitude” honors her memory and the lasting significance of her story. We are grateful to have known Lilly and her family.

With Love and Laughter

Megan Kardatzke

Megan Kardatzke was a gamer, a model, and an aspiring anesthesiologist whose confidence came with warmth and unforgettable hugs. Through laughter, teasing, and moments with friends, this tribute remembers the personality and affection that made Megan herself.

A Graduation Surrounded by Love

Aaryn “Tootie” King

Aaryn “Tootie” King celebrates her high school graduation at the hospital, surrounded by family, teachers, and her care team. From her diploma to a tribute to her time in Junior ROTC, the day honors her achievement and the community cheering her on. Tootie, we love you and miss you!

The Cost of Medicine in the US

William Slayton, MD

Drawing on his work treating children with leukemia, William Slayton, MD, questions the burden of exceptionally expensive medicines. He calls for people to understand the problem, speak up, and take part in changing the system.

The Current State of Cancer Drug Development

Daniel Tenen, MD

Using FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia as an example, Daniel Tenen, MD, questions why promising treatments take so long to reach patients. He challenges how risk is weighed when the disease itself is life-threatening.

The Issue with Mice in Cancer Research

Mahmoud Bassal, PhD

Mahmoud Bassal, PhD, questions what cancer studies in heavily altered mice can tell us about people. He explains why he believes promising laboratory results so often fail to become useful treatments.

Finding Purpose in Hematology

Annalisa Di Ruscio, MD, PhD

The patients Annalisa Di Ruscio, MD, PhD, knew during her medical training still shape her work in the laboratory. She reflects on how their lives and losses give her a reason to persist when experiments fail.

Keeping Patients in Mind

Christina Pacak, PhD

For Christina Pacak, PhD, thinking about patients begins long before a treatment reaches the clinic. She offers young scientists a guiding principle: consider the patient at every step, from designing safer gene therapies to asking whether a basic discovery could open the door to a new treatment.