Debra Friedman, MD, MS, has been a champion for countless children and families battling childhood cancers at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
An internationally recognized leader and physician-scientist in pediatric cancer, she has dedicated her career to identifying personalized therapies for cancer, worked to eliminate the harmful effects of chemotherapy and other treatments, and supported children and young adults in their cancer survivorship journeys.
Friedman, director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has received numerous awards, recognitions and appointments as a clinician, a researcher and a pediatric hematology/oncology leader. But perhaps, nothing is more special than a recognition from a patient and family.
Friedman, holder of the E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Pediatric Oncology, was one of six employees chosen this year to receive a Patient and Family Choice Award, sponsored and selected by each of Vanderbilt’s five patient and family advisory councils. Nominations are submitted by patients and families.
“I am honored and humbled by this award. It is particularly meaningful to me that this award came from a family,” said Friedman, who is also deputy director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
The 2024 Patient and Family Choice Award honors employees from across Vanderbilt University Medical Center who act with compassion and excellence to provide an exceptional experience for patients and their families. This year the patient and family advisory councils bestowed awards to six individuals from Vanderbilt University Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics, Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital and Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital.
One mom wrote in a nomination letter about Friedman’s incredible compassion for and dedication toward her child as well as the unwavering support offered to the family throughout the care journey.
“She made a point to get to know him beyond his illness, laughing with him about school breakfasts and favorite food,” the mom wrote. “In addition to being a phenomenal physician, she is an extraordinary example of care in all its form.”
While Friedman was aware several employees were nominated within the pediatric oncology team, she never imagined she was chosen for the award.
When Monroe Carell leaders surprised Freidman with the award during a meeting, she assumed there was a booking mix-up for the room. Then she believed they were there to present one of her team members with the Patient and Family Choice Award.
“Yes, we had a lot of great nominees,” Friedman told them, acknowledging the stellar team within the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Expecting the award to be presented to someone on her team, Friedman was caught off guard when Janet Cross, director of Patient- and Family-Centered Care at Monroe Carell, handed the award to her.
“I am really touched. This is very special,” Friedman said, pausing and adding, “I’m speechless.”
Friedman’s team was in on the surprise too, tricking her to get her to the meeting. Friedman was going to join the meeting virtually when one her colleagues said that the video conferencing equipment wasn’t working.
Friedman has been at Vanderbilt since 2008, assuming the position as director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology in 2010.
As a leader in clinical pediatric oncology, she has developed and led clinical trials in the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) in Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and survivorship. Her research has also greatly contributed to an understanding of psychosocial, functional and physiologic long-term outcomes for childhood and adult cancer survivors, with contributions to surveillance guidelines and interventions to ameliorate adverse outcomes.
