The day Greenleigh Gafford was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in July 2023 remains a blur for her mom, Stephanie Gafford.
One memory that stands out is when pediatric oncologist Molly Talman, MD, MS, handed Greenleigh a sticker that read, “Dr. Talman’s COOL patient.”
Greenleigh was diagnosed with a high-risk Philadelphia-like subtype of B-cell ALL that required an intensive treatment approach. She entered an extensive regimen at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt that included testing, port placement, transfusions and chemotherapy, as the Gafford family formed what would become a lasting bond with Talman.
“There were many days when Greenleigh had her entire care team scratching their heads during hospitalizations because there’s nothing conventional about her,” Stephanie said. “But nothing stopped them from working tirelessly until they figured out how to treat her and how to get her better.”
Today, Greenleigh, 7, has completed treatment and is thriving.
That commitment to helping children like Greenleigh thrive after treatment is central to Talman’s research focus. Talman was recognized for her work with patients as one of two Monroe Carell physicians to recently receive Hyundai Hope on Wheels research awards totaling $400,000.
Talman received a $100,000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Award to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tool that will help create personalized survivorship care plans for childhood cancer survivors. Michael Robinson, MD, MSCI, Instructor in Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, received a $300,000 Hyundai Young Investigator Grant to study and address the financial hardships many families face during a child’s cancer treatment.
“For a child facing cancer today, the funding represents hope — hope for more effective treatment, hope for fewer side effects, and really for a cure,” said Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, System Pediatrician-in-Chief for Monroe Carell, and holder of the James C. Overall Chair. “Hyundai Hope on Wheels’ generosity allows our investigators to ask questions, pursue bold ideas and develop studies that can transform the lives of children. We are grateful to Hyundai for its partnership, generosity and belief in our pediatric cancer researchers.”
Since 2007, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, which includes funding from Hyundai Motor America and local dealerships, has awarded more than $2.5 million in funding to pediatric cancer researchers at Monroe Carell.
“For nearly three decades, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has stood shoulder to shoulder with young warriors and the scientific champions fighting childhood cancer,” said Fred Whitt, regional general manager, Hyundai Southern Region, Hyundai Motor America. “Because of their courage and relentless pursuit of answers, more children are beating this disease and getting back to being kids. One day, one of these dollars is going to make all the difference, and we are going to collectively say we have won this fight.”
Each year, representatives from the automaker and local dealerships celebrate grant recipients and pediatric patients with a handprint ceremony outside Monroe Carell, representing their personal stories of courage and hope.
“We want to provide these children with the very best care,” said Debra Friedman, MD, MPH, Director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Deputy Director for Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and holder of the E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Pediatric Oncology. “But most importantly, we want to advance discovery so we can treat cancer more effectively. And that’s really what this funding does. It supports research from basic science discovery all the way through supportive care for our patients and survivors. We are grateful to Hyundai for its support.”
Talman’s $100,000 Impact Award will support the development of an AI-assisted tool that helps create personalized survivorship care plans for childhood cancer survivors. By gathering treatment information from the electronic health record, the tool will help clinicians provide individualized, guideline-based recommendations for lifelong follow-up care. More than 85% of children diagnosed with cancer now survive, but many face long-term health risks related to their treatment
“When a child finishes cancer treatment, that is an incredible milestone, but their health care needs do not simply end,” Talman said. “Ultimately, I want every survivor and family to understand what care they need as they move beyond their oncology team and continue into adulthood and beyond.”
Robinson’s $300,000 Hyundai Young Investigator Grant will support NAVIGATE-FT, a study examining the financial hardships families often face during a child’s cancer treatment.
His research will assess financial toxicity among pediatric oncology patients and pilot a navigation program designed to connect families with financial resources and support services.
“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families often brace for the medical fight ahead, but they don’t often expect the financial one as well,” Robinson said.
“We hope to pair families with financial navigators and patient navigators from the start of diagnosis throughout treatment to help them cope with the costs and expenses associated with their child’s cancer treatment.”
