Dr. Rossi empowers cancer patients to take control of their health through lifestyle medicine.
A career aptitude test suggested medicine would be a good fit for Paola Rossi, M.D. But it also warned she was too empathetic for the job. She immediately knew she had found her calling.
Dr. Rossi is the clinical program director for lifestyle medicine at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and South Florida’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. She is confident she made the right choice.
Born and raised in Argentina, Dr. Rossi attended medical school at the University of Buenos Aires and began practicing in family medicine and palliative care. The intersection between medicine, lifestyle and nutrition was a frequent topic of conversation with her patients. She decided to further develop her expertise in this area.
“In the U.S., 40% of all cancers are related to modifiable factors like diet and nutrition,” said Dr. Rossi. “While we can’t prevent cancer entirely, adopting healthy habits can lower the risk.”
In 2021, she moved to South Florida to attend the University of Miami, where she earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology. During her studies, she began working with Tracy Crane, Ph.D., RDN, Sylvester’s director of lifestyle medicine, digital health and prevention, supporting cancer survivors at all points of the cancer care continuum through research, community outreach and clinical support.
Dr. Rossi’s research has focused on the benefits of diet and exercise during cancer treatments and their impact on patient tolerance to treatment and overall outcomes. She has also spearheaded the development of programs to meet the needs of cancer patients at Sylvester and the broader community, providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to take charge of their health.
“I am so grateful to have a job that allows me to combine my passions for both research and clinical work,” said Dr. Rossi.
We spoke with Dr. Rossi to learn more about her lifestyle medicine work. Her answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Why is lifestyle medicine important?
The leading causes of mortality in the U.S. are vascular disease and cancer, and the top risk factors are related to lifestyle medicine. Intuitively, we all know that diet and exercise are important, but mixed messages make it difficult to navigate a healthy path. As clinicians and researchers, we have a responsibility to provide programming and clear and accurate messaging.
How is Sylvester leading the way in lifestyle medicine?
Using a comprehensive approach, we bring together clinicians and scientists across various disciplines to provide specialized cancer survivorship care. As we research useful interventions for cancer patients and survivors, we also implement them through unique cancer support services and survivorship programs to enhance our patients’ physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
In addition, we are training future generations of health care providers to ensure they understand the impact of lifestyle medicine and how to communicate the information accurately.
It is an honor to work with so many cancer survivors in the community to help them improve their health and overall quality of life.
—Dr. Paola Rossi
Tell me about the Believe in You program.
Patients often feel they lose control after a cancer diagnosis. I helped develop and play an active role in Believe in You, a free, 20-week hybrid training program for cancer survivors that features virtual and in-person exercise sessions. It ends with team participation in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, raising funds for innovative cancer research at Sylvester. The program provides cancer survivors with the support and tools they need to gain control and focus on their health, regardless of where they are in their cancer journey.
Describe Sylvester’s High-Risk Lifestyle Medicine Clinic.
We recently helped launch this clinic, which offers personalized support to high-risk patients, including counseling in genetics and lifestyle medicine. The new program aims to help cancer survivors, and their support persons, reduce their cancer risk by adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors.
The program combines traditional risk assessment based on family history and genetics with self-reported exercise, diet, activity and sleep data collected through digital tools such as Fitbits and Apple watches. This data is then analyzed using Sylvester’s My Wellness Check and My Wellness Research data platforms. The program also considers tobacco and alcohol use when creating personalized assessments and treatment plans. This work involves multiple disciplines working together toward a common goal.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It is an honor to work with so many cancer survivors in the community to help them improve their health and overall quality of life. It is also a privilege to work with such an incredible team at Sylvester.
What are your future goals?
I hope to expand my role at Sylvester, integrating more research, programming and clinics. I miss seeing patients directly, but I hope to do more clinical work soon.
How do you spend your free time?
I love spending time with my husband, Jerónimo, and our black lab, Kilua. I also enjoy acting, singing and dancing in community theater, teaching Zumba and baking sourdough bread, which is a favorite in the Crane Lab.
Tags: cancer research, Dr. Paola Rossi, Dr. Tracy Crane, lifestyle medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
