On Cancer: The Bone Marrow Foundation and Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts Honor Memorial Sloan-Kettering Transplant Physician Sergio Giralt

Sergio Giralt, Chief of the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, has been honored at The Bone Marrow Foundation’s bi-annual Be A Lifeline Gala.

Dr. Giralt was singled out for his outstanding achievements in the field of bone marrow transplantation with The Bone Marrow Foundation’s inaugural Dr. E. Donnall Thomas Award. ABC-TV’s Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, who is one of Dr. Giralt’s patients, presented Dr. Giralt with his special honor.

In a videotaped interview, Ms. Roberts said, “He has an exuberance, he’s funny…and he’s the best at what he does… . He researches, he studies, I really appreciated our discussions about clinical trials and how he was very clear about wanting me to participate if I was comfortable… . I hope that through The Foundation and through the work that I do that we can shine a light and let people have a better understanding of what it’s like to walk this path.”

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Giralt was quick to credit his Memorial Sloan-Kettering colleagues and their team approach to patient care. “These men and women go to work each day and help the patients through the battle in the trenches. They help us take care of them; they actually teach us,” he said.

Ms. Roberts received a stem cell transplant at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in September 2012 for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Good Morning America co-anchors Josh Elliott and Sam Champion were the hosts and masters of ceremony for the Be A Lifeline Gala. 

Since 1992, The Bone Marrow Foundation has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients receiving bone marrow, stem cell, or cord blood transplants by providing vital financial assistance, educational information, and emotional support programs.