UAB O’Neal Cancer Center Hosts the 2025 Iron Strong Awards

Gathered alongside their families and loved ones, nine UAB O’Neal Cancer Center clinical trials patients were honored at the third annual Iron Strong Award ceremony on July 25, 2025. Each year, the Iron Strong Awards recognize the efforts of select cancer patients who, through participating in a clinical trial, both saw a better outcome of their own disease and pushed cancer care forward for all cancer patients. Each of these individuals came from a different walk of life, across a wide array of ages, backgrounds and even states.

The Awards began with brief introduction and greeting from Reaves Crabtree, a member of the O’Neal Cancer Center Advisory Board, himself a cancer survivor. Then, Cancer Center Director Barry Sleckman, M.D., Ph.D. spoke.

“You know, this is really my favorite day of the year. It really reflects the culmination of everything we do in the O’Neal Cancer Center,” Sleckman said. “Today, we celebrate patients who have had great responses, but I think, in the future, we go forward and say that clinical trials provide treatment opportunities and hope – and that is what’s important.”

Additionally, Sleckman spoke optimistically about the future, gesturing broadly at the scope of the work done at the O’Neal Cancer Center and the important work that still lays ahead.

“Clinical trials are a top priority for us,” Sleckman said. “Last year, we offered 427 patients clinical trial opportunities; this year, we’re on target for 500, and my goal for next year is 600.”

Following Sleckman’s opening, a doctor or primary medical provider representing each patient stepped forward to share that patient’s moving story; afterwards, each patient was awarded a medal, crafted by O’Neal Steel in the shape of the chemical symbol for Iron – a symbol of each patient’s iron-like strength and a testament to their monumental efforts.

The honorees of the 2025 Iron Strong Awards included:

• Wanda Harrod
  • Maya Khalil, M.D.
  • Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Linda Winters
  • Charles Leath, III, M.D.
  • Stage 4 Gynecologic Cancer
• Kimberly Pacheco
  • Pankit Vachhani, M.D.
  • Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis
• Raymond Gotlieb
  • Pankit Vachhani, M.D.
  • MDS/MPN-RS-T
• Kingston Jessip
  • Emily Johnston, M.D.
  • Neuroblastoma
• Jessie Webb
  • Omer Jamy, M.D.
  • Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
• Donnie Jones
  • Amitkumar Mehta, M.D.
  • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Michael Clay
  • Julie Wolfson, M.D.
  • Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• Latrivia Carter
  • Katia Khoury, M.D.
  • Stage 2 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

The ceremony ended with closing statements from another cancer survivor and a former Advisory Board member, Susan Williams, who also participated in a clinical trial at UAB.

“Because I was treated at an National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, I was afforded cutting edge treatment and have enjoyed six years of remission,” Williams reflected, describing her own cancer journey. “After my diagnosis, there were friends who asked why I didn’t seek treatment at M.D. Anderson, Sloan Kettering or Mayo? My answer was always, ‘Why would I travel elsewhere when we have our very own NCI-designated cancer center right here in Birmingham at UAB?’”

—Mackenzie Sexton