Tampa General Hospital Cancer Center of South Florida

Darcy is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She graduated with her MSN in 1996 from the University of Connecticut where she lived with her husband and three children. She began her career as a RN in 1979 after graduating from a hospital based RN program in Boston and went on to obtain a BSN in 1987. During this time she has worked in Pediatric Intensive care, Emergency Medicine and for the last 10 years, Oncology, which has become her passion. She most recently helped to develop and manage an Urgent Care Clinic associated with Yale New Haven Hospital designed to care for sick oncology patients.

Most recently she has relocated to Florida and joined the Cancer Center of South Florida team. During her time off she enjoys traveling to see her now grown children and grandkids, gardening, teaching yoga and barre and cooking.

Abraham Schwarzberg, MD, formerly a clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and staff physician at Massachusetts General Hospital's department of medical oncology, has an ongoing commitment to academic medicine and clinical research. Dr. Schwarzberg received his medical oncology and hematology training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and his internal medicine training at Brigham & Women's Hospital, both in Boston.
Dr. Schwarzberg serves as the Executive Vice President of Network Development & Chief of TGH Cancer Institute and Vice President of Clinical and Translational Research. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Erin Bialousz is a NCCPA board-certified Physician Assistant. She graduated summa cum laude at Florida State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology. She then attended the University of South Florida and graduated in May 2022 with her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies. She always had a strong passion for oncology which heightened during her experience working in pediatric hematology/oncology during physician assistant school. Erin is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Florida Academy of Physician Assistants, and Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology. She most recently relocated from Tampa to the Palm Beach area. Erin enjoys spending time at the gym, with family, friends and her mini goldendoodle, Theo. Erin is very excited to be a part of the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute.

Valerie Fiordilino-Maslow is a nationally certified Physician Assistant with a passion for the hematology/oncology field. She received double bachelor's degrees, an MBA and a Master's of Medical Science in Physician Assistant studies from Nova Southeastern University. Valerie is well known and respected in the community as an advocate for numerous charitable organizations, in particular, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Valerie's passion for oncology stems from her father's four year battle with Leukemia. Since then, Valerie has dedicated her time and life to cancer research, with a concentration in hematologic malignancies. She has worked in the fields of Dermatology and Family Medicine, and has been under the direction and clinical expertise of South Florida's finest physicians during her studies.

Valerie is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Florida Association of Physician Assistants, and the Society for Physician Assistants in Pediatrics, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Kid Sanctuary Campus Charities. Valerie has also received university recognition for medical research in stem cell and monoclonal antibody therapy and national accolades for her philanthropic work with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Talya Schwarzberg, MD, is a former clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and staff physician at Massachusetts General Hospital's department of medical oncology. She received her medical oncology and hematology training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and her internal medicine training at Brigham & Women's Hospital, both in Boston.

Dr. Schwarzberg is currently seeing patients with different types of cancers, with a focus on breast and gynecologic cancers. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

With more than 20 years of Oncology Experience, Ms. Casella-Rymer is a board certified nurse practitioner that is currently involved in the evaluation, management and treatment of patients with both hematologic and solid tumor malignancies at the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute. She obtained her MSN from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL.

In 2011 Ms. Casella- Rymer graduated from the City of Hope Cancer Genetics Intensivist Program City of Hope, California. She currently sees patient regarding the screening and testing of Hereditary Cancers Syndromes. Ms. Casella-Rymer has lectured on all aspects of identification, management and treatment of hematologic and solid tumor malignancies to patient and professional audiences.

She has served on the Board of Directors for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, and is a past president of both the Broward Oncology Nursing Society and Palm Beach Area Oncology Nursing Society.

Before joining the Cancer Center of South Florida, Raymond Tsao, MD, served as an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, where his duties included cancer care, medical education and enrolling patients in clinical trials. His research on pancreatic cancer and lymphoma has been published and presented during national cancer meetings. Dr. Tsao completed his fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, and has been a member of multiple national cancer research organizations, including Southwest Oncology Group and National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project.

Dr. Tsao is board certified in medical oncology and hematology. He is currently seeing patients with all types of cancer, with a focus on hematologic and gastrointestinal malignancies, including esophageal, stomach, colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Dr. Tsao is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology.

Nicolette Crosby is a NCCPA board-certified Physician Assistant. She received her bachelor's degree from the Florida State University and obtained her Masters in Physician Assistant studies at the University of Florida. Prior to joining our team, Nikki practiced at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center caring for patients with hematologic malignancies. This has been one of her greatest joys and has solidified her passion for serving the oncology community. Nikki recently relocated from Tampa to the Palm Beach area. She enjoys traveling, cooking, playing tennis, and spending time outdoors boating with family and friends. Nikki is excited to be a part of the Cancer Center of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute team.

Stephen G. Patterson, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist with more than 30 years of experience in both academic and private practice settings. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and received his medical degree from the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, where he also completed his residency and fellowship. Dr. Patterson has expertise in treating patients with prostate, bladder, kidney, and lung cancers, among other conditions. He has lectured nationally, conducted extensive research, participated in clinical trials, and published many works on prostate, testicular, kidney, bladder, and lung cancers. He was also one of the first clinical investigators to study the impact of PD1 modulation in metastatic lung cancer and melanoma, a therapy that has revolutionized the treatment of patients with metastatic disease.

Andrew graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in 2019 with a Master of Medical Science. He completed his undergraduate and RN training at Auburn University. Andrew has experience in multiple facets of medicine including Acute critical care, Trauma, Post anesthesia recovery, and Cardiovascular Intensive care. He is currently stationed at Jupiter Medical Center to assist in coordinating timely and appropriate care for our patients.

Andrew is an avid fisherman and stalks the depths every chance he gets. Growing up in northeast Alabama leaves a plethora of information to learn about saltwater fishing. When not out on the water you can find him training for his first marathon, a post pandemic lofty goal.

Kelly Foster, MD, is a former medical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, where she provided quality care to patients with all types of cancer. Dr. Foster completed her internal medicine residency and her medical oncology and palliative medicine fellowship training all at Northwestern University. She received her undergraduate degree at UCLA and completed medical school at Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Foster is board certified in medical oncology, internal medicine and palliative medicine. She is currently seeing patients with all types of cancer, with a focus on breast and gastrointestinal cancers (gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, colon, anal) and malignancies. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Varun Gupta, MD, FACP, is a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in prostate, genitourinary, and other cancers. Prior to moving to Florida, Dr. Gupta served as the director of genitourinary cancers and director of medical oncology at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California, where he practiced for more than 20 years.

Dr. Gupta also brings vast experience and a calm approach in managing a variety of other cancers, and strives to personalize treatments based on tumor characteristics, as well as the wishes and needs of his patients. Dr. Gupta has earned several honors and awards, is active in clinical research and teaching, and his work has appeared in many medical publications.

In his spare time, Dr. Gupta enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Vijay Narendran, MD, MBA, trained in internal medicine at University Hospitals Case Western Reserve University and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland. Dr. Narendran continued his graduate medical studies at New York University School of Medicine by pursuing a clinical fellowship in hematology and medical oncology. Dr. Narendran later conducted research in hematologic malignancies and went on to become an assistant professor at Hofstra University School of Medicine in Hempstead, New York. Dr. Narendran also worked at Monter Cancer Center in North New Hyde Park, New York, focusing on hematologic malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma, and a variety of benign blood disorders. Before joining the Cancer Center of South Florida, Dr. Narendran also practiced medicine in the Pacific Northwest, working primarily in cancers of the lung, and the head and neck.

Dr. Narendran treats a variety of cancers and has a special interest in gastrointestinal and hematologic malignancies. Dr. Narendran is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.

Christina is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Born and raised near Philadelphia, she lived in Pennsylvania until relocating to Virginia for college. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from James Madison University in 2007 and a Master of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University in 2011. Christina has worked in Hematology/Oncology throughout her career and has truly gained a passion for these patients. She relocated from the Washington, DC area to join the Cancer Center of South Florida team in 2016. She and her husband have two children, a daughter, and a son. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, or cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Emily Mattingly earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida and became a Registered Nurse in 2009.

After graduating from UF she returned home to Martin County, where she was born and raised, and began working on the oncology-medical floor at Jupiter Medical Center. In 2010, Emily returned to the University of Florida to become a Nurse Practitioner, while continuing to work at JMC.

She graduated from UF with her Master of Science in Nursing and became a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner in 2013. Emily is also an Oncology Certified Nurse and is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society. Emily enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and two Morkie- Poos, Meika and Puppy.

Katherine Sigismondi is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She has 13 years of nursing experience as a registered nurse and received her Masters in the Science of Nursing in 2018 from Florida Atlantic University. She began her journey as an Oncology Nurse Practitioner shortly after graduation in Broward County. She later re-located to the Palm Beach are in 2020 and joined the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute team. She enjoys traveling, wake boarding and going to the beach with her two pups Chica and Reef.