A New Endowed Fellowship Honors a Celebrated Pioneer
Thursday, October 30, 2025

The Rona Jaffe Foundation has established The Rona Jaffe Foundation Fellowship in Honor of Peter Scardino, MD, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Dr. Scardino, who was Chief of MSK’s Urology Service from 1998 to 2006 and Chair of the Department of Surgery from 2006 to 2017, is a celebrated pioneer in the field of prostate cancer.
At MSK, Dr. Scardino significantly expanded the institution’s prostate cancer research portfolio, led the field into the era of minimally invasive surgery, and secured MSK’s longstanding position as the preeminent center of surgical excellence.
MSK’s Urology Service continues to be recognized as a leading program by U.S. News & World Report thanks to the strong foundation Dr. Scardino established. The endowed fellowship, which will be awarded annually to an outstanding trainee in the Urology Service, is a lasting tribute to Dr. Scardino’s two decades at MSK and his dedication to pathbreaking research, exceptional clinical care, and mentorship of younger physician-scientists.
With gratitude for The Rona Jaffe Foundation
Founded by bestselling novelist Rona Jaffe, The Rona Jaffe Foundation has been a longstanding benefactor of MSK. In addition to supporting Dr. Scardino’s research, The Rona Jaffe Foundation helped create Visible Ink, a program at MSK that has given over 3,000 people with cancer, along with their families and caregivers, a unique opportunity to express themselves through all forms of writing — including fiction, autobiography, poetry, and drama — under the mentorship of volunteer professional writers.
