ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Dr. Carolyn Fein Levy carries a story most pediatric oncologists do not. At age eleven, she was diagnosed with a malignant ovarian tumor. Today, she leads pediatric solid tumor care at Cohen Children's Medical Center, and she has been part of the Sunrise story since the very first summer in 2006. In this conversation, she shares why her mother became her "sunrise" long before a camp by that name existed, what she sees in her exam room when a Sunrise camper walks in versus when one does not, and why she launched Closing the Umbrella, a caregiver wellness program coming to Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island on May 3, 2026 in memory of her mother. It's a rare conversation with someone who has lived this from every angle: as a child patient, as a parent, as a physician, and as a Sunrise believer. Topics Covered: Dr. Fein Levy's diagnosis and how survivorship shaped her career Why "everyone just gets it" matters more than sympathy at Sunrise Day Camp What kids actually lose when they're pulled out of normal childhood and how camp gives it back Why siblings are the unseen patients in pediatric cancer The Sunrise Effect impact study and the science behind what camp does for kids Empathy versus sympathy and why campers need the first, not the second How camp builds resilience through real wins, real losses, and real social interaction Why so many former campers return as counselors, child life specialists, and physicians Closing the Umbrella: a new caregiver wellness program launching May 3, 2026 Links & Resources: Closing the Umbrella Symposium, Sunday, May 3, 2026, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island → https://www.sunrisedaycamp-longisland.org/2026symposiumAbout Sunrise Association The Sunrise Association brings back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide through the creation of inclusive day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all completely free of charge. We serve nearly 77,000 children annually across 14 summer day camps, 85+ weekly in-hospital programs, and virtual platforms.
