NEW YORK, (May 12, 2026) – The Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center has entered a new partnership with Cancer Hope Network to launch Peer Access to Trials, Hope and Support (PATHS), a peer-to-peer program that gives patients and caregivers access to one-on-one peer mentorship from trained volunteers who have faced cancer themselves, either as survivors or caregivers. This program provides social and emotional support for patients and families to improve their quality of life during cancer treatment and survivorship. It also helps patients and caregivers better understand and navigate cancer clinical trials.
The PATHS program will leverage Cancer Hope Network’s proven peer mentorship model and expand its Talking About Clinical Trials (TACT) model to connect patients considering clinical trial participation with trained peer mentors who have undergone similar experiences.
To learn more about the new program, visit: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/cancer/about/support
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new drugs, procedures, and other treatments in people. They help doctors determine what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve care. All new cancer treatments must be tested in clinical trials before they can be approved for use in the United States.
At the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, patients have access to a wide range of clinical trials, including early-phase studies that test safety and dosing, as well as larger trials that evaluate how well new treatments compare to current standards of care.
“Programs like this are essential to improving both the reach and impact of clinical research,” said Karyn Goodman, MD, MS, Vice Chair for Research and Quality, Department of Radiation Oncology, and Associate Director of Network Clinical Research, Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, and Professor, Radiation Oncology, and Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Clinical trials are critical to advancing cancer care, but too often patients feel unsure or hesitant about participating. Peer support can play a powerful role in bridging that gap, giving patients the confidence, perspective, and information they need to make informed decisions about their treatment options.”
Peer support can play a critical role in improving clinical trial participation.
“Cancer Hope Network is proud to partner with the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center to expand access to meaningful, one-on-one peer support for patients and families navigating cancer,” said Beth Blakey, CEO of Cancer Hope Network. “This collaboration ensures that more individuals, including those considering or participating in clinical trials, are connected to someone who truly understands what they’re going through, strengthening the care experience in a deeply human way. Together, we’re helping ensure that patients and caregivers receive not only clinical excellence, but the emotional and practical support they need throughout their journey.”
“This partnership reflects our commitment to improving access to supportive care,” said Alison Snow, PhD, MSW, LCSW-R, OSW-C, Senior Director, Oncology Social Work and Cancer Supportive Services, Mount Sinai Health System, and Co-Director, Center of Excellence for Cancer Support Services, Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Environmental Medicine, and Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology), Icahn School of Medicine. “By addressing the concerns patients have about clinical trials, we are helping to ensure more individuals can benefit from the latest advances in cancer treatment.”
At Mount Sinai, our PATHS program will support patients who are considering participation in a range of oncology clinical trials, including studies focused on breast, colon, and other cancers.
Find a clinical trial at Mount Sinai: https://oncore-search.mssm.edu/index
“We know that barriers like fear and mistrust, misinformation, and lack of access can prevent patients from considering clinical trials,” said Melissa Mazor, PhD, MS, RN, Co-Director, Center of Excellence for Cancer Support Services, and Co-Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, and Assistant Professor, Medicine (General Internal Medicine), Icahn School of Medicine. “This program addresses health disparities and access, helping break down those barriers by providing a trusted space where patients can speak with someone who has been through the process themselves, helping to demystify clinical trials and make them feel more accessible.”
As part of the program, Mount Sinai patients and volunteers will have the opportunity to train as peer mentors through Cancer Hope Network’s comprehensive Peer Mentor training program. These individuals (many of whom have participated in clinical trials themselves) will provide one-on-one support to patients navigating similar decisions. The inaugural group of mentors are currently being trained and will join a national network of trained volunteers ready to offer compassionate, experience-based guidance.
At Mount Sinai, our PATHS program will support patients who are considering participation in a range of oncology clinical trials, including studies focused on breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, and other cancers.
For more information about the PATHS program: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/cancer/about/support
Cancer Hope Network dedicated landing page for Mount Sinai: https://cancerhopenetwork.org/mountsinai/
About the Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 10 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2025-2026.
For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
About Cancer Hope Network
Cancer Hope Network is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers cancer patients and their loved ones with hope through personalized, one-on-one peer mentorship support from survivors and caregivers who have faced a similar experience. Our team of social work and health care professionals coordinate customized matches with trained volunteer Peer Mentors who can help make cancer feel less isolating through shared experiences. Cancer Hope Network Peer Mentors, either cancer survivors or caregivers of survivors, receive free training to serve as a guiding light for those navigating their own journeys.
For more information about Cancer Hope Network and its mission, please visit: https://cancerhopenetwork.org/.
