Believe in You is a free training and wellness program tailored for cancer survivors seeking to improve their fitness levels and overall health. It was developed by certified exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and certified health coaches at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. This 20-week journey fosters strength, resilience, and community. Whether you're preparing for the Dolphins Cancer Challenge 5K, bike ride or simply aiming to enhance your physical activity levels, Believe in You offers a supportive environment to help you thrive.
About the Program
Believe in You is a 20-week complimentary program created to support all cancer survivors, no matter where they are in their journey: before, during or after treatment. Participants are also welcome to bring one companion to join them.
This program offers a variety of training styles—including aerobic, mobility, and resistance training—to help you build strength, confidence, and community. You can attend as many sessions as you'd like, but we encourage everyone to participate in our in-person Saturday sessions and commit to at least two virtual classes per week for the best experience.
Here's how the program is structured:
📊 Pre- and Post-Program wellness testing
All participants have the opportunity to undergo comprehensive fitness assessments at the beginning and end of the program, conducted at our state-of-the-art wellness and performance facility on the Griffin Clinical Research Building.
These assessments are designed to help you track progress, set realistic goals, and better understand your body. Testing includes:
Body Composition Analysis:
Using advanced technology, we measure body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, and more to provide a full picture of your physical health.
Aerobic wellness testing
VO₂max is the gold standard for measuring cardiovascular fitness. It helps us assess how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise—valuable information to guide your workouts and monitor improvements over time.
Strength and Functional Movement Screens:
Evaluate your muscle strength, balance, and movement patterns to help tailor your fitness plan and reduce injury risk.
📅 Weekday and Saturday Sessions
Join us every Saturday for in-person group sessions held at beautiful outdoor locations in Miami-Dade and Broward County.
Stay active throughout the week with a variety of hybrid classes that include:
- Resistance Training
- Yoga
Participants can attend in person at our brand-new workout room located on the Griffin Clinical Research Building or join virtually from the comfort of home. All fitness levels are welcome.
Miami: Pinecrest Community Center, 5855 Killian Dr, Pinecrest, FL 33156 Get Directions
Broward: Robbins Preserve, 4005 Hiatus Road, Davie, FL 33330 Get Directions
📧 Weekly Newsletters
Every week, participants receive a digital newsletter filled with:
- Nutrition and exercise advice
- Program updates
- Recipes
🎉 Special Events
We host special events during the program season to celebrate milestones, promote health education, and connect with the wider community in a fun, supportive environment.
Meet & Greet
September 17, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
GCRB - 1425 NW 10 Ave. Miami, FL 33136 office 403
Program Begins
September 27, 2025
Believe You Can Zumba
November 15, 2025
Time: TBD
City Zero: 591 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130
Together we Walk
January 10, 2026
Time: TBD
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156
Dolphins Cancer Challenge
February 28, 2026
As a final event of our program, we participate as a team in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC). This event is optional, but we encourage you to be part of it!
“The challenge for many cancer patients is they don't know where and how to safely start a lifestyle program, and, perhaps because of that, many survivors do not meet recommendations for physical activity and nutrition. There is strong evidence in published studies by Sylvester researchers and others that meeting these recommendations can reduce risk of cancer recurrence and mortality and improve survivors' quality of life.”
"It started because so many Sylvester patients wanted to participate in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, but they didn't feel they could do it," said Believe in You program director Paola Rossi, M.D., clinical program director of lifestyle medicine at Sylvester. "We've fixed that! I haven't met any participant who has started our program and doesn't feel like they found a community and can get healthier and stronger together. Everyone who comes feels empowered, and that's the true magic of the program."
Schedule
| Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6:00 AM In Person & Virtual Full Body Strength With Madalyn |
6:00 AM In Person & Virtual Full Body Strength With Madalyn |
8:30 AM In Person Miami Training Pinecrest Community Center |
||
|
9:00 AM In Person & Virtual Full Body Strength With Madalyn |
9:00 AM Virtual Core & More With Madalyn |
9:00 AM In Person & Virtual Full Body Strength With Madalyn |
9:00 AM Virtual Core & More With Madalyn |
9:00 AM In Person Broward Training Robbins Preserve Park |
|
12:00 PM Virtual Power Hour With Stefan |
12:00 PM Virtual Power Hour With Stefan |
11:00 AM Virtual Yoga With Beatriz |
||
| ** Weekly in-person sessions will take place at GCRB - 1425 NW 10 Ave. Miami, FL 33136 - Office 403 ** Class Zoom link will be share via email. ** Robbins Park: 4005 Hiatus Road, Davie, FL 33330 **Pinecrest Community Center: 5855 Killian Dr, Pinecrest, FL 33156 | ||||
Sign Up for Believe in You
Once we receive your information, a member of our team will reach out to complete your registration and answer any questions you may have. We're thrilled you're taking this step and look forward to welcoming you to the Believe in You community!
If you have questions before the form opens, feel free to email us at believeinyou@med.miami.edu.
FAQs
Our Team
Co-Lead, Cancer Control Research Program
Director, Digital Health And Lifestyle Medicine
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miller School Of Medicine, University Of Miami
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
DIVISION OF CANCER CONTROL
SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER
ACSM-Cancer Specialist
Tracy Crane, PhD
Associate Professor, Medical Oncology
Co-Lead, Cancer Control Research Program
Director, Digital Health And Lifestyle Medicine
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miller School Of Medicine, University Of Miami
Dr. Crane leads a multi-disciplinary research team to carry out the delivery of digital health lifestyle interventions. In order to successfully conduct, manage and deliver these large-scale trials, her research team utilizes a smart software platform that incorporates voice, text and video, with integrated wearable data, and interfaces with clinical care. Dr. Crane's most recent projects integrate deep learning and natural language processing in an effort to identify precision behavioral interventions to better predict what intervention to use, for whom and when, moving beyond the "one size fits all" approach.
Paola Rossi, MD, MSED, ACSM-EP
Director, Clinical Program - Lifestyle Medicine
Medical Oncology
Division Of Cancer Control
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Paola Rossi, MD, MS in Exercise Physiology, Clinical Program Director of Lifestyle Medicine at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Paola Rossi is a Family and Palliative Care Physician. Born and raised in Argentina, Dr. Rossi developed an early interest in the intersection between medicine, lifestyle, and nutrition, which ultimately led her to pursue a career in family medicine and palliative care. After completing her medical training, Dr. Rossi went on to earn a master's degree in exercise physiology, focusing her research on the role of physical activity and diet in cancer prevention and survivorship. As a medical educator, Dr. Rossi dedicated her tiMe in developing multiple community programs to empower her patients and students with the knowledge and tools they need to take charge of their health.
Sandra Anciani-Beltran
Project Coordinator
I’m an experienced healthcare professional with a strong foundation in systems development and healthcare operations. I currently serve as the Project Coordinator for the Believe in You Program at the University of Miami, where I’ve been a proud and committed team member since 2018. In addition, I collaborate with the Food Pharmacy Project, supporting community-centered healthcare initiatives. With over a decade of experience in administration, logistics, and operations within the healthcare sector, I bring both breadth and depth to my work. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems, an Associate of Science, and an Associate Degree in English Academic Writing. I've also completed several professional trainings, particularly in Healthcare Project Management. Throughout my career, I’ve taken on a variety of responsibilities, including managing onboarding processes, departmental budgeting, and scheduling logistics. My work has focused on optimizing provider templates, improving clinical access, ensuring compliance with healthcare standards, and supporting departmental leadership through high-level operational reporting.
Madalyn Wheeler, MSEd and ACSM-EP
PHD Candidate, Exercise Physiology
Madalyn is a third-year Ph.D. student in Exercise Physiology at the University of Miami, working under the mentorship of Dr. Tracy Crane. She earned her Master of Science in Education in Applied Physiology from the University of Miami in 2023. Now in her fourth year with Believe in You, the program remains the highlight of her academic journey at UM.