Patients and Families

Dear Roswell Park Families:

Rev. Melody Rutherford, M.Div.

The Spiritual Care staff at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center would like to extend our services to you and your family. These services are open to all patients, regardless of your religious affiliation, whether you are in hospital, at home or another facility.

Members of the Spiritual Care staff regularly visit patients while they are in-hospital and are able to offer on-going support as needed. We would like to continue this supportive presence to patients and family members at the time of discharge as well as to our patients who are being treated in the clinics.

Also, we would like to serve as a bridge between yourself and your spiritual community. I encourage you to notify your faith community if you are admitted and would like someone to visit you or if you would like to be included on a prayer list. If you are not connected with a particular community, the spiritual care staff can offer the support you may need and if desired, connect you with a faith community.

Please continue to look at our web site to see what services and resources are available through the Spiritual Care Department. If at any time you would like to speak with any staff in Spiritual Care, you can contact us at (716) 845-8051.

Rev. Dr. Melody Rutherford, DMIN, MDiv, MS-BCC
Director of Spiritual Care


Patients and Caregivers Retreat graphic 2025
Patients and Caregivers Retreat

Thursday, March 27, 2025
8 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Join us at our bi-annual Patients and Caregivers Retreat, hosted at the Aloft Hotel Buffalo at 500 Pearl St. Join us for a full day of wellness sessions and presentations led by Roswell Park experts:

  • Acupuncture with Collen LoFaro-O'Neill
  • Healing Touch with Dr. Sue Hess, PhD, CHTP
  • Meditation with Joe DiNardo
  • Sound Therapy with Jill Lucidi of Safe and Sound
  • Storytelling with our Life Recorded coordinators
  • Yoga Stretch with Julia Kress
  • Spiritual Healing with Bryan McMullen of Sisters Hospital
  • A special presentation by Dr. Desi Carozza, Roswell Park Medical Director for Geriatrics and Bioethics

*Registration for this event is now closed.

 For more information, please contact our Spiritual Care team at 716-845-8051

Download the full agenda