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The ReMissions
The ReMissions

The ReMissions

Brought together by Dr. Patrick Hwu, The ReMissions can be found entertaining fans at events around Tampa and beyond. Moffitt's house band is made up entirely of Moffitt team members.

New Album Releasing January 2026

Listen to the New Single

Also Available on Apple Music

A Holiday Album from the ReMissions.

ReMissions Holiday Album

We are excited to share our holiday album with our fans! Featuring your favorite Christmas classics and holiday season songs, the ReMissions are making one of their most beloved annual events into something you can bring into your home any time of the year.

Available to Stream!

Stream the Holiday Album on your favorite streaming channel. Here are some quick links to the most popular places to stream:

Apple Music  Spotify  iHeart Radio

Rolling Pictures of The ReMissions Band Members

New Album Dropping January 2026

Experience the Sounds of Hope behind research and healing.

We are excited to announce the newest ReMissions Album: Speros: Sounds of Hope. The album is named in honor of Moffitt’s new 775-acre research campus, Speros, a word rooted in the Latin phrase dum spiro spero ("while I breathe, I hope"). Through a mix of original songs and uplifting covers like "Here Comes the Sun" and "Don't Stop Believin'," the album aims to spread a positive message of healing and highlight the center's innovative drive to bring lifesaving cures to patients.

Find and follow The ReMissions on your favorite streaming service. Here are some quick links to the most popular places to stream:

Apple Music Spotify iHeart

Pandora YouTube

Want to hear the music first? Subscribe to The ReMissions mailing list:

Dr. Hwu has been playing in bands for more than 30 years. It’s become a meaningful creative outlet for him while dealing with a high-pressure career. “Being in a band is really about teamwork,” said Hwu. “As opposed to being a solo performer, the role in a band isn’t to just play, but to hear and listen to everyone else. ” 

That’s what we do here that makes Moffitt so special. We’re a team. We listen to each other, work together and make harmony together.
Patrick Hwu, MD
President and CEO

More On YouTube


Named in honor of the one thing that every cancer patient hopes for — their disease to be in remission — these musical team members want their positive message to highlight the great work Moffitt is doing to fight cancer.

Join The ReMissions' team at Miles for Moffitt.
Sign Up for Miles for Moffitt

Meet The ReMissions

Dana Ataya, MD

Breast Radiologist, Associate Professor
Vocals

Instruments: Vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, harmonica

Favorite music genre: All genres, but jazz is my favorite for unwinding after a busy day.

Dr. Dana Ataya

Most memorable gig to date: Snapshots of Courage at Moffitt’s McKinley Outpatient Center last fall. The event brought courageous breast cancer stories to life through patient-selected photos. The attendees were either breast cancer survivors, family members, or Moffitt breast cancer health professionals. At the end of the night, we spontaneously decided to perform “Lean On Me.” When I walked out into the audience, I was joined by a line of courageous women. They embraced me, and each other and joined me in singing. It was a powerful moment.

Favorite songs to play with the band: Feeling Good and any songs we’ve re-imagined (“ReMission-ized”)

Dr. Patrick Hwu

Patrick Hwu, MD 

President and CEO, Medical Oncologist Researcher
Keyboard

Instruments: Keyboard, piano, guitar and trumpet

Favorite music genre: Blues and rock

Most memorable gig to date: Our holiday caroling gig, because it’s such a joyous time in front of our team members along with a number of special guest vocalists who work at Moffitt.

Favorite song to play with the band: Don’t Stop Believin’. As a cancer immunologist and researcher, it symbolizes our never-ending belief that we can and will find better cancer treatments.

Jeff Leighton, RN, CCRN

Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Bass

    Instruments: Bass and guitar

    Favorite music genre: Progressive jazz, or anything that’s too complicated for me to play.

    Most memorable gig to date: The Grand Opening reception for the new Moffitt McKinley Hospital.

    Favorite song to play with the band: Piece of My Heart by Janis Joplin

     

    Jeff Leighton

    Dr. James Mulé

    James Mulé, PhD

    Researcher, Associate Center Director of Translational Science
    Guitar

      Instrument: Electric and resonator guitar

      Favorite music genre: Hard rock and blues rock

      Most memorable gig to date: They have all been special in their own ways, but I would have to say the recent Moffitt McKinley Hospital grand opening.

      Favorite songs to play with the band: Takin' Care of Business and You Shook Me All Night Long

       

      Ron Zalva

      Security
      Drums

        Instruments: Drums

        Favorite music genre: Jazz, blues and rock

        Most memorable gig to date: Toss-up between Magnolia Ball, the Mole Patrol event and the DPR Construction open house.

        Favorite songs to play with the band: Black Velvet and Don't Stop Believin'  

        Ron Zalva

        Mark Robertson-Tessi

        Mark Robertson-Tessi, PhD

        Researcher in Mathematical Oncology
        Mandolin

        Instrument: Mandolin, guitar

        Favorite music genre: A wide variety, but outside of popular genres, I also listen to traditional Irish music, classical, acoustic and ambient.

        Most memorable gig to date: Our performance in Sun City Center. Vince DiMartino joined us, the crowd was dancing, the mood was great and our setlist was full of good songs.

        Favorite song to play with the band: If I had to pick one, Black Velvet. Great groove, and singing the vocal harmonies is very fun.

        Guest Band Members

        Vince DiMartino

        Vince DiMartino, professional trumpet player

        Ask the band who Vince DiMartino is, and you will hear answers ranging from “he’s incredible” to “he can shred it up.” DiMartino is a world-renowned professional trumpet player who has played with many of the jazz greats, but also happens to be a patient at Moffitt Cancer Center. He was connected to Dr. Hwu and The ReMissions during one of his appointments, and the rest was history. DiMartino routinely joins the band for practices and special gigs. Playing alongside someone of DiMartino’s caliber is one thing, but for the band members, it’s even more special making music with someone who is living proof of the importance of their work.  

        Samson Lu, MD

        Dr. Samson Lu playing the violin

        Dr. Samson Lu is a former Radiology Resident and Interventional Radiology Fellow at the University of South Florida and Moffitt. Lu has played the violin for 30 years and while rotating through breast imaging at Moffitt, met Dr. Dana Ataya, who invited him to join the band. “With this last year being my final year of residency, it hasn’t always been easy making it to practices and gigs,” Lu said. “But being with The ReMissions is always fun. It’s the No. 1 rule: have fun!” Even as an occasional band member, Lu’s skills on the violin have added a special touch to so many of the band’s performances, and he hopes to join more over the coming year.

        Contact the Band

        The ReMissions Upcoming Concerts

        The ReMissions Rules 

        1. Have fun
        2. Play in the same key
        3. Start at the same time
        4. End at the same time

        The ReMissions Rules

        The ReMissions at Moffitt

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