Compassion in the Most Critical Moments
Cox is honored by Karen Lu, MD, Moffitt’s physician in chief.
When patients arrive in the intensive care unit at Moffitt Cancer Center, they are often facing some of the most serious moments of their cancer journey.
For Jennifer Cox, MD, that is exactly where she chooses to be.
A critical care physician who has spent more than two decades caring for patients at Moffitt, Cox was named Moffitt’s 2025 Physician of the Year at the Faculty Appreciation and Recognition Ceremony on March 2, an honor she says came as a complete surprise.
“I was completely shocked,” Cox said. “But once the moment settled in, it was incredibly emotional. This is an award given by my peers and that makes it very meaningful. It’s validating to know that the work you do for patients and their families matters.”
Difficult Moments
Cox first began working at Moffitt in 2004 while completing her fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine. For years she served patients through the University of South Florida’s pulmonary critical care program, while primarily practicing at Moffitt. In 2023, she joined the cancer center full time, and in 2025 transitioned to practicing exclusively in critical care.
Her work in the ICU means she often meets patients during their most difficult moments.
“I see patients when they’re at their worst,” Cox said. “They’re critically ill and families are facing a lot of uncertainty.”
Because of that, the rare moments when patients recover and return to visit the ICU carry special meaning.
“When someone comes back just to say hello or thank you and you see how different they look compared to when they were here, those are the moments that stay with you,” she said.
Making Connections
For Cox, exceptional care goes beyond medicine. It starts with understanding the person behind the diagnosis.
“I think exceptional patient care is more than a treatment plan,” she said. “It’s sitting down with patients and their families and asking what matters most to them.”
Sometimes those connections begin with something small, like the badge Cox wears featuring a photo of her dog. Patients often notice it immediately, sparking conversation and helping ease tension during difficult conversations.
“It reminds them that you’re a human being, too,” she said. “That connection helps build trust.”
Trust, she believes, is essential in critical care.
“Without trust, nothing ever goes right,” Cox said.
Family and friends join Cox to celebrate her achievement.
While she is honored by the recognition, Cox emphasizes that caring for patients is never the work of one person.
“No physician works alone,” she said. “The ICU team, nurses, advanced practice providers, social workers, chaplains, environmental services — everyone plays a role in supporting patients and their families.”
Cox also credits her husband, whose support helps make her demanding work possible.
Personal Connection to Cancer
Her compassion for patients is also shaped by personal experience. Cancer has touched her own family, and she has even faced cancer diagnoses herself, both fortunately caught at early stages.
Those experiences have reinforced the philosophy she brings to every patient interaction.
“I try to treat every patient the way I would want myself or a family member to be treated,” she said.
Looking ahead, Cox hopes her legacy will be defined not only by clinical excellence but by humanity.
“I want to be remembered as someone who always did what was right for the patient and fought for them,” she said.
She also hopes to inspire the next generation of physicians to prioritize connection.
“My advice is simple,” Cox said. “Take the time to get to know your patient as a human being. Find something you have in common and build trust. That’s where real care begins.”
Cox was recognized alongside other faculty honorees during the ceremony, including Researcher of the Year, awarded to Susan Vadaparampil, PhD, MPH, for her outstanding contributions to cancer research.
