UF Professor Creates Wooden Comfort Symbols for Cancer Patients

Sharon DiFino, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at UF's College of Public Health and Health Professions, carved more than 200 palm-sized wooden symbols for cancer patients at UF Health Shands Hospital. Hearts, Gator heads, musical notes, and other designs emerged from recycled wood scraps as DiFino recovered from long COVID.

DiFino cut shapes with a scroll saw, refined them with chisels, and sanded each piece smooth before treating it with non-toxic mineral oil. The designs include the African symbol of beauty known as a duafe, the American Sign Language sign for "I love you," and various animals, leaves, and musical instruments.

Students in the university's National Student Speech Language Hearing Association chapter packaged the carvings with handwritten messages of encouragement and delivered more than 30 to patients receiving cancer treatment. Kathryn Davis, the service director for the student chapter, coordinated with UF administrators Blair DeLaet and Stephanie Reed in the Department of Medicine Division of Hematology and Oncology.

"Working with something organic was very soothing," DiFino said. "I've always loved wood since I was a child, and this allowed me to create something that could help me and maybe somebody else."

DiFino, who has worked with head and neck cancer patients throughout her career and lost her mother to cancer, approached Davis about turning the carvings into a service project. She continues carving, filling racks in her home with symbols for future patients.