04/03/2026
Meet Cindy Lightner — a Hoag grateful patient turning her healing journey into hope for others.
After courageously facing a brain tumor diagnosis, Cindy became the first patient in Hoag’s new Styled for Surgery program—offered through Oncology Support Services and designed to reimagine the patient experience with compassion, dignity and care.
Developed by Ezequiel Goldschmidt, MD, PhD (pictured with Cindy above), a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who specializes in brain tumors at Hoag’s Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute and the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, Styled for Surgery is offered at no cost to patients, thanks to generous donor support.
“At Hoag, we understand that healing after brain surgery isn’t just physical; it’s emotional too,” said Dr. Goldschmidt. “By coordinating incision planning with a patient’s natural hairstyle, we can minimize visible impact, helping our patients heal with comfort, confidence and dignity.”
Now, Cindy is giving back in a big way. Over the next year, she’s rallying her community to help establish a $100,000 endowed fund that will sustain the Styled for Surgery program for generations to come. From engaging her network to hosting a pickleball tournament later this year, Cindy is determined to ensure every patient feels supported from day one.
✨ Join Cindy in making a lasting impact to support Hoag's Styled for Surgery program. hoag.info/styled-for-surgery
