Katie Kinninger, a UC San Diego Health patient, rides life’s waves with resilience — overcoming lymphoma and returning to the joys of surfing.
Katie Kinninger doesn’t just ride the waves — she also rides life’s challenges with courage and grace. A loyal Moores Cancer Center Legends of Science and Surfing volunteer and a longtime researcher at UC San Diego, Kinninger’s journey is one of resilience, discovery and hope. Her story is not just one of survival but of embracing life’s unknowns with a spirit of curiosity and determination.
In late 2019, Kinninger’s life shifted dramatically. She was diagnosed with marginal zone B-cell lymphoma with large cell transformation after experiencing stroke-like symptoms, including aphasia. These early signs of illness led her to UC San Diego Health, where she began treatment under the expert care of Ayad Hamdan, MD, hematologist and physician-in-chief.
Ayad Hamdan, MD
- Hematologist
- Physician-in-Chief, Moores Cancer Center
- Professor of Medicine
She entered remission following chemotherapy in 2020. But her journey was far from linear. In July 2021, Kinniger relapsed, which prompted two cycles of high-dose chemotherapy. Despite these efforts, her planned stem cell transplant had to be postponed when her cells didn’t collect successfully.
“Fortunately, I had good family support, so I could concentrate on things that made me happy,” Kinninger reflected. Just as physicians at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health are known for their innovative and agile approach to medicine, Hamdan and his team offered Kinninger a new direction.
They shifted her care to close surveillance with the option for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy if needed. That moment came in August 2022 when Kinninger relapsed again. By October, she had undergone CAR T-cell immunotherapy. This groundbreaking treatment changed Kinninger’s own T-cells so that they could recognize and attack her cancer, which has since kept her in remission.
“Dr. Hamdan and his team were incredible,” Kinninger shared. “Their care and expertise gave me confidence every step of the way.”
“Being part of Katie’s journey has been incredibly inspiring,” Hamdan said. “Her resilience and positive outlook in the face of multiple relapses remind me of why we do the work we do.”
Kinninger’s deep connection to UC San Diego is a source of pride and strength. As a retired leader in pulmonary research at the institution, she knows firsthand the power of knowledge and innovation.
“I’m very proud to be a UC San Diego retiree. It’s made me very proud of Moores Cancer Center,” Kinninger shared. “I can say I’ve had a good experience, and I like what they’re doing.”
Her experience as a researcher and a patient has fueled her commitment to the Legends of Science and Surfing, a community event she has been a dedicated volunteer for.
"Dr. Hamdan and his team were incredible. Their care and expertise gave me confidence every step of the way.”
— Katie Kinninger, UC San Diego Health patient
Today, Kinninger thrives, embracing life with an adventurous spirit. Whether surfing, waterskiing or mountain biking, she exemplifies the vibrant and optimistic spirit of UC San Diego. Her weekly babysitting sessions with her grandchildren reflect her deep love for family and life’s simple joys.
“I’m very grateful that I’m alive,” Kinninger said. “They have all those inspiring messages when you check into the bone marrow transplant clinic: 'Be positive and celebrate today.’ They’re so cliché, but they’re so true.”
CAR T-Cell Therapy
UC San Diego Health offers CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized immunotherapy for blood cancers like B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. By genetically modifying a patient’s T-cells, this treatment enables the immune system to target and attack cancer cells more effectively.