Extraordinary Healers Vol. 13 | Extraordinary Healer®

Hope Personified: My Tour Guide on My Path to Being a Cancer Survivor

August 11, 2019

Essays

"Cancer is a journey — many use that expression. Well, I do not like this 'journey,' but I adore my tour guide, Ann Puglisi, RN, OCN, an oncology nurse at Kellogg Cancer Center in Evanston, Illinois,” wrote Lori Jaffee.

My Personal Cancer Champion

August 10, 2019

Essays

“Julie Pope came into my life as quickly as rectal cancer did,” wrote Anne Heimel in her nomination essay for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award. “Julie is also a champion in my personal life. She has done so many things that are not part of her job description.”

A Dedicated, Energetic Healer and Pediatric Oncology Nurse

July 21, 2019

Essays

Rachel Steele, B.S.N., RN, OCN, is an extraordinary healer. As one of the only pediatric nurses in an adult-focused cancer hospital and radiation oncology department, Rachel has intangible ways of connecting with families and children that engender instant comfort in such an overwhelming environment.

Healing Patients with Cancer on Small and Large Scales

July 20, 2019

Essays

Nominee for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® award, oncology nurse Megan Roy’s insight is valued and trusted by both patients and her team, making care processes smooth no matter whether she worked directly with patients or not.

Pediatric Oncology Nurse Always Thinking of 'Her Kids'

July 15, 2019

Essays

I am privileged and honored to nominate Miami Cancer Institute (MCI) pediatric oncology nurse Alicia De Pazos, RN, CPHON, for the 2019 CURE® Extraordinary Healer® Award. Alicia has been a pediatric oncology nurse for over 32 years. In that time, she has held many different positions — all in the pediatric oncology setting.

Sharing Her Gifts and Talents: A Breast Cancer Survivor and Registered Nurse

July 04, 2019

Essays

In this essay, registered nurse Patricia Campbell of Charlene’s Dream in Daytona Beach, Florida, nominates her colleague and fellow registered nurse Eliani Berman for the 2019 CURE® Extraordinary Healer® Award.

Encouraging Fitness and Fellowship

June 23, 2019

Essays

In this essay, Honora R. Miller nominates a special oncology nurse practitioner, Joanna M. Losito, Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation–Sunnyvale Center, Sunnyvale, California, for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award.

A Dynamic Problem Solver

June 22, 2019

Essays

This essay, written by oncology nurse Karen Leary, Ruth & Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, nominates fellow registered nurse and colleague Megan Lackaye for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award.

An Oncology Nurse at Heart

June 16, 2019

Essays

This essay was written by her colleagues, Jeanine Gordon and Jaclyn Andronico, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, nominating Lisa Klempner, M.S.N., RN, OCN for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award.

Dedicated to Oncology

June 15, 2019

Essays

This essay was written by Tracey M. Hopkins nominating registered nurse Rubirosa Ison, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, Lutz, Florida, for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award.

Making Everyone Better

June 08, 2019

Essays

This essay way written by Meaghan Connors from the Ann and Carl Myers Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology Department nominating registered nurse, LeSandra Bertch, for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award.

Unshakable Loyalty

June 02, 2019

Essays

This essay nominating registered nurse Wendy Sconce for CURE®'s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award was written by Peggy Hufty of SSM Health Cancer Care, Lake St. Louis, Missouri.

The Compassion Gene

June 01, 2019

Essays

This essay nominating Cindy Trawick, ARNP, FNP-BC for CURE®'s Extraordinary Healer® Award was written by Sandy Allten, RN, OCN, CCRP, of AdventHealth Cancer Institute and Charlene’s Dream.

Healing Close to Home

May 25, 2019

Essays

"I wholeheartedly recommend Betsy Loop for the 2019 CURE® Extraordinary Healer® Award because that is a perfect description of her: extraordinary and a healer of the body, of the mind and, most important, of the spirit. She deserves to be recognized as a very special person and nurse — and one I have been blessed to know," wrote Carol Schumacher.

Two Lost People and an Angel

May 19, 2019

Essays

This essay was written by Maria Campos nominating Mary Kernan, RN, OCN, of Smilow Cancer Center At Yale New Haven Health, New Haven, Connecticut, for CURE®'s Extraordinary Healer® Award.

Taking Things One Day at a Time

May 18, 2019

Essays

"Alvin David, B.S.N., RN-BC, wrote this exemplar as part of his promotion to clinical nurse 3. I will let his words do the talking, as they reveal his true essence as a nurse, colleague, preceptor, friend, father, husband and extraordinary healer," wrote Margie McDonald, M.S.N., RN, CBCN of Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth.

A Beautiful Soul: An Oncology Nurse with Love, Compassion and Knowledge

May 11, 2019

Essays

"People like Jeanette are unique, and special enough for me to make this commute, because she cares, and it has always shown," wrote Teresa Corso in her Extraordinary Healer® award nomination of Jeanette Beerck, RN.

Never-Ending Generosity: An Extraordinary Pediatric Oncology Nurse, Patient Advocate and Spiritual Healer

May 06, 2019

Essay Winner

"Caitlin is an exceptionally talented and gifted nurse who has the rare and enviable combination of empathy, curiosity, intellectual fortitude and social acumen that has made her an extraordinary healer and leader," said James LaBelle, M.D., Ph.D., in the winning essay nominating Caitlin Cohen, M.S.N., RN, CPNP-AC, CPHON for the CURE® Extraordinary Healer® Award for Oncology Nursing.

Making Wishes Come True: Fairy Godmothers of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit

May 05, 2019

Essays

An extraordinary group of nurses, led by nurse manager Taylor Andrews, B.S., RN, BMTCN, have made it their mission to become fairy godmothers for the patients they care for in the bone marrow transplant unit and to make their wishes come true.

A Great Nurse and Friend

May 04, 2019

Essays

When you are first told that you’re sick, very sick, it’s like a kick in the head. It leaves you stunned and not quite sure which way to turn. If you’re as lucky as I was, you have Sandy Allen-Bard, NP, to turn to.

The Embodiment of Caring and Support

April 24, 2019

Essays

"By supporting her employees, Mary Fran (as she is known to patients and colleagues) encourages and allows us to provide high-quality care that both enhances the patient’s quality of life and maintains standards of practice and patient satisfaction," wrote Shelley Fess, M.S., RN-BC, AOCN, CRNI, VA-BC, Rochester Regional Health Lipson Cancer Institute.

Born to Love and Serve

April 21, 2019

Essays

"There is a special class of nurse that exceeds all expectations, a nurse who embodies these characteristics as part of the very fabric of who she is as a human being, one who seemingly was born to love and serve, and that is where you can find Darcy Doege, B.S.N., RN,” wrote Mellisa Wheeler, M.H.A., B.S.W., Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute.

Always Ready to Volunteer

April 15, 2019

Essay Finalists

The nomination essay for CURE® Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing finalist, Barbara Bittner, RN, OCN. Written by Dianne Rohald, AdventHealth Cancer Institute and Charlene’s Dream.