The following individuals began terms as members of the Oncology Nursing Society Board of Directors at the organization's 39th Annual Congress in Anaheim, California in May:
Margaret Barton-Burke, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Mary Ann Lee Professor of Oncology Nursing at the University of Missouri and a research scientist at Siteman Cancer Institute, began a two-year term as ONS President.
"The 2014-2015 ONS Board of Directors will be envisioning the future of oncology nursing and patient care by selecting a new chief executive officer, developing a new strategic plan, and continuing to strengthen our membership and chapters. It is an exciting time for ONS and the ONS Board of Directors," Barton-Burke said in a news release.
Donald "Chip" Bailey Jr., PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor at Duke University School of Nursing, and Colleen O'Leary, MSN, RN, AOCNS, a clinical nurse specialist at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, each began three-year terms as ONS directors-at-large.
Current ONS director-at-large, Vicki Norton, MHA, RN, OCN, Clinical Nursing Director at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, whose term would have expired this year, was elected by the Board of Directors to have her term extended for an additional year to fill the unexpired portion of the term of Barbara Biedrzycki, PhD, CRNP, AOCNP, who stepped down from the Board in March.
Tracy K. Gosselin, RN, PhD, AOCN, Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Assistant Vice President at Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Health System, will continue her role as Treasurer; and Marlon Garzo Saria, MSN, RN, AOCNS, an advanced practice nurse researcher at the University of California, San Diego, will continue in his role as Secretary.
And Deborah Kirk Walker, DNP, FNP-BC, AOCN, Assistant Professor/Nurse Practitioner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing; Anne M. Ireland, MSN, RN, AOCN, CENP, Clinical Director of the Solid Tumor Malignancy Program at City of Hope National Medical Center; and Susie Newton, RN, MS, AOCN, AOCNS, Senior Director of Health Management Solutions, Quintiles in Dayton, Ohio, will all continue in their roles as ONS directors-at-large.
Also at Congress, the following ONS Distinguished Awards-developed to recognize individuals for their career achievements and for outstanding contributions to cancer care-were presented:
* Anita Nirenberg, PhD, RN, FAAN, AOCNP, the William Randolph Hearst Professor of Clinical Nursing at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing at Hunter College in New York City, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the field of oncology nursing and to ONS, for being an important leader within the Society and in her community, and for exemplifying the mission and core values of ONS (integrity, innovation, stewardship, advocacy, excellence, and inclusiveness).
* Susan C. McMillan, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, Distinguished University Professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, received the Distinguished Researcher Award, which recognizes the contributions of a member who has conducted or promoted research that has enhanced the science and practice of oncology nursing.
* Karen K. Swenson, RN, PhD, AOCN, Research Manager/Scientific Advisor at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute in Minneapolis, received the Rose Mary Carroll-Johnson ONS Distinguished Award for Consistent Contributions to Nursing Literature Award for consistent and significant contributions to the oncology nursing literature that has had an impact on the profession, specifically to share research findings, describe content basis to the care of patients with cancer, and support the professional development of colleagues.
And, also at Congress:
* Joanne Frankel Kelvin, MSN, RN, AOCN, a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presented the ONS Clinical Lectureship, which recognizes and supports excellence in the clinical practice. Her lecture was titled, "Parenthood after Cancer Treatment: Discussing Fertility with Your Patients." Kelvin established the Cancer and Fertility Program at MSKCC in 2009 to ensure that patients are informed about options for fertility preservation before cancer treatment and for building a family after treatment. Now within the program she provides education and counseling for patients, develops resources for patients and clinicians, educates staff, and facilitates clinical research with all of MSKCC related to reproductive health of cancer survivors.
* Susan Leigh, BSN, RN, Breast Cancer Survivorship Navigator at Arizona Oncology, presented this year's Mara Mogensen Flaherty Memorial Lecture, "My 'Glass Half-Full' Keeps Spilling." Leigh was a founding member and past president of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. She initiated the formation of both the Nurse Survivors Focus Group and the Survivorship Special Interest Group within ONS, and is the first recipient of the NCCS-sponsored ONS Excellence in Survivor Advocacy Award. She is also the 2009 recipient of the Association of Community Cancer Centers Annual Achievement Award. Leigh herself is a survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, and bladder cancer. And, she served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, having completed a tour of duty in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, in 1971.