Jennifer Margolis, BSN, RN, OCN, BMTCN, Receives Second Annual Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award

Cancer Nursing Today is pleased to announce that Jennifer Margolis, BSN, RN, OCN, BMTCN, of Rush University Medical Center, has been honored with the Second Annual Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award, which recognizes oncology nurses who provide important cancer care across the continuum.

“It’s an honor to be recognized… It’s something larger, recognizing that what we do can make a difference and that how I practice can make a difference,” Margolis said.

The CARE Award offers a valuable opportunity for oncology nurses to recognize their peers through the nomination and voting process, encouraging them to reflect on the dedication, resilience, and strength of their fellow nurses throughout the award cycle.

“We are proud to honor Jennifer Margolis with the Second Annual Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award, as it is critical for us to shine a light on the essential work of oncology nurses and their significant contributions to patient care and the oncology community,” said JC Landry, President of AMC Media Group. “The CARE Award is a way for us to show our support for these indispensable members of the health care team and provide a platform for peer recognition.”

The nurse-driven process ensures that oncology nursing voices are front and center throughout the award cycle, as oncology nurses submit nominations for the award and enter their votes to determine the winner. A blinded selection committee of oncology nurses narrowed the nominations down to 4 finalists, and the Cancer Nursing Today readership and oncology nursing community voted Margolis as the winner.

“The Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award celebrates oncology nurses who show commitment to professional growth, attention and dedication to role modeling, resilience in uncertain and strenuous times, and emotional intelligence in every situation,” said Cecilia Brown, Managing Editor of Cancer Nursing Today. “We congratulate Jennifer Margolis on being recognized by her peers for demonstrating all these strengths that are so vital to the oncology nursing profession.”

Colleen Bruen, BSN, RN, BMTCN, of Rush University Medical Center, nominated Margolis for the Second Annual CARE Award and was thrilled “to take the opportunity to recognize her on such a grand scale.”

“I nominated Jen because she is definitely a standout nurse on our team. She has been working alongside me for years, and it’s been a tremendous honor to work beside her,” Bruen said. “I started in a role that wasn’t quite the same as Jen’s, but we were on the same team, and she took me under her wing from day one… I’ve seen her do that for so many other nurses in addition to advanced practice providers and physicians who have come into the team under some stressful conditions and circumstances.”

Margolis reflected on what the CARE Award means to her and the importance of honoring oncology nurses.

“We all work as a team. We all support each other,” Margolis said. “The more recognition for nursing and oncology nurses we have, the better because it promotes the practice of nurses as a profession and therefore better patient care, and we become more respected. I think it’s really important to recognize each other.”

Bruen shared why it’s so critical to provide opportunities to recognize and honor the work of oncology nurses.

“We have a lot of sad days and a lot of sad moments, but it’s really important to nominate our colleagues when we think that they’re doing a really good job because burnout in this field can be high,” Bruen said. “When someone like Jen has made a career of working with cancer patients, she’s really modelled what it takes to do this job well and to be a great leader, role model, and mentor to others. I do think it’s very important to recognize colleagues whenever the opportunity presents itself, and this was a prime opportunity to do so.”

About the CARE Award

The Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award was established in 2023 to honor oncology nurses who provide important cancer care across the continuum. The CARE Award offers a valuable opportunity for oncology nurses to contribute to the recognition of their peers through the nomination and voting process, encouraging them to reflect on the dedication, resilience, and strength of their fellow nurses throughout the award cycle.

The nurse-driven process ensures that oncology nursing voices are front and center throughout the award cycle, as oncology nurses submit nominations for the award and enter their votes to determine the winner of the CARE Award.

The award recognizes an oncology nurse who demonstrates:

• Commitment to professional growth
• Attention and dedication to role modeling
• Resilience in uncertain and strenuous times
• Emotional intelligence in every situation

The winner of the Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award will receive a prize (valued at $1,000) and be recognized by Cancer Nursing Today for their commitment to this important profession.

Cancer Nursing Today thanks all who nominated a nurse colleague for the Second Annual Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award. A blinded selection committee reviewed all nominations and narrowed them down to a pool of 4 finalists.

Below are their choices for finalists for the Second Annual Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award, accompanied by biographies submitted by the finalists and brief introductions to the person who nominated each finalist.

Meet the Second Annual CARE Award Finalists

Deana DiMichele, RN, BSN, OCN

RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center

Deana DiMichele, RN, BSN, OCN, is an oncology-certified level 3 nurse in infusion at the RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center. In her current role, she provides patient care and works as unit charge nurse and unit preceptor for new staff.

Deana has worked in oncology for over 10 years, becoming a nurse after her father passed away from stage IV colorectal cancer. In her role prior to RUSH, she worked as a CNL in the Cancer Center, providing education to staff, developing tools for patients and staff, and working on safety protocols.

She is passionate about patient care, outcomes, and providing patients and their support systems with as many additional resources as possible to help them through this difficult and challenging journey.

View a video interview featuring Deana here.

Nominated by: Patricia Rodriguez RN, BSN, OCN

Patricia Rodriguez, RN, BSN, OCN, is an oncology infusion nurse at Rush MD Anderson’s Cancer Center. She has been employed for over 10 years at Rush University Medical Center and has had the pleasure of working with Deana for 3 years. Deana is passionate about patient care and evidence-based research to enhance the health literacy of patients. She is driven by personal experiences and her father’s death from stage IV colorectal cancer. She has made a tremendous impact during difficult times for patients.

Wendy Garvin Mayo, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC

Collaborative Cancer Care

Dr. Wendy Garvin Mayo, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, is a distinguished health care leader with over 2 decades of experience spanning clinical, leadership, research, academia, and pharmaceutical sectors. As the CEO and founder of Collaborative Cancer Care, Dr. Garvin Mayo is dedicated to revolutionizing mental health support for cancer patients, survivors, their families, and oncology health care professionals.

In addition to her impactful role at Collaborative Cancer Care, Dr. Garvin Mayo chairs the Connecticut Cancer Partner Survivorship Board, leading initiatives to enhance the care of cancer survivors throughout the state. Dr. Garvin Mayo serves as an Advisory Board member for AnCan, Bexa Equity Alliance, and TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance. She is also the former President of the Central Connecticut Nursing Society and currently serves as Director-at-Large, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to advancing oncology nursing practice and oncology patient care. Driven by an unwavering commitment to ensuring comprehensive mental and emotional support for every individual impacted by cancer, Collaborative Cancer Care provides pioneering services tailored to meet the unique needs of its diverse clientele.

Dr. Garvin Mayo’s groundbreaking work in oncology is complemented by her role as an accomplished author. Her book, SHAPE Your Life: 5-Step Blueprint for Sustainable Stress Management, reflects her dedication to advancing mental and emotional well-being in the cancer community. As a transformative leader, Dr. Garvin Mayo, along with her team, empowers individuals to navigate the emotional challenges of cancer with resilience and hope. For those seeking comprehensive mental health services and support in the oncology field, Collaborative Cancer Care serves as a partner of hope.

View a video interview featuring Wendy here.

Nominated by: Claude Mayo

Claude Mayo is the Director of Inclusive Excellence at Quinnipiac University. He nominated Wendy because she is “an exemplary nurse, a committed leader, and a compassionate servant to those in her many communities including the one comprised of cancer patients, cancer survivors, caretakers, and loved ones” and it is “nearly impossible to know Wendy and not know how focused her heart and mind are on those who both need and deserve care during and after a cancer battle.”

Jennifer Margolis, BSN, RN, OCN, BMTCN

Rush University Medical Center

Jennifer Margolis, BSN, RN, OCN, BMTCN, has been a nurse for 19 years, with experience in oncology, hematology, and palliative care. She received her undergraduate degrees in biology and nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jennifer has spent the last 13 years working as an outpatient nurse navigator with hematopoietic stem cell transplant and cellular therapy patients at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Jennifer holds her Oncology Nursing Certification (OCN) and Blood and Marrow Transplant Certification (BMTCN). She is a member of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation BMTCN ILNA Committee and secretary of the Rush Professional Nursing Staff Ambulatory Practice Council. Jennifer also co-authored an article in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing that studied the effects of massage chair sessions in reducing stress levels in ambulatory cancer nurses.

Jennifer enjoys spending time with both her patients and her colleagues. She is fortunate to be part of a growing multidisciplinary team in the constantly developing field of transplant and cellular therapy.

View a video interview featuring Jennifer here.

Nominated by: Colleen Bruen, BSN, RN, BMTCN

Colleen Bruen, BSN, RN, BMTCN, has been in hematology/oncology nursing for 10 years in Chicago. Her focuses have included inpatient hematology/BMT nursing, outpatient pre-BMT coordination, outpatient malignant and benign hematology navigation, and most recently, leading a new hematology patient intake coordinator role and workflow.

Working with Jennifer Margolis in various roles over the past 7 years has been a pleasure. Jen is a mentor, role model, and outstanding colleague who is incredibly knowledgeable, willing to share information and collaborate, demonstrates tremendous patient advocacy, and comes to clinic every day with a smile on her face. Often joking that “team works makes the dream work”, the partnership forged with Jen over these years has fostered better continuity of care between the hematology and BMT teams, which has positively impacted patient safety and outcomes.

Michelle Ranaghan, MSN, RN, CRNI, OCN

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Michelle Ranaghan, MSN, RN, CRNI, OCN, has been an oncology nurse since 2010 and oncology-certified (OCN) since 2012, caring for patients with cancer and their loved ones in inpatient and ambulatory settings in Connecticut and Massachusetts. She has worked at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston since 2013. After completing her master’s in nursing education in 2018, she moved into a clinical specialist role, overseeing the orientation of nurses and clinic assistants and innovating in the preceptor education space. She is the chair of the Nursing Policy & Procedures committee, overseeing clinical nursing policy. She precepts nurses for their MSN nurse education practicums. In August 2023, she also became the Program Manager of the DFCI Oncology Nursing Residency Program.

Michelle served on the Boston Oncology Nursing Society’s Program Committee from 2016-2018 and was elected President of the Boston Chapter in January 2022. She revised the extravasation section of the infusion-related complications chapter in the 2^nd edition of the ONS Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice (2023). In 2021, she became a certified registered nurse of infusion (CRNI) and is working toward becoming a certified health care simulation educator.

Michelle has mentored colleagues as both a formal and informal leader. She is a champion for specialty certification and has successfully encouraged more than 20 nurses to pursue or earn their Oncology Certified Nurse and Certified Registered Nurse of Infusion Certifications.

View a video interview featuring Michelle here.

Nominated by: Paula Aguilera, RN, BSN, OCN

Paula Aguilera’s career in oncology spans many years and includes roles in inpatient oncology, ambulatory oncology, community clinics, and participation in several committees, with a special interest in young adults with cancer and improved access to care for all. She currently works for the Cancer Care Equity Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, working to address the barriers that prevent patients from getting timely and equitable cancer care.

Meet the Runners-Up