Hello everyone! Summer has finally arrived and we hope you are enjoying vacation time with family and friends. We are busy putting the final touches on our Fifth Annual AONN+ Conference at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida, September 18-24, 2014.
This issue of the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (JONS) is filled with information to further your knowledge about navigation and survivorship. Danelle Johnston, RN, MSN, OCN, CBCN, shares her personal profile, which I know many of you will be able to relate to and feel inspire by. Intermountain Southwest Cancer Center wrote about how to improve timeliness of care through the application of a navigation pathway. The Cancer Prevention & Control Program at the University of South Carolina provides information about their experiences with the treatment of African American women with breast cancer.
We are continuing to give you feedback regarding the content that was presented at our Fourth Annual AONN+ Conference with this issue focusing on our organization’s accomplishments in 2013. Dr Jennifer Klemp, University of Kansas, provided conference attendees with a wealth of information regarding the new standards of the Commission on Cancer (CoC), presenting specifically on how to conduct and report a community needs assessment. The final article gives us insight into the value of breast cancer survivorship support groups.
I realize some folks are anxious that the CoC required standards on navigation and survivorship will be implemented on January 1, 2015. I love seeing that what we do as navigators across the continuum of care is being recognized and valued. We will be helping you and your leadership get ready to demonstrate your worth by attending some specific sessions built into the agenda with this focus in mind—bring your administrators and managers with you! We have several hundred members already registered, so register soon to get your flights and other travel arrangements set up soon. In recognition of your feedback on our website and information from last year’s conference evaluation forms, we have an amazing conference planned this year. We also have fun activities for the evenings we are together in Disney World!
Last, but not least, as you read this issue of JONS, give thought to what you and your colleagues may want to submit for consideration in future issues. I look forward to your work being sent in for peer review!
With kind regards,
Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS
Editor-in-Chief