Dear Navigators, Social Workers, Administrators, and Clinical Staff,
We are incredibly enthusiastic about our growing community of navigators and the new heights we will reach together in 2020!
In response to the growing needs of our increasing membership of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) we continue to foster growth as an organization. As part of that growth, we are proud to announce that our own Sharon S. Gentry, RN, MSN, AOCN, CBCN, HON-ONN-CG, will take the helm as the Program Director of AONN+. Sharon has worked tirelessly for the Academy as an integral part of the Leadership Council and the Oncology Nurse Navigator–Certified Generalist (ONN-CG) Certification Committee. It is my honor to pass the torch to Sharon with every confidence that she will continue the important work of AONN+ in championing the cause of navigation to positively impact the lives of patients. No! I am not stepping away from AONN+ by any means! As co-founder, I will spend more time looking to our future and envisioning where we need to strategically expand our efforts on your behalf and on behalf of navigators taking care of patients across the country and around the world.
I am also excited to share that AONN+ has created 2 new positions to further support the Academy’s work. Emily Gentry, RN, BSN, OCN, joins us as the Senior Director of Education & Program Development and Co-Director of Certification. Ms Gentry previously served as the Navigation Director, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Medical City Healthcare in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. Monica Dean joins us as Director of Patient Navigation Program Development and Co-Director of Certification. Ms Dean previously served as Director of Patient Navigation for the American Cancer Society. We welcome Emily and Monica and look forward to their contributions in their respective new roles.
Yes, there are several new faces here at the Academy, and with them come a wealth of experience, fresh ideas, and anticipation for their unique contributions to our organization. This newly assembled team will work closely with our Chief Nursing Officer, Danelle Johnston, MSN, RN, HON-ONN-CG, OCN, to lead the strategic imperatives for the Academy. With this new decade, and our new growth, I hope your commitment to your profession, your patients, and to AONN+ is renewed as well. Happy New Year to you.
Sincerely,
Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, HON-ONN-CG
Editor-in-Chief, JONS
University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer; Professor of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Co-Developer of Work Stride: Managing Cancer at Work, Johns Hopkins Healthcare Solutions; Co-Founder of AONN+.
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