OncoLink Patient Education Team - Excellence in Patient Education
OncoLink was the first cancer information website on the Internet, started in 1994, and remains one of the largest. OncoLink’s mission is to support patients, caregivers and practitioners through free, up-to-date cancer information. This education can empower patients to make educated treatment decisions, be active participants in their care, and advocate for themselves. .
At the center is the OncoLink® Patient Education Team, made up by Managing Editor, Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN; Oncology Content Specialist, Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN; and Psychosocial Oncology Content Editor, Christina Bach, MBE, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C. As health care providers, they have spent a combined 60 years caring for people with cancer and their caregivers.
Read more
Patient and provider needs led to the development of a survivorship care plan builder. The resulting care plan meets regulatory requirements and eases common concerns expressed by survivors. This tool has created over 80,000 care plans with overwhelmingly positive feedback and continues to evolve based on the needs of survivors and providers.
They designed a tool to make the building of a personalized binder of educational materials easier and faster. They then took this framework to develop a tool to help social workers and navigators. They continue to grow our library of resources and are looking for new ways to support providers and patients. Their work reaches millions of patients via the website and our partners.
Transitioning from bedside to virtual care has brought a caring, insightful voice to OncoLink’s educational materials. This team is at the heart of that accomplishment.
Past Winners
2017: Frankly Speaking About Cancer Clinical Trials, Cancer Support Community
2016: Mariela Gallo, MPH, CHES
2015: Family Cancer Retreat - Cancer Services of New Mexico
2014: Tina Papadakos, MA Ed and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center Clinical Trials Database Health Literacy Team
2013: Hastings Breast Cancer Support Group
2012: Be the Match: Super Sam vs. the Marrow Monsters
2011: Matthew Ballo, MD for the Road to Wellness
2010: Maximizing Your Patient Education Skills (MPES)
2009: Caregivers’ Guide to Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant, Myra Jacobs
2008: The Learning Center at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
2007: Diane Moyer, RN, MS, Ohio State University Medical Center, The Partnership for Health Care Education For Limited English Proficiency Patients
2007: Jean Hartford-Todd, CCLS, The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center
2003: Oncology Interactive Educational Series, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network
2001: Leah Mraz, BSN, RN, OCN, My Story: A Diary for People With Cancer, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
2000: Marilyn McCubbin, PhD, RN, FAAn, Kelly Cotter, BA, Michael Dystra, BS Outlook: Life Beyond Childhood Cancer, University of Wisconsin Cancer Center
2000: M.D. Anderson Patient Education Office, University of Texas
2000: Carolyn Weaver, RN, MSN, AOCN, Ask the Expert Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center
2000: Tanya Smith, BA & Patient and Public Education Departmental Staff, How to Help Your Loved One Stop Smoking, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
1999: Amy Deshler, MSW, Kelli Fee-Schroeder, RN, and Kat Thieman, MBA, Setting Course to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
1999: Dr. Joel Goldwein and Dr. Ivor Benjamin, OncoLink, University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center
1999: Mary Sumpmann, Nancy Goldstein and Staff, Patient Learning Center, University of Minnesota Cancer Center