2007 Extraordinary Healer Award

CURE presents its inaugural Extraordinary Healer Award

for Oncology Nursing

Brian Elliott is announced as the winner of CURE's first Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing. Photo by Vinnie Amesse

Congratulations to Brian Elliott, RN, director at Colquitt Regional-Singletary Oncology Center in Moultrie, Georgia, who was awarded the Extraordinary Healer Award at a ceremony in Las Vegas on April 26. Brian was awarded an all-expenses-paid weekend for two at Miraval Life in Balance Resort & Spa outside Tucson, Arizona. Also present was Margaret R. Light, of Oakton, Virginia, who nominated Brian for the award.

Read the winning essay about CURE's Extraordinary Healer Award recipient Brian Elliot, RN written by Margaret Light in the People section in the Fall issue of Heal.

CURE and Heal would also like to congratulate our two nurse finalists below as well as the readers who nominated them!

Rita Deimler, RN, BSN, OCN
Duke University Adult Bone Marrow Transplant
Durham, North Carolina
NOMINATED BY: Terri Schinazi, of Oxford, North Carolina

Tish Mullen, RN, PNP
Provide Infusion
Earth City, Missouri
NOMINATED BY: Rachel Baumgartner, of St. Louis, Missouri

Read essays from our finalists, Terri and Rachel, in Readers' Forum in the summer issue of CURE.

Extraordinary Healer Award finalists, from left,
Margaret Light, Brian Elliott, Terri Schinazi, Rita Deimler,
Rachel Baumgartner, and Tish Mullen. Photo by Vinnie Amesse

The ceremony also celebrated the launch of Heal, a new magazine for cancer survivors. CURE presented readers with a unique opportunity to honor an oncology nurse who helped them heal. We received more than 200 nominations from patients, survivors and caregivers, describing the compassion, expertise and helpfulness received from a special nurse on their oncology team.

Thanks again to everyone who participated in CURE's Extraordinary Healer Award essay contest! See below for a full listing of Extraordinary Healer nominees!

Leanne Bartlett, RN, BSN, OCN
Cancer Care and Hematology Specialists of Chicagoland Valerie

Betancourt, RN, BSN
Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at JFK Medical Center Leslie

Rita Deimler, RN, BSN, OCN
Duke University Adult Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program

Dawn Ebeling, RN
Bob Costas Cancer Center, Cardinal Glennon Children¹s Medical Center

Wendy Erickson, RN, BSN, OCN
Hematology Oncology Centers of the Northern Rockies

Carol Hatch, RN, OCN
Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates of Northern Virginia

Donna Offenbacher, RN, OCN
New York Oncology Hematology at Albany Medical Center

Alyson Santaniello, BSN, RN, OCN
Rhode Island Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sandy Schilli, RN, OCN
Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, Alan P. Lyss Center for Cancer Care and Clinical Research

Cindy Teeple, APRN, MSN, AOCN
Medical Oncology Practice of Abraham Mittelman, MD

Peggy Wiederholt, RN
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Paul Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center

Janice Yoskovich, RN, OCN
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cancer Center Washington

Extensive effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of names, credentials, and location listings. Locations reflect the time of the essayists' treatment. Submissions with incomplete names are not included.