Warmth, Friendship and Compassion in Cancer Care

Carla Chapman is praised for her compassion and unwavering support of cancer patients, while Deb Christensen continues to dedicate her life to helping cancer patients through volunteer work and education.

Caring for patients with cancer involves a lot of “big” medical moments — sharing a diagnosis, discussing end-of-life care or making decisions about surgery or chemotherapy treatments. Caring for patients with cancer also involves a lot of critical, but quiet moments — when the patient is confronting something by herself, without a phalanx of family and friends, or when she is trying to find the courage and the calmness to move forward with treatment or reach out for assistance.

It is in those quieter moments when Carla Chapman shines as a chemotherapy infusion nurse at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her warmth, friendship and compassion that she gives to the patients in her care make her an extraordinary caregiver and an extraordinary healer. 

Carla is a seasoned professional, experience has given her assurance and confidence that her patients rely upon and value enormously. She is the calm, quiet voice when all around is noise and chaos: explaining a new treatment, outlining the follow-up care, talking about how things are going and making patients and families feel at ease in the most non-normal of moments in their lives.

As a busy oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, I cherish having nurses like Ms. Chapman to work with, and count on their humanity, wisdom and technical expertise to make the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute a special place for our patients. I have known Carla for nearly 25 years, and her unflappable, helpful and cheerful demeanor is an invaluable asset to her patients and our Institute. 

It is worth noting that Ms. Chapman serves as a floor leader in our nursing program — the nurse who helps sort out scheduling problems and adds in patients who need to be seen and otherwise makes the patient flow through the clinic “work” on a day-to-day basis. This, too, is an incredible, often underappreciated, skill that allows us to say “yes” to the complex needs of patients, and to respond to their changing clinical situations and care for them in the way that we would all like to be cared for if we were patients with cancer.

These two abilities — to be a calm, strong and comforting presence to our patients, and to facilitate their complex needs — are tremendously important to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and our patients, which make Carla both a remarkable colleague and an extraordinary healer, very deserving of recognition.

Compassionate Innovation in Oncology Nursing

In the realm of oncology nursing, few shine as brightly as Deb Christensen, a beacon of compassionate innovation. Her illustrious career, marked by profound dedication and expertise, has profoundly impacted both the field of oncology nursing and the lives of countless patients with cancer.

At the heart of Deb's career lies her role in oncology patient navigation, a field she not only excelled in but also led within a major health system. Her proficiency in guiding patients through the intricate maze of cancer treatments and her in-depth understanding of oncologic care set a high standard in patient support.

Even after her retirement, Deb's passion for helping patients with cancer remains undiminished. She volunteers tirelessly at the Cancer Help Desk, offering invaluable assistance in identifying testing and treatment options, a testament to her unwavering commitment.

Deb's influence extends beyond direct patient care. Her contributions to the Oncology Nursing Society and authorship in oncology nursing literature reflect her dedication to advancing the field through education. By sharing her vast knowledge, Deb has equipped countless professionals with the tools to provide better patient care.

What truly sets Deb apart, however, is the personal impact she has on those she helps. Patients and colleagues alike speak of her empathy, her unique ability to understand and advocate for each patient's needs, and her unwavering dedication.

Deb Christensen's legacy in oncology nursing is not just in her professional accomplishments, but in the lives she has touched, the standards she has set and the compassionate, innovative approach she embodies in her every action.

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