Oncology Nursing Foundation Celebrates the Importance of Mentorship in Nursing
(April 29, 2021) PITTSBURGH — The Oncology Nursing Foundation announces that the recipient of the 2021 Connie Henke Yarbro Excellence in Cancer Nursing Mentorship Award is Erica Fischer-Cartlidge, DNP, RN, CNS, CBCN®, AOCNS®. Dr. Cartlidge is a Nurse Leader of Evidence-based Practice and Clinical Nurse Specialists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York. The award will be celebrated in programming later this year.
The Connie Henke Yarbro Excellence in Cancer Nursing Mentorship Award was established to recognize and support excellence in oncology nursing mentorship in the name of a founding member of the Oncology Nursing Society and Foundation, Connie Henke Yarbro. “Erica’s energetic, nurturing, and inspiring nature make her an exceptional mentor,” said Tracy Gosselin, PhD, RN, AOCN®, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the Oncology Nursing Foundation. “The Foundation is delighted to recognize her for her caring investment in the career development of many oncology nurses whom she has mentored.”
Dr. Cartlidge holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Scranton, a master’s degree in nursing from Drexel University, and a doctorate in nursing practice with a leadership concentration from Quinnipiac University. She has led many large clinical initiatives, including the development of hospital-wide interdisciplinary standards for the prevention and management of mucositis; the implementation of scalp cooling across more than 15 sites; development of a nurse-driven penicillin allergy testing program; and, most notably, the Publishing@MSK mentorship program, which has produced 36 publications in peer-reviewed manuscripts since its inception.
Dr. Cartlidge is currently a director-at-large with the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, is a past president of the New York City Chapter of ONS, is a past chair of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation Certification News editorial board, and has participated in numerous other volunteer programs with ONS, such as the Millennial Advisory Panel, Student Advisory Panel, and liaison to the NAPBC Program. “I have had the privilege of receiving mentorship from prior winners of this award that shaped my career and who I am as a nurse today,” she said. “To be recognized among these incredible oncology nurses is an honor I could never have imagined.”
The Oncology Nursing Foundation celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. It was created by the Oncology Nursing Society in 1981 to accept charitable contributions to advance important activities like this lectureship on behalf of oncology nursing. The mission of the Oncology Nursing Foundation is to support oncology nursing excellence. Thanks to the generosity of individuals and institutions, the Oncology Nursing Foundation has awarded more than $29 million in funding since its inception for education, research, and leadership development for oncology nurses to give them the opportunity to pursue excellence in delivering care to patients with cancer. For more information or to donate to the Oncology Nursing Foundation, visit www.onfgivesback.org.
Media Contact:
Nicole Lininger
nlininger@ons.org