The 2025 Extraordinary Healer® Award was introduced throughout the fiftieth Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress, recognizing oncology nursing professionals’ dedication and impression.
CURE Media Group acknowledged Kaifan Zhao, AGACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, because the winner of its 2025 Extraordinary Healer® award, which honors nurses within the most cancers neighborhood who dedicate their lives to make a distinction within the lives of sufferers and their family members.
Essays had been submitted by colleagues, sufferers, family and friends members figuring out Zhao, two finalists and 82 different Extraordinary Healer® nominees.
The Extraordinary Healer® award occasion, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech, was hosted on April 9, throughout an in-person celebration held along side the fiftieth Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress in Denver.
Marie Block, Product Supervisor of Advertising of CAR-T Nurse Expertise Oncology® at Johnson & Johnson, famous that the function oncology nurses play in affected person care is the spine of their establishment and care.
The occasion additionally featured keynote speaker, Amy Robach, an American tv journalist, podcaster, and writer of The New York Instances bestseller “Higher: How I Let Go of Management, Held on to Hope, and Discovered Pleasure in My Darkest Hour.” Robach’s story of resilience and hope gained widespread consideration after her breast most cancers analysis, which was revealed following an on-air mammogram on Good Morning America.
Her expertise with most cancers and subsequent remedy is detailed in her bestselling e book, the place she shares her journey of discovering pleasure regardless of dealing with adversity. Robach has since turn out to be a outstanding advocate for breast most cancers consciousness, utilizing her platform to encourage others to prioritize their well being and endure common screenings.
“You’re strolling with [patients with cancer] throughout the scariest time of their lives,” she stated. “They’re afraid for his or her lives. They’re afraid to consider tomorrow. They’re preventing for tomorrow, and you might be there as their spine, as their assist, as their mild.”
Amy continued to speak about her personal most cancers journey and the challenges she confronted when she was identified with most cancers.
“I spotted how fragile life actually is, how simply it may be upended by one thing like a analysis that seems like a demise sentence,” she stated. “And but, one way or the other, right here I’m, 11 years later, nonetheless standing, nonetheless preventing. Alongside the way in which, I met so many unimaginable individuals, like my fellow most cancers warriors and the extraordinary healers within the rooms, who made me really feel like I wasn’t alone. They didn’t simply deal with my physique — they supported my spirit, my thoughts and my hope. It wasn’t simple, however that’s the place the true therapeutic started.”
“It’s by no means simply in regards to the medication — it’s in regards to the individuals who stroll alongside you thru the scariest, darkest moments of your life,” she continued. “These are the moments that form you, that make you notice the power you by no means knew you had. I do know most cancers doesn’t simply disappear. It is with you without end, behind your thoughts, within the selections you make, within the relationships you maintain expensive. However you be taught to dwell with it, to seek out new which means in life, and to cherish day by day you get. That’s the best reward of all.”
Bridging Cultural Gaps in Palliative Care
Zhao, a sophisticated observe nurse at Metropolis of Hope’s supportive care medication, was nominated by Carey T. Ramirez, for his groundbreaking work in offering culturally delicate palliative care.
Zhao acknowledged the precise wants of Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking sufferers with most cancers, and established a specialised clinic in 2023, which has already served over 100 people. His dedication to addressing healthcare gaps and guaranteeing holistic, culturally competent care has made a profound impression on each sufferers and the healthcare neighborhood.
“Kaifan recalled that though he had many Chinese language-speaking colleagues, nobody appeared to take a stand to advocate and serve this inhabitants,” he stated. “Having had such a tumultuous expertise navigating the well being care system as an adolescent, Kaifan felt referred to as to make a distinction for Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking sufferers. He was uniquely positioned with the abilities and data to make a distinction.”
The opposite finalists for the Extraordinary Healer award had been Kathleen Coughlin, MSN, ANP-BC, BMTCN, and Matthew Mangold, BSN, RN.
Supporting Oncology Nursing Management
Coughlin, an oncology nurse practitioner and scientific nursing director of the bone marrow transplant/oncology unit at Tufts Medical Middle in Boston, was nominated by her colleague Antonia Maloney, for her distinctive management and advocacy in oncology nursing.
With 26 years of expertise at Tufts, Coughlin has turn out to be a pillar of assist for each her sufferers and colleagues. She has labored tirelessly to make sure that sufferers obtain the very best care whereas mentoring and educating the following era of oncology nurses. Coughlin’s dedication extends past the scientific setting as she can also be dedicated to the skilled growth of novice nurses, serving to them construct the abilities and fervour wanted to thrive in oncology nursing.
“Kathleen does the extraordinary work of taking the time to really know and perceive her sufferers and the obstacles they encounter,” stated Maloney throughout the ceremony. “Not too long ago, Kathleen had a affected person who opted to forgo remedy due to transportation points. All out there sources had been depleted, so Kathleen launched him to a different affected person who lived in his space and likewise had acquired a bone marrow transplant. These sufferers and their households had been each touring into the town two to 3 instances every week. The households had been in a position to assist one another and help with transportation. They’ve now turn out to be prolonged household and one another’s lifeline.”
Honoring Veterans with Compassion
Mangold, a radiation oncology nurse at Fox Chase Most cancers Middle in Philadelphia, was nominated by Erin Longstreth-Papsun, for his distinctive initiative to honor veterans present process most cancers remedy. Mangold, a veteran of a navy household, based Radiating Valor to acknowledge the service of veterans by presenting them with handcrafted wood American flags on their final day of remedy.
His dedication to affected person advocacy and supporting veterans is clear in his care and within the creation of this program. Along with his scientific function, Mangold can also be working towards oncology certification and serves on the affected person schooling and employees wellness committees at his hospital.
“Since becoming a member of the group in 2023, Matt has demonstrated outstanding adaptability and perception. He rapidly grasped the intricacies of affected person care inside radiation oncology, changing into a powerful contributor to group engagement and collaboration. His calm, methodical strategy not solely reassures sufferers throughout a difficult time but additionally fosters a supportive setting for his colleagues,” stated Coughlin throughout the ceremony.
‘A Composition of Compassion, Experience and Resilience’
Kristie L. Kahl, vice chairman of oncology content material at MJH Life Sciences, the mum or dad firm of CURE Media Group, mirrored on the nominations that had been acquired for this yr’s Extraordinary Healer® award and the compassion that encompasses every nominee.
“Every of you on this room encompasses a composition of compassion, experience and resilience. And we’re proud to have the distinctive alternative to acknowledge our oncology nurses,” she stated throughout the ceremony. “I communicate on behalf of myself and everybody at CURE and Oncology Nursing Information in that we recognize all of you right here this night, our oncology nurses. Please know that your work is seen, your dedication is valued, and your impression is immeasurable.”
James Rivelinno, director of gross sales for CURE and Oncology Nursing Information, in addition to Focused Oncology, acknowledged the dedication oncology nurses have within the caring of sufferers with most cancers.
“And most significantly, to the oncology nursing neighborhood. CURE is proud to shine a highlight on a career that routinely goes above and past for most cancers sufferers,” he stated. “You’re the spine of most cancers care — the guiding mild for sufferers and households by a few of their most troublesome moments. Whether or not providing a reassuring contact, a compassionate ear, or knowledgeable steerage by advanced remedies, you convey each science and coronary heart into your work each single day. And tonight, we have fun you.”
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