Nursing Profiles

Renee T.

Morristown, NJ
RN, MPH

I graduated Nursing School in 1986 from Columbia University School of Nursing in New York City. My career has been in oncology nursing, caring for patients in all phases of health and illness.
I began my career at a major cancer center in New York, first working in neuro-oncology, then in the main operating room in preparation for opening of the Surgical Day Hospital. I soon became the research nurse of the head and neck service and coordinated several IRB studies and organized the first head and neck screening day. After that I provided perioperative nursing care to prostate and urologic patients in an ambulatory setting. I received my Masters in Public Health from Hunter College of the City of New York. Most recently, I function as the patient care coordinator of a comprehensive breast center at a major medical center in New Jersey.

As a nurse, not only do I help my patients but I am there for their family members, who in turn support their loved ones. To me, this is nursing in its essence. It is the ability to start with the patient and their family network, to provide the patient with the best medical care possible and support the patient's loved ones while promoting the healing process.

Currently, I devote my professional time to helping mammography patients and newly diagnosed breast cancer patients navigate through the health system. Each woman has different levels of understanding, methods and support systems to use in their decision making and attitudes as to how they to approach their experience.

As a nurse and patient advocate, I want the best outcome for each woman. I want the patient besides me in years to come walking in breast cancer awareness events such as "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" by the American Cancer Society.