AONN+ Awards

 
The nomination period for the 2023 AONN+ Awards closed on September 29, 2023. The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) Awards grant prestigious recognition to oncology navigators, researchers, employers, and individuals for their contributions to better patient care and their professions. It is an honor to recognize their commitment to navigation and their inspiring achievements.
Each AONN+ Annual Conference includes a reception to announce winners. Help us celebrate 2023’s winners in person at this year’s Annual Conference. Register now!
The AONN+ Leadership Council is delighted to present the Awards categories.

Categories

AONN+ Ambassador Award
The Ambassador Award recognizes an AONN+ member’s dedicated ambassadorship of the Academy’s core values to oncology patients, their families, and professional communities.
AONN+ Evidence into Practice Award
The Evidence into Practice Award recognizes an AONN+ member who has conducted evidence-based research that builds on the body of work in oncology navigation.
AONN+ Oncology Navigation Excellence Award
The Oncology Navigation Excellence (ONE) Award recognizes an oncology navigator for his or her outstanding contributions to oncology navigation, patient care, or education.
AONN+ Organizational Recognition Award
The Organizational Recognition Award acknowledges the employers who recognize and support oncology navigation.
AONN+ Outstanding Local Navigator Network Award
The Outstanding Local Navigator Network Award recognizes a Local Navigator Network’s outstanding effort in the establishment of a forum for professional development and networking that aligns with the Academy’s mission.
Hero of Hope Patient Award
The Hero of Hope Patient Award annually recognizes an individual whose life is touched by cancer for his or her outstanding contributions to the cancer community.
Lillie D. Shockney Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an AONN+ member for his or her career achievements and outstanding contributions to cancer care.

Past Winners

  • Lifetime Achievement Award

    This award recognizes an AONN+ member who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of Oncology Navigation and to the Academy. This awardee exemplifies the mission and vision of AONN+.

    Linda Fleisher, PhD, MPH
    Principal Investigator
    Fox Chase Cancer Center

    Outstanding Local Navigator Network Award

    This award recognizes a Local Navigator Network’s exceptional work in establishment of an open forum for professional development and networking that aligns with the AONN+ national mission.

    Fairfield County Patient Navigation Network - (FCPNN) Connecticut

    Ambassador Award

    This award recognizes exceptional leadership and devoted service sharing the AONN+ mission to oncology patients & families & professional communities.

    Zarek Mena, OPN-CG
    Women's Health Program Manager
    Whittingham Cancer Center/MSK Physicians at Norwalk

    Evidence Into Practice Award

    This award recognizes the contributions of an AONN+ member who has conducted and promoted evidence-based research, which has augmented the field of oncology navigation.

    Tricia Strusowski, RN, MSN
    Independent Oncology Contractor

    Organizational Recognition Award

    This award acknowledges employers who embrace the critical role of oncology navigators and foster their growth.

    Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Miami, FL

    Oncology Navigator Excellence (ONE) Award

    This award recognizes an oncology navigator for his or her outstanding contributions to oncology navigation, patient care, or education.

    Kellie Mitchell, BSN, RN, OCN
    Oncology Nurse Navigator
    Wellstar Paulding

    Hero of Hope™ Patient Award

    In partnership with CONQUER magazine, the Hero of Hope Patient Award annually recognizes an individual whose life is touched by cancer for his or her outstanding contributions to the cancer community.

    Megan Knight

  • Lifetime Achievement Award

    This award recognizes an AONN+ member who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of Oncology Navigation and to the Academy. This awardee exemplifies the mission and vision of AONN+.

    Danelle Johnston, MSN, RN, HON-ONN-CG, OCN
    Senior Vice President, Mission Delivery
    Cancer Support Community

    Outstanding Local Navigator Network Award

    This award recognizes a Local Navigator Network’s exceptional work in establishment of an open forum for professional development and networking that aligns with the AONN+ national mission.

    Central Indiana Local Navigator Network

    Ambassador Award

    This award recognizes exceptional leadership and devoted service sharing the AONN+ mission to oncology patients & families & professional communities.

    Elizabeth Franklin, PhD, MSW
    Executive Director, Cancer Policy Institute
    Cancer Support Community,
    Washington, DC

    Evidence Into Practice Award

    This award recognizes the contributions of an AONN+ member who has conducted and promoted evidence-based research, which has augmented the field of oncology navigation.

    Jennifer Klemp, PhD, MPH
    Associate Professor, Medicine,
    Division of Clinical Oncology,
    Director, Cancer Survivorship
    Co-Program Leader for Cancer Prevention and Survivorship,
    University of Kansas Cancer Center

    Organizational Recognition Award

    This award acknowledges employers who embrace the critical role of oncology navigators and foster their growth.

    Sarah Cannon
    Nashville, TN

    Oncology Navigator Excellence (ONE) Award

    This award recognizes an oncology navigator for his or her outstanding contributions to oncology navigation, patient care, or education.

    Margaret Rummel, RN, MHA, OCN, NE-BC, HON-ONN-CG
    Abramson Cancer Center,
    Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Hero of Hope™ Patient Award

    In partnership with CONQUER magazine, the Hero of Hope Patient Award annually recognizes an individual whose life is touched by cancer for his or her outstanding contributions to the cancer community.

    Khadijat Fatai-Banwo
    HER2 Triple-Positive Breast Cancer Survivor
    Co-Founder, Project PINK BLUE
    Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

  • Lifetime Achievement Award

    This award recognizes an AONN+ member who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of Oncology Navigation and to the Academy. This awardee exemplifies the mission and vision of AONN+.

    Sharon Gentry, RN, MSN, CBCN, CBEC, HON-ONN-CG
    Breast Nurse Navigator
    Novant Health Derrick L. Davis Cancer Center
    Winston-Salem, North Carolina

    Outstanding Local Navigator Network Award

    This award recognizes a Local Navigator Network’s exceptional work in establishment of an open forum for professional development and networking that aligns with the AONN+ national mission.

    Upstate South Carolina

    Ambassador Award

    This award recognizes exceptional leadership and devoted service sharing the AONN+ mission to oncology patients & families & professional communities.

    Jo Maria Watson Weathers, RN, BSN, OCN, CBCN
    Oncology Multidisciplinary Center Supervisor for Navigation
    Greenville Hospital System
    Greenville, South Carolina

    Evidence Into Practice Award

    This award recognizes the contributions of an AONN+ member who has conducted and promoted evidence-based research, which has augmented the field of oncology navigation.

    Clara Lambert, BBA, OPN-CG
    Oncology Financial Navigator
    Bhorade Cancer Center Advocate
    Good Samaritan Hospital
    Downers Grove, Illinois

    Organizational Recognition Award

    This award acknowledges employers who embrace the critical role of oncology navigators and foster their growth.

    Masonic Cancer Alliance
    KU Clinical Research Center
    University of Kansas
    Fairway, Kansas

    Oncology Navigator Excellence (ONE) Award

    This award recognizes an oncology navigator for his or her outstanding contributions to oncology navigation, patient care, or education.

    Susie Ulloa, RN, OCN, ONN-CG
    Breast Oncology Nurse Navigator
    North Florida Regional Center powered by Sarah Cannon
    Gainesville, Florida

    Hero of Hope™ Patient Award

    In partnership with CONQUER magazine, the Hero of Hope Patient Award annually recognizes an individual whose life is touched by cancer for his or her outstanding contributions to the cancer community.

    Kirsten Arbon
    Breast Cancer Survivor
    Founder of the KM3 Project
    Placentia, California

  • Lifetime Achievement Award

    This award recognizes an AONN+ member who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of Oncology Navigation and to the Academy. This awardee exemplifies the mission and vision of AONN+.

    Lillie Shockney, RN, B.S., MAS, ONN-CG
    University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer
    Professor of Surgery , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Co-Developer, Work Stride- Managing Cancer at Work
    Johns Hopkins Healthcare Solutions

    Outstanding Local Navigator Network Award

    This award recognizes a Local Navigator Network’s exceptional work in establishment of an open forum for professional development and networking that aligns with the AONN+ national mission.

    Virginia Cancer Patient Navigator Network

    • Meets a minimum of 50% of active AONN+ members
    • Meets all requirements for LNN ( quarterly meetings, submission of meeting reports and annual report)
    • Aligns with national AONN+ mission and vision
    • Demonstrates active engagement with local community and industry partners
    Ambassador Award

    This award recognizes exceptional leadership and devoted service sharing the AONN+ mission to oncology patients & families & professional communities.

    Pamela Goetz, BA, OPN-CG
    Oncology Survivorship Navigator
    Center for Patient and Family Services
    Sibley Memorial Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine

    • AONN+ Leadership Council since 2013– ensuring the voice of the patient navigator is represented within the association
    • Leadership on AONN+ National Committees: EIP, Newsletter and AQUIRE
    • Several Publications in the Journal of Oncology Navigation and Survivorship and CONQUER
    • 2018 - facilitated 2 webinars focused on abstract submission and presentation
    • Development of first of kind AONN+ National Pre-Conference Workshop to offer mentorship and support to attendees focused on “Demystifying the Research Process: Workshop for Patient Navigators, Social Workers, and Administrators”
    Evidence Into Practice Award

    This award recognizes the contributions of an AONN+ member who has conducted and promoted evidence-based research, which has augmented the field of oncology navigation.

    Linda Burhansstipanov, MSPH, DrPH
    Founder, Native American Cancer Research Corporation
    President, Native American Cancer Initiatives, Inc

    • Actively involved with her population health and wellness endeavors nationwide – currently is the principal investigator and subcontractor for 5 NIH grants
    • Serves on numerous national and local advisory boards and committees to promote research and programmatic efforts to assist Native People in obtaining higher levels of health.
    • Founder and president of the Native American Cancer Research Corporation
    • 100 peer-reviewed publications, of which most address Native American cancer, public health and data issues.
    • Member of the National Institutes of Health national advisory council on Minority Health and Health Disparities
    Organizational Recognition Award

    This award acknowledges employers who embrace the critical role of oncology navigators and foster their growth.

    Miami Cancer Institute

    Oncology Navigator Excellence (ONE) Award

    This award recognizes an oncology navigator for his or her outstanding contributions to oncology navigation, patient care, or education.

    Ashley Marks, RN, BSN, CHPN, CBCN
    Gynecologic Oncology Nurse Navigator, Woman’s Hospital

    Hero of Hope™ Patient Award

    In partnership with CONQUER magazine, the Hero of Hope Patient Award annually recognizes an individual whose life is touched by cancer for his or her outstanding contributions to the cancer community.

    Jessica Morris
    Glioblastoma Survivor
    Co-Founder of OurBrainBank nonprofit organization and OurBrainBank app