Cranbury, NJ, January 22, 2020 – The Lynx Group, a global strategic alliance of medical communications and education companies, and the official association management and marketing company of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+), is pleased to announce important changes to the organization’s leadership, effective January 1, 2020. The changes include 1 major leadership shift and 2 appointments to senior roles.
Sharon Gentry, RN, MSN, CBCN, CBEC, HON-ONN-CG, has been named AONN+ Program Director. In this new role, Sharon takes over the former duties and responsibilities of Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, HON-ONN-CG, who previously held the position for 10 years. Lillie will continue in her role as AONN+ Co-Founder and supporter.
Sharon has been a member of the AONN+ Leadership Council since its inception in 2009 and speaks at the organization’s annual and midyear conferences on nurse navigation issues. From 2012 through 2017, she co-chaired the annual AONN+ Conferences as well as served on the teams for certification and metrics. Sharon currently sits on the editorial boards of AONN+ publications The Oncology Nurse-APN/PA (TON) and CONQUER: the patient voice and is the breast cancer editor for the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (JONS). She has authored several pieces in JONS, Cancer, TON, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology and CONQUER, as well as chapters in Delivering Patient-Centered Care Across the Continuum, Nurse Navigation Case Studies,and Team-Based Oncology Care: The Pivotal Role of Oncology Navigation. She also has been instrumental in the development of local navigation networks across the US and internationally. She speaks nationally on the topic of patient navigation.
AONN+ welcomes Emily Gentry, BSN, RN, HON-ONN-CG, OCN, as Senior Director of Education and Program Development and Co-Director of Certification. In her role as Senior Director of Education and Program Development, Emily will work on building processes and defining outcomes that will enable nurse navigators to work as part of an integrated care team. Emily has been engaged in supporting patients with cancer and their families for more than 30 years. Her most recent position was Navigation Director at Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Medical City Healthcare in Dallas/Fort Worth. She served on the AONN+ Leadership Council in 2016 and founded the AONN+ North Texas Regional Local Navigator Network in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2013. Emily also currently serves on the national AONN+ Conference planning team and has worked over the past several years to elevate the relevance and define the role of the oncology nurse navigator within the community hospital setting. She has also authored several articles in JONS and co-authored chapters in Team-Based Oncology Care.
Monica Dean is appointed Director of Patient Navigation Program Development and Co-Director of Certification. As Director of Patient Navigation Program Development, Monica will work on strengthening as well as forging relationships with advocacy groups to advance collaborative projects. In addition, she will liaise with pharmaceutical interests to develop funding and support specifically for patient navigation educational initiatives. Monica’s most recent position was as the Director of the National Navigation Roundtable (NNRT) at the American Cancer Society Global Headquarters. She was responsible for supporting, planning, and implementing initiatives of the NNRT; overseeing long-term activities; and enacting strategic plans and task group action plans, while creating and maintaining collaborative relationships with external partners and roundtable member organizations.
As Co-Directors of Certification, Emily and Monica will govern, oversee, and direct the process of AONN+ Certification.
“With the addition of both Monica and Emily to the AONN+ team, we are reaffirming our dedication to strong leadership for the nurse and patient navigators that make up the membership,” said Lynx Group CEO Brian Tyburski. “Their extensive experience in the navigation space bolsters their deep understanding of the needs of AONN+ members. I am confident they will invigorate the ongoing certification and accreditation efforts as we continue on our growth trajectory.”
“AONN+ is excited to have the addition of new leadership, which will cultivate accelerated growth and engagement within our membership and partnerships,” said Danelle Johnston, MSN, RN, HON-ONN-CG, OCN, Chief Nursing Officer, Sr. Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives. “The mission remains focused on professional development of our membership that impacts and drives value-based quality cancer care,” she added.
About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators® (www.aonnonline.org)
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+) is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 8,600 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process.
