Cranbury, NJ (April 27, 2021) – 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 March 29, 2021. The changes reflect an increased focus and support for the AONN+ Foundation for Learning, Inc (FFL), certification and accreditation process and a shift in the structure of guidance within AONN+.
AONN+ is excited to announce that Lisa Hartman, MA, BSEd, BSN, RN, has joined The Lynx Group as the Director of Certification for AONN+ FFL. Lisa comes from Sarah Cannon and HCA, where she was the Director for Oncology Training and Education. She set and drove training strategy for the entire enterprise, across multiple lines of business and in collaboration with senior leadership and physician leaders. In a previous position with Sarah Cannon, she was Director of Navigation Education, with responsibility for the co-creation of the Sarah Cannon model of navigation and other programmatic foundational materials. With an internal team, she set operational standards and created training/communication/implementation plans to strategize adoption of standards across large geographic areas. Prior to joining Sarah Cannon, she created an oncology nurse navigation program in collaboration with physician leaders and hospital administration at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, NC. With this program, she conceptualized a Virtual Integrative Medicine program for oncology patients and created strategic relationships with community partners to bring this concept to fruition, offering all patients access to integrative medicine services and education. She has a rich background with a master’s degree in English from Clemson University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Northwest Missouri State University prior to earning her RN and BSN degrees. She will complete her master’s degree in international business at the University of Delaware in May 2021.
The addition of this new leadership position allows both Emily Gentry, BSN, RN, HON-ONN-CG, OCN, AONN+ Senior Director of Education and Program Development, and Monica Dean, HON-OPN-CG, AONN+ Director of Patient Navigation Program Development, to co-direct the organization to enhance recognition of all patient navigators, whether in clinically licensed or nonclinical licensed positions. They will continue to lead strategic imperatives for AONN+ to advance the role of patient navigation in cancer care across the care continuum as well as impact and drive value-based quality cancer care. They will utilize marketplace knowledge of current issues and trends in nursing practice, navigation, education, research, healthcare administration, and health policy related to value-based oncology care and patient navigation to enhance education, services, and projects for The Lynx Group and AONN+.
Supporting this leadership shift is Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, HON-ONN-CG, remaining in her role as Co-Founder of AONN+, and Sharon Gentry, RN, MSN, CBCN, HON-ONN-CG, continuing as AONN+ Program Director.
Please welcome Lisa to the team as she works with Emily and Monica over the next months of transition with role orientation and training, and congratulate Emily and Monica as they co-direct AONN+ to support the national footprint of navigation for our organization!
About AONN+ Foundation for Learning, Inc
AONN+ Foundation for Learning, Inc (FFL, Inc), created professional certifications in response to the increasing demands of its membership to design a specific type of certification to distinguish the knowledge, skills, and role of the Oncology Nurse Navigator (ONN-CGSM) and the Oncology Patient Navigator (OPN-CGSM) from that of other types of nursing certifications provided by other organizations. Hence, the AONN+ FFL, Inc, Certification Advisory Commission was born. Made up of experienced leaders within the field of navigation, the Commission developed the educational criteria for the certification exams.
About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc
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 nearly 8900 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.
About the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship
The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship® (www.jons-online.com) is the official publication of AONN+. JONS seeks to strengthen the role of nurse and patient navigators in cancer care by serving as a platform for these professionals to disseminate original research findings, exchange best practices, and find support for their growing community.
About CONQUER: the patient voice magazine
CONQUER: the patient voice™ magazine (www.conquer-magazine.com) is the AONN+ premier forum for patients with cancer. CONQUER features articles written by and for patients with cancer, survivors, nurse navigators, and other oncology team members. This magazine addresses the issues that patients, their family members, and caregivers face every day in an easy-to-read format. Issues include interviews with patients with cancer, information on access to care, and articles on lifestyle topics such as nutrition, stress management, personal finance, and legal and employer issues. CONQUER also features patient stories that are nominated for the AONN+ Hero of Hope™ award, which is presented at the AONN+ Annual Conference. All stories are compiled in a special issue of CONQUER at the end of the year.
Gwen Coverdale, 267-884-6328
