Advanced cancer care has always been a team sport. Nurses in particular hold a special place in the hearts of many patients and their families. They are often the main “face” of care for people on their cancer journey, and their presence becomes a steadying force — offering not only clinical expertise, but also empathy, trust and even a sense of normalcy during some of the most vulnerable moments of a person’s life.
When their son, Peter, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2008, Anne and Mark Stumpf turned to Rush University Medical Center for an experimental program after another hospital was unable to help him.
The couple was deeply impressed with the nurses’ compassion and their approach to involving the family in Peter’s care.
"I stayed with Peter for 28 days while he was at Rush,” Anne said. “They made me feel included, never ignoring what I had to say or making me feel like I was in the way or asking too many questions.”
At RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center, honoring this trust means ensuring oncology nurses are equipped not only for today’s treatments, but for what cancer care is becoming.
“As cancer care evolves, particularly with the rapid advancement of immunotherapies, nurses are being asked to manage treatments that are more complex, highly individualized and often fast-changing,” explained Jennifer Lerner, MSN, RN, OCN, director of nursing at RUSH MD Anderson.
As the latest frontier in cancer research and treatment, immunotherapies are transforming cancer care. Immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab have helped people with lung cancer live longer lives, while T-cell therapies like chimeric antigen receptor therapy, or CAR T, have helped patients with blood cancers achieve long-term remission. While many of these therapies have received FDA approval, hundreds are still in development and in various phases of clinical trials.
These accelerated treatment advancements, combined with the growing complexity of clinical trials, require oncology nurses to deepen their expertise so they can confidently deliver these highly personalized therapies, recognize risks, explain options and respond quickly when something doesn’t feel right. Unfortunately, not all training and education programs have kept pace to meet the demands of this new landscape.
“Continuing education ensures our nurses stay current with emerging science,” Lerner said. “These opportunities enhance our ability to deliver safer, more effective patient care, support patients and families through very sophisticated treatment pathways, and maintain a strong, confident nursing workforce.”
Thanks to the generosity of our donor community, oncology nurses at RUSH MD Anderson are able to deepen their expertise in emerging therapies so patients continue to experience informed, attentive care at every stage of an increasingly complex treatment journey.
Building on a tradition of nursing excellence
Because of their cancer care journey, Bob and Emily King recognized both the importance of nurses in cancer care and the need for specialized education in immunotherapy. As a result, they established a fund for nursing research and education in oncology as part of a larger gift to support immunotherapy clinical trials and research.
“If we can combine nursing education with an increase in clinical trials and move just a little bit forward in the realm of immunotherapy research — if we have the capacity to do it — we should offer to help,” Emily said.
Since its establishment in 2018, the King Nursing and Education Fund has played an important role in strengthening leadership and professional development opportunities for nurses across cancer care. Last year alone, over 150 oncology nurses completed nationally accredited courses in chemotherapy and immunotherapy. These programs ensure nurses are well prepared to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to patients undergoing complex cancer therapy regimens.
“Investments like the King Fund matter because they have a direct effect on strengthening the front line of cancer care,” Lerner said. “They create a culture where learning and excellence are supported, and that has a profound impact on both staff morale and the patient experience.”
Interested in supporting the ongoing professional development of Rush oncology nurses? Make a gift to the King Nursing Education and Research Fund.
All philanthropic gifts benefit initiatives of RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center in the greater Chicago area and Northwest Indiana and do not fund research or programs at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
