Jenifer (Jena) Cooreman has joined Angela Usher as a full-time licensed clinical social worker at the cancer center. Angela reports that the two have been making their way through the Cancer Center and trying to meet everyone. If they haven't met you, please stop by to introduce yourself.

Angela Usher

 

Jena and Angela are discussing ways to expand and develop social services so that they can be more pro-active with patient mental health care, and they welcome suggestions. They also will attend some of the tumor boards as participants in the treatment teams.   

    

"I have to say I am thrilled to have Jena with us, as I now feel like we can start to get a handle on the program needs for psycho-social support for our patients," said Angela, noting that the NCI and American College of Surgeons require that mental health support to cancer patients must be well established and functioning by 2015, specifically in the areas of; survivorship support, palliative care, RN navigation, and new patient distress assessment and counseling.

 

"I have been doing a fair amount of research in these areas and talking to other oncology social workers to get an idea of what they are offering," said Angela. "I think we have a great opportunity to expand what we are offering patients in terms of mental health treatment and look forward to the future here at the Cancer Center." 

Chen named as career advisor     

Allen Chen

Dr. Allen Chen has been selected as a career advisor for the Office of Medical Education. He will be responsible for mentoring 20 medical students from matriculation through graduation, facilitate the residency application process and 4th year elective process, and participate in student leadership development. The time commitment is 160 hours annually to provide student support and to serve as a faculty resource to them during their medical education and training. 

Li chosen to help allocate research space  

Jian-Jian Li

Dr. Jian-Jian Li, on behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee, has been selected for the Research Space Advisory Committee (RSAC). RSAC advises the Associate Dean for Research on the setting of policy for allocation of research space to the Faculty of the School of Medicine, both preclinical and clinical, and advises the Associate Dean for Research regarding the implementation of these policies. Dr. Li's term of membership will be from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015.

Athena Breast Health Network going strong in Rocklin

With the help of newly recruited Patient Navigator Lauren Massa, 1,234 screening patients have now completed the electronic Breast Health Questionnaire at the Placer Center for Health Mammography Clinic. Patients have the option of participating in research by sharing their data and/or donating a biospecimen once they have completed their questionnaire. Eighty-one percent of patients have agreed to share their data for research and 57% of those patients agreed to donate a biospecimen. Program Manager Khoban Kochai said the network plans to begin risk assessment this month. In this phase, patient questionnaire responses will help create a personalized breast cancer risk report, which will then be provided to both the patient and their primary care provider. Patients at elevated risk will be referred to an Athena breast health specialist (Elyse Love), a genetic counselor with training in breast care and risk communication. The breast health specialist will confirm the patient's breast health risk and, accordingly, provide the patient appropriate referrals and a summary of the appointment for the primary care provider.

Cancer Center Expansion naming opportunities available

Marnie Livingston, left, Tammy Weldon and Abbey Degraffenreid have pledged their support.

Naming opportunities in the expansion are still available! Join health system employees Abbey Degraffenreid, Marnie Livingston and Tammy Welden with a payroll deduction pledge of $5,000 or more to name an exam room, infusion bay or work station to honor a physician, a family member or yourself. Infusion chairs can be named for $2,500. Any pledge can be paid over five years at only $83.33 a month ($38.46 a pay period for biweekly employees). To learn about these naming opportunities, please contact Michele Steiner, associate director of development at (916) 734-9116 or michele.steiner@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.

Contribute to the honorary naming for Dr. James E. Goodnight

Wayne and Jacque Bartholomew

Sanger man gives over $55,000 in honor of wife

Joe Tuscano

• $25,000 name an isolation room to honor his wife Virginia;
• $5,000 donor wall naming for Dominic Coehelo, a family friend who passed away after a car accident; and
• $25,875.36 for Dr. Tuscano's research

Peer Navigator programs seeking tea cups and saucers

The WeCARE! Cancer Peer Navigator Program will be collecting gently used tea cups through August 10. You may drop off your donation to the FSSB building, located at 4800 2nd Avenue, Suite 2200 between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. or send cups directly to Cup With Love as directed by their website. They also will take monetary donations if you would like to make a contribution for them to purchase gift bag items. The Cup With Love organization provides complimentary gift bags to newly diagnosed cancer patients. The bag includes a tea cup and saucer, an angel stone, poem of encouragement bookmarker, and is beautifully packaged. This organization has been providing the WeCARE! Peer Navigator program complimentary gift bags for the past three years. These bags are given to the patient by their Peer Navigator. The patients feel so touched by receiving this lovely gift of hope and encouragement to support them in a positive way as they undergo treatment. Visit www.cupwithlove.org to learn more about the generous gift of love they send to cancer patients. For additional information, contact Elle Mefford at (916) 734-5786.