Erin Burnett

In her position as the nurse case manager for our lung cancer patients, Erin is the primary nurse for patients who often have just a few months to live when they first learn of their diagnosis. Erin's expertise and attention to detail make an enormous difference in the lives of these patients and their families from the first meeting in clinic all the way through the course of their illness and treatment, and continuing through their end-of-life care. Erin is a constant source of support for these families, providing information, ensuring that they are connected with all available resources, helping them to manage the symptoms of the disease and the side effects of treatment. Above and beyond her clinical excellence, Erin forms a special bond with these families that give them the comfort of knowing that we truly care about them. Because these patients often have a very poor prognosis and a relatively short journey to the end-of-life, Erin is often faced with loss and grief. It is not uncommon to have several patients die in one week. But Erin does not let this stop her from being close to the patients and families, and her presence in their lives at the end provides the kind of healing that is beyond the realm of medicine. Erin's caring and compassion truly makes a difference in the lives of our patients and their families.