Nora Katurakes
June 2020
Nora
Katurakes
,
MSN, RN, OCN
Helen F Graham Cancer Center
ChristianaCare
Newark
,
DE
United States
It is with great pleasure and respect that I nominate Nora Katurakes, MSN, RN, OCN for the Daisy Lifetime Achievement Award. Nora's career has spanned an abundant 42 years of dedication to intimately touching the lives of many and advancing the nursing profession. Please allow me to share some highlights of her career that support this nomination.
Nora graduated in 1978 with a BSN from the University of Delaware. Her fruitful career began by spending her formative years at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas where she was selected to participate in an Oncology Nurse Internship and received her Master's in Oncology and Administration in 1984 from the University of Texas Health Science Center. While at MD Anderson Nora worked as a staff nurse on a surgical unit and with head and neck cancer patients. She was part of the MD Anderson cancer service line education team which developed tools, programs, and standards for community education. As a CNS Nora mentored staff on all three shifts in providing quality care to surgical patients. She was also the nursing liaison with the fellows at that facility. During this time Nora rose to the challenge as she called upon her emergency preparedness training during a hurricane and role modeled to staff the efforts of evacuating patients from the Medical ICUs into the hallway without compromising care. Nora's skills of communication and de-escalation were paramount in keeping staff, patients, and family members calm during the crisis. Nora is proud to have been instrumental in developing the first process for post-mastectomy patients to safely go home with drains when otherwise the expected length of stay was at least two weeks. While there she was a proponent of nursing certification having obtained her Oncology Nursing Certification in 1994 and has kept it to this day, continuing to celebrate and support other nurses to do the same. She was also an entero-stomal therapist while at MD Anderson and began honing her public speaking skills while presenting at MD Anderson conferences. Her commitment to community organizations was born at that time as she was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.
Nora returned to her home community and the state of Delaware where we have been the benefactors of her collimation of blended experience and expertise ever since. Upon return, Nora worked with the Christiana Care VNA. A highlight of her time in the VNA includes supporting nurses by facilitating a study group for nurses pursuing oncology nursing certification. Her group was instrumental in the success of nurses successfully obtaining their certification. In 1998 Nora became the manager of Community Health Outreach and Education Department. Her focus has been on community education, risk assessment and reduction, cancer screening, patient navigation, and access to care for disparate populations. Having been at ChristinaCare for a short time her community work in cancer care was well known and she was appointed as a founding member of the Delaware Cancer Consortium. The Delaware Cancer Consortium was originally formed as the Delaware Advisory Council on Cancer Incidence and Mortality in March 2001 to advise the governor and legislature on the causes of cancer incidence and mortality and potential methods for reducing both. Nora continues to be an active member representing nursing, nurse navigation, legislation, and action for disparate populations. Through the work of Nora and her team she has influenced state-wide legislative decisions (raising the age for cigarette purchase and use of tanning beds), professional nursing practice, and the care and outcomes for those at risk for or with cancer (please see information at end of this application).
Nora has been a longstanding member of the national and local chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. She has held every office from treasurer, secretary, membership, chair-elect, and chair throughout her career. She has presented at the Oncology Nursing Society's annual congress on the Advances in Prevention of Cervical Cancer. She has also presented on shared decision making with the American Society of Preventive Oncology presentation on Factors Affecting Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision Stage.
Nora prominently demonstrated personal growth and professional development of herself and others through her role as the facilitator of the Oncology Nurse Practice Council. Nora was the first Facilitator for Oncology Nurse Practice Council which, along with council chairs and team members, provided the foundation for the development of our highly successful council. Under Nora's facilitation, the council gain increased prominence and respect in the cancer service line by championing nurse engagement and empowerment. Our nurses are more involved in the strategic aims of the cancer service line including fall prevention, promotion of caregiver development opportunities, and a communication and support mechanism for the success of our Magnet re-designation application/survey and our recent Joint Commission Survey. Council members are now seen throughout the cancer center in various activities including one of our most recent heartwarming events of handing out comfort in the form of hot chocolate to our patients and staff in celebration of the winter solstice.
An example of some of Nora's awards include the following:
American Cancer Society Award - Community Mission Delivery
Light of Life Award - Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelphia Affiliate
Wilmington Mayor's award for Health/Science
Spirit of Women - nominee for Health Hero through Community Center of Excellence in Women's Health
American Cancer Society Hometown Hero Award
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition Shining Light Award
Christiana Care Way Awards Strategic Partnerships Award for the Healthy Latinas Program: Improving Access
Her many publications have added to the body of nursing knowledge:
• Colon Cancer - Awareness to Action - Oncology Nursing Forum
• The Helping Hands for Breast Health Program as a Means to Navigate Women to
Mammography Screening - Oncology Nursing Forum
• Combining Cancer Risk Assessment with Cholesterol Screening - Oncology Nursing Forum
• Use of Tailored Messaging and Navigation in Colorectal Cancer Screening - Oncology
Nursing Forum
• Tailored Navigation in colorectal Cancer Screening - Oncology Issues
• Reducing Cancer Healthcare Disparities at NCCP Sites; An overview of the NCCP
Disparities Subcommittee White Paper - Oncology Issues
• Eliminating Racial Disparities in colorectal Cancer in the Real World: It took a Village -
Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Health Info on the Go Community Outreach at the Farmer's Market - Oncology Issues
Nora has mentored nurses in the completion of applications for Continuing Education Credits, ensuring professional credits are obtained in attending in-services and conferences. She has also been active in recruiting and preparing speakers for nursing conferences held by ChristianaCare.
As a project manager for the Delaware Quit Line smoking cessation program Nora has recruited several nurses to be smoking cessation coaches - offering them an opportunity to learn more about the struggles of those with nicotine addiction and to better understand and support the change process allowing for a change in the patient-nurse relationship - one with less judgement and more compassion in the care of those in need. Nora continues to be a smoking cessation coach herself, another example of her dedication and commitment to this worthwhile cause.
Nora is an early adopter, always on the lookout for new things to learn and innovative ways of doing things. For example, Nora was a champion of Twistle technology for use with the Cancer Outreach community program Story of BRENDA, a collaborative program with Oncology Genetics and the HFGCC Breast Center team. The aim of this program is to increase awareness of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, access to genetic counseling, mammograms, and financial assistance. This project is of extreme importance as it addresses the rates and care of Triple Negative Breast Cancer of which Delaware has the highest rate in the nation. Our African American community members are at highest risk for Triple Negative Breast Cancer of which the prognosis is worse than for other types of breast cancer. Through this project, Nora expanded her skill set by active engagement in the development of the Twistle platform and becoming proficient in the use of this product. Nora then shared her skill and knowledge and mentored her staff and other disciplines on the project. She eventually brought it to the community for their ease in submitting a program survey and an efficient and streamlined method to indicate and track those of interest in/identification of need for financial assistance, scheduling a mammogram, or an appointment with a Genetic Counselor.
Nora was in on the cutting edge of practice change by attending the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute certificate program in New York City upon its debut. This patient navigation program was pioneered by Harold P. Freeman, M.D. in 1990. He initiated and developed the first program of its type in Harlem to reduce disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly among poor and uninsured people. This program showed more positive outcomes for patients who received navigation as opposed to those who did not and has served as a foundation for nurse navigation in all fields as we know it today. Nora mentors her staff in this evidence-based process of which she herself has participated in.
How the nurse leader has impacted staff, patients, families, and/or community.
Nora has fostered and built a unique relationship between nursing, Christiana Care, and our community. She had developed ongoing trusting relationships with the Latino and Chinese Community through the use of navigators and promotoras. Prior to Nora's interactions with our local Chinese Community, these members were traveling to New York City for healthcare, that being the only known and trusted community to them. Nora has broadened the reach of her department by including a Chinese speaking staff member. Nora has worked intimately with this community building it to a level of familiarity and trust with ChristianaCare and the nurses in her department.
Nora's premise that nurses should be visible in the community and for community agency work is demonstrated with her ongoing collaborations with the American Cancer Society, the city of Wilmington, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation through the continual receipt of grants and awards. She is an advocate for her team to support community agencies including the use of the ChristianaCare benefit that supports employees in aiding charitable organizations. As a nurse and leader Nora is visible with her team for screenings, education and other advocacy events such as awareness and fundraising walks, survivorship luncheons, and coordinating speakers for conferences. Nora also supports community workers in caring for each other. She followed the work of Granger Westburg which was the beginning of parish nursing. Nora coordinated professional educational training for parish nurses. Our community benefits greatly from these efforts. Nora can always be found in the center of activity with her staff, in the cancer center, or in our community. Whether it is a community health screening or a Nurses Week 5k, Nora and her team are visible and in action to support the education and health of all. Nora is an engaged nurse and leader, demonstrating our core values and behavior with her enthusiasm for anticipating the needs of others and giving with generosity. She actively mentors her team and all those around leading by example on how to establish relationships with caregivers and community members which is the foundation of community outreach programs everywhere.
Nora has also been a longstanding member of the advisory board for Delaware Technical and Community College. She has mentored a number of students, from nursing and allied health programs seeking Hispanic and other community education experiences.
The work that Nora does in the community is respected and much appreciated. She was most recently recognized for her work and collaborative efforts by the Delaware chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for the "promotion of cancer screening, prevention and education in our communities with excellence."
Nora has been a successful grant writer that ensures funds are available to meet community needs. Examples of funding sources are the Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Disparities Grant, Avon Foundation for Women - Breast Health Outreach and Education, Colorectal Cancer Screening Navigators, Promotoras de Salud, and Healthy Family Promotoras.
Nora has fostered and built a unique relationship between nursing, Christiana Care, and our community. She had developed on going trusting relationships with the Latino and Chinese Community through the use of navigators and promotoras. Prior to Nora's interactions with our local Chinese Community, these members were traveling to New York City for healthcare, that being the only known and trusted community to them. Nora has broadened the reach of her department by including a Chinese speaking staff member. Nora has worked intimately with this community building it to a level of familiarity and trust with ChristianaCare and the nurses in her department.
As a project manager for the Delaware Quit Line smoking cessation program Nora has recruited several nurses to be smoking cessation coaches - offering them an opportunity to learn more about the struggles of those with nicotine addiction and to better understand and support the change process allowing for a change in the patient-nurse relationship - one with less judgement and more compassion in the care of those in need. Nora continues to be a smoking cessation coach herself, another example of her dedication and commitment to this worthwhile cause.
Nora has a keen sense of the pulse of the community and uses that knowledge to increase the success in ChristianaCare in meeting community needs. For example, Nora spends a great deal of time in the community - at community events, churches synagogues and collaborating with community leaders to individualize the care provided. Recently Nora organized an educational event with Hispanic community adults and timed it for when their children were in attendance a religious education class, negating concerns about childcare and allowing for parents to have undivided attention on their own self-care. As she herself has assisted community members in filling out forms she is aware of health literacy levels and addresses the content of forms to meet health literacy needs.
I have been a colleague of Nora's since 2001 when I began here at ChristianaCare. I have worked in various roles during this time and in all of them, I have had opportunities to collaborate with Nora, learn from her and see her passion for quality patient care and the advancement of the role of our professional nurses. She has influenced me in the support of professional nursing practice. Over the past few years, now having a shared space with Nora, I have been able to see more fully her dedication and effect on our community, patients, and our nurses. For instance, I am now able to watch Nora as she lives out her philosophy that cancer outreach is about developing meaningful relationship with those of all backgrounds in our community. All in the community and in community organizations know Nora as she accompanies her team in the community, leading the way. It is obvious that she is energized by our community and our community has a great advocate in her. Nora, her nurses, and staff have created a safe haven for the disparate populations who have trust in her team to call or present to the Community Outreach office when needs arise. It is with awe that day after day I see the trust that our community members have in Nora and her team. It is a testament to her accepting, loving-kindness approach to all.
Please see comments below from others supporting this nomination:
Danny Hamm, MSN, RN, Clinical Practice Manager, Thoracic Surgery & Interventional Pulmonology and GYN Oncology-
I have had the privilege of working with Nora for the past ten years, but over the last few years, we have worked much closer as we have collaborated on the Lung Cancer Screening work. Through this collaboration, I have grown personally and professionally by Nora's willingness to share her experience, wisdom, and expertise. She has impacted our local community and our profession through her hard work, dedication, and commitment. Nora is a phenomenal nurse and leader in our community, and her example of nursing professionalism and leadership is one for all to follow.
Ginny Pugh BSN, RN, OCN, Oncology Nurse Navigator, HFGCC Practice Council Chair & Tammy Layer, RN, MSN, OCN, HFGCC Practice Council Co-chair-
We are nominating Nora Katurakes for the Daisy Lifetime Achievement award. Nora volunteered to be a part of the newly-formed practice council at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in the role of the facilitator. Her reasoning to re-engage with the organization at the Practice Council level to help with professional governance was instrumental in helping our practice council leaders understand the purpose of the council and the expectations from the organization. This was motivating to see, as she placed herself in a position that was unknown for outpatient. She has been our biggest cheerleader for different projects that we have put forth to improve collaboration and education at the Helen Graham. For instance, she has supported our initiative of promoting health literacy here in the outpatient setting and creating our Take a Moment Campaign (much like the No Pass Zone that the hospital has). Every decision we discuss in practice council or topics we want to approach but are unsure where to begin, Nora has encouraged and motivated us to do more and push the envelope for exceptional patient care and safety while increasing employee satisfaction. She makes herself available to help guide us on the right track and get us connected to leaders in our building that we need to work with to make these projects work. She has encouraged our nurses to get oncology certified, and has kept us aware of education sessions that will help these nurses achieve that certification. She has professionally pushed us to look into CNEs for the education sessions that we have developed here at the Helen Graham. Nora politely does not allow our uncertainty to try something new stop us from pursuing new initiatives and projects that we want to work on. Another example of how she encourages RNs to pursue projects out of their area of comfort is; she rallied a few nurses last year to publish in the Delaware Nursing Reporter. This was the first time publishing for many of us; she provided education on the process, guided the edits, and support through the process.
She has been the driving force behind having the annual skin screening done at the HFGCC. She recruits nursing and physicians to volunteer their time to screen the community for potential skin abnormalities and hopefully catching an early skin cancers.
She has been wonderful to work with and we continue to look forward to our collaboration with her.
William Holden, VP Cancer Program-
Please accept this letter as my recommendation of Nora Katurakes who has worked for me in the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center leading all our cancer outreach activities for the last 10 years, and as a dedicated caregiver at ChristianaCare for more than 20 years. Ms. Katurakes, working as a Senior leader in our Cancer Service Line has done an outstanding job of providing exceptional patient and family centered care for patients receiving outpatient and inpatient care. Her focus on reducing disparities for the communities we serve, and her active participation and leadership on numerous City of Wilmington, and State of Delaware committees focused on improving the health and access to care for all Delawareans has been remarkable over her 20 years at ChristianaCare. Her contributions have contributed directly to the dramatic reductions in cancer mortality in the state, improvements in cancer screening rates, and reductions in cancer incidence disparities in the African American, Hispanic and Asian populations, leading to a higher quality of life for patients whose lives she and the team she leads have touched. Ms. Katurakes has additionally mentored numerous caregivers in this organization, developing the next generation of nurse providers, and the outreach community-based individuals who will continue the legacy of work she has established not only at ChristianaCare but throughout the state of Delaware. Again, I provide the strongest of recommendations for Ms. Katurakes' nomination for this Lifetime Achievement Award a s a witness to the lasting impact Nora's work has had on the communities across Delaware that she proudly and unselfishly serves with Love.
Dr. Nicholas Petrelli, M.D., FACS, Bank of America Endowed Medical Director, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute-
January 8, 2020
RE: Nora Katurakes, MSN, RN, OCN
Dear Committee,
A program of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health
This is a letter to nominate Nora Katurakes, MSN, RN, OCN, for the Daisy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nora is Director of the Community Outreach Program at the Helen F Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute (HFGCCRI). She directs and manages a talented team funded by grants and foundation support. She was appointed to the Delaware Cancer Consortium in 2002 and since that time has been a member of the Early Detection and Prevention Committee. In that role she was a critical individual for the success of the Statewide supported colorectal screening program which ended the disparity between African Americans and Caucasians in colorectal screening in 2008. That program continues today, and Nora was an author on the manuscript reporting the results of the program published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2013, the premier journal in oncology. The success of the Statewide colorectal screening led in April 2015 to a Statewide lung cancer screening program with low dose CT scanning in which Nora continues to play a leading role.
Nora is well respected by community organizations throughout the State in view of her success in educating men and women in underserved communities about the importance of cancer screening and prevention leading to increased mammography rates and melanoma, prostate, cervical and colorectal screening in the underserved communities which over the last 15 years has taken Delaware from number 1 in cancer mortality to 18 in 2019. This is a precedent that no other State in the United States has accomplished.
She is a member of the Breast Cancer Research Team in the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research at the HFGCCRI where she helps lead the BRENDA Project to get African American women to undergo genetic counseling and gene testing for the prevention of triple negative breast cancer where Delaware has one of the highest mortality rates in the African American population in the United States. Nora and her team work not 5 days a week but 7! She is relentless in her goals of making a difference in the lives of the underserved and to her credit she achieves those goals every day.
I have been in the cancer field for close to 35 years including 22 in full time academia and I have never worked with an individual so committed to making a difference in peoples' lives as Nora Katurakes. Population Health is the "in thing" today but Nora and her team have been involved in population science and health for two decades.
I hope you will seriously consider her nomination and recognize her for decades of hard, relentless work for the underserved population. I would be glad to answer any questions about her career.
In closing I would like to thank the Professional Nurse Practice Council for this opportunity to nominate Nora Katurakes for this Lifetime Achievement Award. As you can see many others support this nomination as well. We all appreciate your consideration of this award for our very fine colleague!
With much gratitude,
Cynthia Waddington
Nora graduated in 1978 with a BSN from the University of Delaware. Her fruitful career began by spending her formative years at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas where she was selected to participate in an Oncology Nurse Internship and received her Master's in Oncology and Administration in 1984 from the University of Texas Health Science Center. While at MD Anderson Nora worked as a staff nurse on a surgical unit and with head and neck cancer patients. She was part of the MD Anderson cancer service line education team which developed tools, programs, and standards for community education. As a CNS Nora mentored staff on all three shifts in providing quality care to surgical patients. She was also the nursing liaison with the fellows at that facility. During this time Nora rose to the challenge as she called upon her emergency preparedness training during a hurricane and role modeled to staff the efforts of evacuating patients from the Medical ICUs into the hallway without compromising care. Nora's skills of communication and de-escalation were paramount in keeping staff, patients, and family members calm during the crisis. Nora is proud to have been instrumental in developing the first process for post-mastectomy patients to safely go home with drains when otherwise the expected length of stay was at least two weeks. While there she was a proponent of nursing certification having obtained her Oncology Nursing Certification in 1994 and has kept it to this day, continuing to celebrate and support other nurses to do the same. She was also an entero-stomal therapist while at MD Anderson and began honing her public speaking skills while presenting at MD Anderson conferences. Her commitment to community organizations was born at that time as she was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.
Nora returned to her home community and the state of Delaware where we have been the benefactors of her collimation of blended experience and expertise ever since. Upon return, Nora worked with the Christiana Care VNA. A highlight of her time in the VNA includes supporting nurses by facilitating a study group for nurses pursuing oncology nursing certification. Her group was instrumental in the success of nurses successfully obtaining their certification. In 1998 Nora became the manager of Community Health Outreach and Education Department. Her focus has been on community education, risk assessment and reduction, cancer screening, patient navigation, and access to care for disparate populations. Having been at ChristinaCare for a short time her community work in cancer care was well known and she was appointed as a founding member of the Delaware Cancer Consortium. The Delaware Cancer Consortium was originally formed as the Delaware Advisory Council on Cancer Incidence and Mortality in March 2001 to advise the governor and legislature on the causes of cancer incidence and mortality and potential methods for reducing both. Nora continues to be an active member representing nursing, nurse navigation, legislation, and action for disparate populations. Through the work of Nora and her team she has influenced state-wide legislative decisions (raising the age for cigarette purchase and use of tanning beds), professional nursing practice, and the care and outcomes for those at risk for or with cancer (please see information at end of this application).
Nora has been a longstanding member of the national and local chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. She has held every office from treasurer, secretary, membership, chair-elect, and chair throughout her career. She has presented at the Oncology Nursing Society's annual congress on the Advances in Prevention of Cervical Cancer. She has also presented on shared decision making with the American Society of Preventive Oncology presentation on Factors Affecting Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision Stage.
Nora prominently demonstrated personal growth and professional development of herself and others through her role as the facilitator of the Oncology Nurse Practice Council. Nora was the first Facilitator for Oncology Nurse Practice Council which, along with council chairs and team members, provided the foundation for the development of our highly successful council. Under Nora's facilitation, the council gain increased prominence and respect in the cancer service line by championing nurse engagement and empowerment. Our nurses are more involved in the strategic aims of the cancer service line including fall prevention, promotion of caregiver development opportunities, and a communication and support mechanism for the success of our Magnet re-designation application/survey and our recent Joint Commission Survey. Council members are now seen throughout the cancer center in various activities including one of our most recent heartwarming events of handing out comfort in the form of hot chocolate to our patients and staff in celebration of the winter solstice.
An example of some of Nora's awards include the following:
American Cancer Society Award - Community Mission Delivery
Light of Life Award - Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelphia Affiliate
Wilmington Mayor's award for Health/Science
Spirit of Women - nominee for Health Hero through Community Center of Excellence in Women's Health
American Cancer Society Hometown Hero Award
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition Shining Light Award
Christiana Care Way Awards Strategic Partnerships Award for the Healthy Latinas Program: Improving Access
Her many publications have added to the body of nursing knowledge:
• Colon Cancer - Awareness to Action - Oncology Nursing Forum
• The Helping Hands for Breast Health Program as a Means to Navigate Women to
Mammography Screening - Oncology Nursing Forum
• Combining Cancer Risk Assessment with Cholesterol Screening - Oncology Nursing Forum
• Use of Tailored Messaging and Navigation in Colorectal Cancer Screening - Oncology
Nursing Forum
• Tailored Navigation in colorectal Cancer Screening - Oncology Issues
• Reducing Cancer Healthcare Disparities at NCCP Sites; An overview of the NCCP
Disparities Subcommittee White Paper - Oncology Issues
• Eliminating Racial Disparities in colorectal Cancer in the Real World: It took a Village -
Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Health Info on the Go Community Outreach at the Farmer's Market - Oncology Issues
Nora has mentored nurses in the completion of applications for Continuing Education Credits, ensuring professional credits are obtained in attending in-services and conferences. She has also been active in recruiting and preparing speakers for nursing conferences held by ChristianaCare.
As a project manager for the Delaware Quit Line smoking cessation program Nora has recruited several nurses to be smoking cessation coaches - offering them an opportunity to learn more about the struggles of those with nicotine addiction and to better understand and support the change process allowing for a change in the patient-nurse relationship - one with less judgement and more compassion in the care of those in need. Nora continues to be a smoking cessation coach herself, another example of her dedication and commitment to this worthwhile cause.
Nora is an early adopter, always on the lookout for new things to learn and innovative ways of doing things. For example, Nora was a champion of Twistle technology for use with the Cancer Outreach community program Story of BRENDA, a collaborative program with Oncology Genetics and the HFGCC Breast Center team. The aim of this program is to increase awareness of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, access to genetic counseling, mammograms, and financial assistance. This project is of extreme importance as it addresses the rates and care of Triple Negative Breast Cancer of which Delaware has the highest rate in the nation. Our African American community members are at highest risk for Triple Negative Breast Cancer of which the prognosis is worse than for other types of breast cancer. Through this project, Nora expanded her skill set by active engagement in the development of the Twistle platform and becoming proficient in the use of this product. Nora then shared her skill and knowledge and mentored her staff and other disciplines on the project. She eventually brought it to the community for their ease in submitting a program survey and an efficient and streamlined method to indicate and track those of interest in/identification of need for financial assistance, scheduling a mammogram, or an appointment with a Genetic Counselor.
Nora was in on the cutting edge of practice change by attending the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute certificate program in New York City upon its debut. This patient navigation program was pioneered by Harold P. Freeman, M.D. in 1990. He initiated and developed the first program of its type in Harlem to reduce disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly among poor and uninsured people. This program showed more positive outcomes for patients who received navigation as opposed to those who did not and has served as a foundation for nurse navigation in all fields as we know it today. Nora mentors her staff in this evidence-based process of which she herself has participated in.
How the nurse leader has impacted staff, patients, families, and/or community.
Nora has fostered and built a unique relationship between nursing, Christiana Care, and our community. She had developed ongoing trusting relationships with the Latino and Chinese Community through the use of navigators and promotoras. Prior to Nora's interactions with our local Chinese Community, these members were traveling to New York City for healthcare, that being the only known and trusted community to them. Nora has broadened the reach of her department by including a Chinese speaking staff member. Nora has worked intimately with this community building it to a level of familiarity and trust with ChristianaCare and the nurses in her department.
Nora's premise that nurses should be visible in the community and for community agency work is demonstrated with her ongoing collaborations with the American Cancer Society, the city of Wilmington, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation through the continual receipt of grants and awards. She is an advocate for her team to support community agencies including the use of the ChristianaCare benefit that supports employees in aiding charitable organizations. As a nurse and leader Nora is visible with her team for screenings, education and other advocacy events such as awareness and fundraising walks, survivorship luncheons, and coordinating speakers for conferences. Nora also supports community workers in caring for each other. She followed the work of Granger Westburg which was the beginning of parish nursing. Nora coordinated professional educational training for parish nurses. Our community benefits greatly from these efforts. Nora can always be found in the center of activity with her staff, in the cancer center, or in our community. Whether it is a community health screening or a Nurses Week 5k, Nora and her team are visible and in action to support the education and health of all. Nora is an engaged nurse and leader, demonstrating our core values and behavior with her enthusiasm for anticipating the needs of others and giving with generosity. She actively mentors her team and all those around leading by example on how to establish relationships with caregivers and community members which is the foundation of community outreach programs everywhere.
Nora has also been a longstanding member of the advisory board for Delaware Technical and Community College. She has mentored a number of students, from nursing and allied health programs seeking Hispanic and other community education experiences.
The work that Nora does in the community is respected and much appreciated. She was most recently recognized for her work and collaborative efforts by the Delaware chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for the "promotion of cancer screening, prevention and education in our communities with excellence."
Nora has been a successful grant writer that ensures funds are available to meet community needs. Examples of funding sources are the Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Disparities Grant, Avon Foundation for Women - Breast Health Outreach and Education, Colorectal Cancer Screening Navigators, Promotoras de Salud, and Healthy Family Promotoras.
Nora has fostered and built a unique relationship between nursing, Christiana Care, and our community. She had developed on going trusting relationships with the Latino and Chinese Community through the use of navigators and promotoras. Prior to Nora's interactions with our local Chinese Community, these members were traveling to New York City for healthcare, that being the only known and trusted community to them. Nora has broadened the reach of her department by including a Chinese speaking staff member. Nora has worked intimately with this community building it to a level of familiarity and trust with ChristianaCare and the nurses in her department.
As a project manager for the Delaware Quit Line smoking cessation program Nora has recruited several nurses to be smoking cessation coaches - offering them an opportunity to learn more about the struggles of those with nicotine addiction and to better understand and support the change process allowing for a change in the patient-nurse relationship - one with less judgement and more compassion in the care of those in need. Nora continues to be a smoking cessation coach herself, another example of her dedication and commitment to this worthwhile cause.
Nora has a keen sense of the pulse of the community and uses that knowledge to increase the success in ChristianaCare in meeting community needs. For example, Nora spends a great deal of time in the community - at community events, churches synagogues and collaborating with community leaders to individualize the care provided. Recently Nora organized an educational event with Hispanic community adults and timed it for when their children were in attendance a religious education class, negating concerns about childcare and allowing for parents to have undivided attention on their own self-care. As she herself has assisted community members in filling out forms she is aware of health literacy levels and addresses the content of forms to meet health literacy needs.
I have been a colleague of Nora's since 2001 when I began here at ChristianaCare. I have worked in various roles during this time and in all of them, I have had opportunities to collaborate with Nora, learn from her and see her passion for quality patient care and the advancement of the role of our professional nurses. She has influenced me in the support of professional nursing practice. Over the past few years, now having a shared space with Nora, I have been able to see more fully her dedication and effect on our community, patients, and our nurses. For instance, I am now able to watch Nora as she lives out her philosophy that cancer outreach is about developing meaningful relationship with those of all backgrounds in our community. All in the community and in community organizations know Nora as she accompanies her team in the community, leading the way. It is obvious that she is energized by our community and our community has a great advocate in her. Nora, her nurses, and staff have created a safe haven for the disparate populations who have trust in her team to call or present to the Community Outreach office when needs arise. It is with awe that day after day I see the trust that our community members have in Nora and her team. It is a testament to her accepting, loving-kindness approach to all.
Please see comments below from others supporting this nomination:
Danny Hamm, MSN, RN, Clinical Practice Manager, Thoracic Surgery & Interventional Pulmonology and GYN Oncology-
I have had the privilege of working with Nora for the past ten years, but over the last few years, we have worked much closer as we have collaborated on the Lung Cancer Screening work. Through this collaboration, I have grown personally and professionally by Nora's willingness to share her experience, wisdom, and expertise. She has impacted our local community and our profession through her hard work, dedication, and commitment. Nora is a phenomenal nurse and leader in our community, and her example of nursing professionalism and leadership is one for all to follow.
Ginny Pugh BSN, RN, OCN, Oncology Nurse Navigator, HFGCC Practice Council Chair & Tammy Layer, RN, MSN, OCN, HFGCC Practice Council Co-chair-
We are nominating Nora Katurakes for the Daisy Lifetime Achievement award. Nora volunteered to be a part of the newly-formed practice council at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in the role of the facilitator. Her reasoning to re-engage with the organization at the Practice Council level to help with professional governance was instrumental in helping our practice council leaders understand the purpose of the council and the expectations from the organization. This was motivating to see, as she placed herself in a position that was unknown for outpatient. She has been our biggest cheerleader for different projects that we have put forth to improve collaboration and education at the Helen Graham. For instance, she has supported our initiative of promoting health literacy here in the outpatient setting and creating our Take a Moment Campaign (much like the No Pass Zone that the hospital has). Every decision we discuss in practice council or topics we want to approach but are unsure where to begin, Nora has encouraged and motivated us to do more and push the envelope for exceptional patient care and safety while increasing employee satisfaction. She makes herself available to help guide us on the right track and get us connected to leaders in our building that we need to work with to make these projects work. She has encouraged our nurses to get oncology certified, and has kept us aware of education sessions that will help these nurses achieve that certification. She has professionally pushed us to look into CNEs for the education sessions that we have developed here at the Helen Graham. Nora politely does not allow our uncertainty to try something new stop us from pursuing new initiatives and projects that we want to work on. Another example of how she encourages RNs to pursue projects out of their area of comfort is; she rallied a few nurses last year to publish in the Delaware Nursing Reporter. This was the first time publishing for many of us; she provided education on the process, guided the edits, and support through the process.
She has been the driving force behind having the annual skin screening done at the HFGCC. She recruits nursing and physicians to volunteer their time to screen the community for potential skin abnormalities and hopefully catching an early skin cancers.
She has been wonderful to work with and we continue to look forward to our collaboration with her.
William Holden, VP Cancer Program-
Please accept this letter as my recommendation of Nora Katurakes who has worked for me in the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center leading all our cancer outreach activities for the last 10 years, and as a dedicated caregiver at ChristianaCare for more than 20 years. Ms. Katurakes, working as a Senior leader in our Cancer Service Line has done an outstanding job of providing exceptional patient and family centered care for patients receiving outpatient and inpatient care. Her focus on reducing disparities for the communities we serve, and her active participation and leadership on numerous City of Wilmington, and State of Delaware committees focused on improving the health and access to care for all Delawareans has been remarkable over her 20 years at ChristianaCare. Her contributions have contributed directly to the dramatic reductions in cancer mortality in the state, improvements in cancer screening rates, and reductions in cancer incidence disparities in the African American, Hispanic and Asian populations, leading to a higher quality of life for patients whose lives she and the team she leads have touched. Ms. Katurakes has additionally mentored numerous caregivers in this organization, developing the next generation of nurse providers, and the outreach community-based individuals who will continue the legacy of work she has established not only at ChristianaCare but throughout the state of Delaware. Again, I provide the strongest of recommendations for Ms. Katurakes' nomination for this Lifetime Achievement Award a s a witness to the lasting impact Nora's work has had on the communities across Delaware that she proudly and unselfishly serves with Love.
Dr. Nicholas Petrelli, M.D., FACS, Bank of America Endowed Medical Director, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute-
January 8, 2020
RE: Nora Katurakes, MSN, RN, OCN
Dear Committee,
A program of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health
This is a letter to nominate Nora Katurakes, MSN, RN, OCN, for the Daisy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nora is Director of the Community Outreach Program at the Helen F Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute (HFGCCRI). She directs and manages a talented team funded by grants and foundation support. She was appointed to the Delaware Cancer Consortium in 2002 and since that time has been a member of the Early Detection and Prevention Committee. In that role she was a critical individual for the success of the Statewide supported colorectal screening program which ended the disparity between African Americans and Caucasians in colorectal screening in 2008. That program continues today, and Nora was an author on the manuscript reporting the results of the program published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2013, the premier journal in oncology. The success of the Statewide colorectal screening led in April 2015 to a Statewide lung cancer screening program with low dose CT scanning in which Nora continues to play a leading role.
Nora is well respected by community organizations throughout the State in view of her success in educating men and women in underserved communities about the importance of cancer screening and prevention leading to increased mammography rates and melanoma, prostate, cervical and colorectal screening in the underserved communities which over the last 15 years has taken Delaware from number 1 in cancer mortality to 18 in 2019. This is a precedent that no other State in the United States has accomplished.
She is a member of the Breast Cancer Research Team in the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research at the HFGCCRI where she helps lead the BRENDA Project to get African American women to undergo genetic counseling and gene testing for the prevention of triple negative breast cancer where Delaware has one of the highest mortality rates in the African American population in the United States. Nora and her team work not 5 days a week but 7! She is relentless in her goals of making a difference in the lives of the underserved and to her credit she achieves those goals every day.
I have been in the cancer field for close to 35 years including 22 in full time academia and I have never worked with an individual so committed to making a difference in peoples' lives as Nora Katurakes. Population Health is the "in thing" today but Nora and her team have been involved in population science and health for two decades.
I hope you will seriously consider her nomination and recognize her for decades of hard, relentless work for the underserved population. I would be glad to answer any questions about her career.
In closing I would like to thank the Professional Nurse Practice Council for this opportunity to nominate Nora Katurakes for this Lifetime Achievement Award. As you can see many others support this nomination as well. We all appreciate your consideration of this award for our very fine colleague!
With much gratitude,
Cynthia Waddington