Cancer Survivors Sought For Volunteer Training
The Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center is seeking cancer survivors, available during
the day, to participate in a volunteer program designed specifically to offer support to individuals with cancer and their families. The two day training will be held Tuesday, March 16th from 6:00pm - 9:00pm and Saturday, March 20th from 9:00am-4:00pm.
Partners in Healing is a group of trained cancer survivors who provide peer support to patients currently under-going cancer treatment. Partners in Healing links patients or family members with a volunteer whose experience is similar to the patient's. The PIH objective is to provide emotional comfort and individual support, as well as direction to the many resources in the community available to cancer patients and their families. All volunteers must be at least eighteen months beyond completion of their own cancer treatment.
Registration is limited and acceptance is based upon an interview process and completion of an application. Registration is required by February 15, 2010. For more information or to register please contact PIH (908) 788-2527.
Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center Nurse Recognized As National Nurse of
The Year
Mary Vecchio, RN, MSN, APN-C, OCN, Cancer Outreach Nurse Practitioner
for the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center was awarded Nursing
Spectrum’s National Nurse of the Year for Community Service. Ms.
Vecchio won the Nursing Spectrum’s Regional Award in June which put
her in the running to be selected from a national pool in which six
Excellence Award winners were chosen from the following categories:
Advancing and Leading the Profession, Clinical Care, Community Service,
Management, Mentoring, and Teaching.
According to Nursing Spectrum, the winner of this award epitomizes all
that is best within the profession of nursing. “Each winner has
created a legacy of inspiration and accomplishment,” says Judith
Mitiguy, RN, MS, executive vice president, Nursing Communications and
Initiatives, Gannett Healthcare Group. “Nursing Spectrum considers it
a privilege to honor nurses from across the country through regional and
national excellence awards. As in years past, the six national winners
represent all that is right and good and true within nursing. They set
an example for professionals within and outside healthcare through their
leadership, wisdom, expertise, and compassion.”
Pictured: Robert Wise, President and CEO of Hunterdon Healthcare, Mary
Vecchio, RN, MSN, APN-C, OCN, Cancer Outreach Nurse Practitioner for the
Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center and Eileen Williamson, Vice President
of Nursing Communication & Initiatives at Nursing Spectrum.
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Part of Ms. Vecchio’s role at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center is to
educate the community on cancer awareness. Ms. Vecchio recognizes that
the best information is useless if you do not get the attention of the
people you want to teach. She has worked to develop tools and teaching
methods that actively catch people’s attention and is resilient enough
to keep going back until she affects the change she wants.
“My mom and dad always led by example. At a young age I understood
how important it was to understand the needs of others and reach out to
make a difference. This award recognizes the values that both my
parents instilled in me and I am grateful for this acknowledgement,”
explained Ms. Vecchio. Ms Vecchio added, “I feel privileged to go to
work each day and work with the people at Hunterdon Regional Cancer
Center. The science of medicine is the same no matter where you go, it
is the people that make the difference.”
Ms. Vecchio works with the Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED)
patients, providing free education and screening as needed. Funding
through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central & South Jersey Affiliate
has allowed Ms. Vecchio to create the “VIP Program of Hunterdon
County,” which educates women who are 65 years and older to assure
that they are receiving their annual screening mammogram. Statistics
have shown that 46% of women covered by Medicare in Hunterdon County do
not get their annual mammogram. The goal of the VIP program is to
identify barriers that are preventing women from receiving this valuable
exam and educate the women on the importance of obtaining their annual
mammogram.
“Mary is the nurse everyone strives to emulate. All who know her are
proud to be called her colleagues, and are humbled by her love for and
her commitment to Hunterdon Healthcare, her community, and the
profession of nursing,” stated Barbara Tofani, RN, MSN, Administrative
Director of Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.
In the past two years, Ms. Vecchio has spoken over 3,600 people at
community fairs, presentations, screenings and personal encounters. Ms.
Vecchio was a key member of the team that helped make Hunterdon
Healthcare a tobacco free campus, she was instrumental in their Magnet
designation and Accreditation from the American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer.
She has presented at the National Oncology Nursing Society’s annual
meeting and has written articles for a number of nursing journals and
often can be heard on WDVR during Hunterdon Medical Center’s Ask the
Nurse segment with Richard Gerstner.
“When I’m involved with a group, whether in my professional or
personal life, I’m seeking out the teachable moment. Making a
connection that has a positive impact is an amazing experience.
Community service is the opportunity to be that pebble that sends out
the ripple of change,” stated Ms. Vecchio. From creating new programs
and working within the community to helping patients overcome obstacles,
the accomplishments and efforts of Ms. Vecchio will continue to impact
the community.
Media Contact:
Kathleen Seelig, MA
Director of Public Relations
Hunterdon Medical Center
2100 Wescott Drive
Flemington, New Jersey 08822
Phone: 908-788-6515
