CURE Media Group Names Lynne Malestic of Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center (Calif.) as 2016 CURE Extraordinary Healer for Oncology Nursing
CURE Media Group, the nation’s leading consumer digital and print media enterprise focused entirely on patients with cancer, today announced that Lynne Malestic, RN, of Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center in Rancho Mirage, California, was chosen as the 2016 CURE® Extraordinary Healer® for Oncology Nursing, which honors nurses who have dedicated their careers to helping patients with cancer, their families and their oncology co-workers.
PLAINSBORO, N.J. — (April 29, 2016) — CURE Media Group, the nation’s leading consumer digital and print media enterprise focused entirely on patients with cancer, today announced that Lynne Malestic, RN, of Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center in Rancho Mirage, California, was chosen as the 2016 CURE® Extraordinary Healer® for Oncology Nursing, which honors nurses who have dedicated their careers to helping patients with cancer, their families and their oncology co-workers.
Each year to celebrate oncology nurses, CURE® magazine gives readers a unique opportunity to honor a special oncology nurse by nominating one through an essay that describes the compassion, expertise and helpfulness exhibited by their nominee. Described by her nominator, Cera Stanford (a co-worker), as an extraordinary healer through her ordinary work, which, in itself, is extraordinary, Malestic was recognized at an awards ceremony and celebration last evening during the 41st ONS Annual Congress in San Antonio, Texas. Malestic and the winning essay will be featured in an upcoming issue of CURE magazine, and she received an all-expenses-paid spa trip for two.
“This is an amazing honor, considering what I do on a daily basis does not seem extraordinary to me…it’s just what I do to help families and co-workers,” said Malestic, a resident of La Quinta, California. “Being recognized nationally, along with the other finalists, is a testament to the outstanding oncology nurses nationwide who provide services and support around the various types of cancers that deeply affect so many people beyond the patients. I’m truly blessed to able to assist families and others on a daily basis.”
Sanford wrote of Malestic: “A normal day for Lynne includes many hugs, tears of joy and tears of empathy sprinkled amongst her safe evidence-based practice and collaboration with physicians to provide a healing environment like no other.” Specifically, Cera nominated Lynne due to her experience with one couple that spanned several years. In a nutshell, Lynne cared for the wife through her cancer diagnosis to her passing, with in-hospital support, by hosting the family for holidays, by moving the wife to her home to support hospice care, and much more. Most stories would end there, but Lynne repeated her extraordinary support when the husband was diagnosed with cancer several years later. Lynne and her family then cared for him during his active treatment through the end of his life. And her influence carries over to her home, as Lynne’s 16-year-old daughter, Lauren, is so inspired by her mother, she plans to go into oncology nursing.
“Lynne exemplifies what it means to be an extraordinary healer who goes above and beyond the call of duty to help patients, their families and health care co-workers,” said Mike Hennessy Jr., president of CURE Media Group. “Oncology nurses have very challenging jobs that blend specialized medical knowledge with a passion to provide comfort, education and advocacy to patients undergoing complicated, and sometimes long-term, treatments for the disease.”
Since the inception of the Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing in 2007, more than 1,000 nurses have been nominated. The winners and essayists honored over the past nine years have included men and women, adults and children, representing a variety of cancer centers and hospitals in seven different states. The other 2016 finalists were Diana Gordon, RN, C.P.N.P., C.P.O.N., of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Carmi Fazio, RN, MSN, ONA, of Molina Healthcare in Oak Brook, Illinois.
“For the past decade, Amgen has been honored to sponsor the CURE Extraordinary Healer Award, which recognizes oncology nurses for their compassion, dedication and outstanding service to cancer patients and survivors,” said Richard Paulson, VP & GM, Oncology Marketing, at Amgen. “We’re pleased to congratulate Lynne Malestic for her tremendous commitment to patients and for all of the efforts oncology nurses like Lynne provide to patients in order to improve the lives of those battling cancer.”
About Eisenhower Medical Center
Eisenhower Medical Center is a not-for-profit, comprehensive health care institution that includes the 463-bed Eisenhower Hospital, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower and the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower. The Betty Ford Center is also located on the Eisenhower campus. The Medical Center is renowned for its Centers of Excellence in Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neuroscience and Oncology. Situated on 130 acres in Rancho Mirage, and with outpatient clinics across the valley, the Medical Center has provided a full range of quality medical and educational services for more than 40 years to residents and visitors to the greater Coachella Valley. Eisenhower has earned ANCC Magnet Recognition® for professionalism in nursing and excellence in patient care. The valley’s first accredited teaching hospital, Eisenhower trains physician residents in both internal medicine and family medicine. For more information, visit emc.org or follow the Eisenhower Medical Center page on Facebook.
About CURE Media Group
Combining science and humanity to make cancer understandable, CURE Media Group’s flagship product, CURE® magazine, is the indispensable guide to every stage of the cancer experience. With nearly 1 million readers, CURE is the largest U.S. consumer publication focused entirely on cancer, with broad distribution to patients with cancer, cancer centers and advocacy groups. CURE Media Group’s offerings also include its online resource, curetoday.com; live meetings; a resource guide for the newly diagnosed; and the Extraordinary Healer™ oncology nursing award. It also offers CURE Connections, a video platform designed specifically for patients with cancer that features information, stories, advice about the cancer journey and subscription options to receive updates. Cure Media Group is part of Michael J. Hennessy Associates Inc., a full-service health care communications company offering education, research, medical media and the acclaimed OncLive platform of resources for the practicing oncologist.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Michael J. LaCosta
CURE Media Group
551-655-3718
Lee Rice
Eisenhower Medical Center
310-210-6192
