Opinion|Articles|August 3, 2026

Oncology Researcher Brings Science, Compassion and Personal Loss to Cancer Care

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Key Takeaways

A diversified oncology trajectory includes clinical nursing, high-complexity consultancy, and postgraduate coordination, with a sustained emphasis on innovation and quality-of-life outcomes.
Caregiving for a first-degree relative with rapidly progressive malignancy sharpened a holistic framework focused on symptom palliation, sleep support, and dignity-conserving care.
A doctoral-derived emergency oncology triage scale enables severity-based stratification to streamline disposition and match clinical needs with appropriate levels of care.
Multinational uptake across North and Latin America suggests portability of the triage tool and potential impact on emergency oncology workflows beyond Brazil.
Professional influence reflects integration of clinical science, management execution, and humanistic presence to reduce suffering and improve patient-centered cancer experiences.

Luciana Lopes Manfredini, of Einstein Hospital Israelita in São Paulo, Brazil, developed a triage scale for emergency cancer patients now being adopted across North and Latin America.

It is with great pride that I nominate Luciana Manfredini for the Extraordinary Healer Award. Her career in oncology transcends the boundaries of professional practice, blending human, academic and personal values that make her a role model for colleagues, students and patients alike.

Manfredini has built a solid and multifaceted career in oncology over the past 15 years. She has worked as a clinical nurse in public and private settings, a consultant on highly complex projects and a coordinator of a postgraduate program, always focusing on innovation and improving patients' quality of life.

After 15 years dedicated to oncology, Manfredini experienced the most defining chapter of her career: caring for her own mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. She was able to provide not only care grounded in clinical expertise, but also the love and humanity that has always guided her work. Amidst an aggressive and rapidly evolving diagnosis, Manfredini was by her mother's side through every detail: pain management, sleep comfort and the dignity of care. This experience further reinforced her vision that oncology goes beyond exams and protocols — it is about seeing the person as a whole and alleviating suffering at every step.

As a technical and scientific contribution to the field, Manfredini developed, as her doctoral thesis, a triage scale for emergency cancer patients. This tool classifies patients according to severity, helping direct appropriate care based on identified needs. The scale is now being implemented in countries across North and Latin America, transcending Brazil's national borders and contributing to differentiated care for cancer patients worldwide.

Manfredini is an inspiration because she combines scientific knowledge, management skills and human sensitivity in every project she leads. Her dedication to oncology demonstrates that care goes beyond technique: it translates into commitment, compassion and hope. Her career is not only a brilliant professional achievement, but a lifetime dedicated to transforming the cancer experience into something more human, dignified and hopeful.

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