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An educated and skilled nursing workforce is essential to providing comprehensive and safe cancer care in low-resource settings. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Center for Global Cancer Medicine (CGCM) has been training local oncology nurses in both Rwanda and Haiti since 2012.
Our nursing initiatives focus on:
Our Oncology Nurse Educator Program is a critical component of CGCM's efforts to build cancer care capacity in low-income countries. We place U.S.-trained, experienced oncology nurses in-country to work alongside our nurse colleagues in Haiti and Rwanda to provide on-the-ground mentorship and education. To develop local expertise, we strive to identify in-country colleagues who can then serve as in-country trainers. Such training helps to ensure sustainability and self-reliance for future generations of oncology nurse experts.
Our nursing team has presented its work at several international conferences. Poster and podium presentations have documented our experience with our oncology nurse educator/twinning model, quality improvement initiatives, as well as the development and implementation of our oncology nursing training courses. We support opportunities for our Rwandan and Haitian nurse colleagues to present their work at national and international forums.
With support from Sanofi Espoir Foundation, CGCM established a pediatric patient navigator program in Rwanda for Wilms tumor, a common pediatric cancer. A trained nurse navigator uses an illustrated, culturally appropriate patient education booklet developed with the in-country nursing team to guide caregivers through diagnosis and treatment.
Contact the Center for Global Cancer Medicine
Support the work of the Center for Global Cancer Medicine on the Center’s Giving Page.
Email cgcm@dfci.harvard.edu if you would like to contribute or get involved.