Professor Deborah K. Mayer has been named the UNC Lineberger Director of Cancer Survivorship. In her new position, Deborah Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, will lead the effort to enhance clinical and research initiatives for cancer survivors for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
With the opening of the NC Cancer Hospital in 2009, the cancer survivorship efforts at UNC-Chapel Hill have grown substantially. “The opportunity to coordinate the research, clinical and administrative aspects of our UNC Lineberger and UNC Cancer Care survivorship program under a nationally-recognized expert led to the creation of this new position,” said Shelton Earp, MD, Lineberger Professor and Director of UNC Cancer Care.
“As a leader in cancer survivorship and oncology nursing, Dr. Mayer is uniquely positioned to bring our cancer survivorship efforts together,” said Dr. Earp. “Dr. Mayer brings the clinician’s perspective, a distinguished academic record, and experience in setting the national agenda for the nation’s almost 14 million cancer survivors.”
“Dr. Mayer will join with Dr. Donald Rosenstein who leads the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Support Program (CCSP), to bring the best plan for our patients and the optimal organization for our research and training efforts. She will also be responsible for helping UNC Healthcare meet new standards for cancer survivorship care established by the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Mayer plans to divide her time evenly between her School of Nursing teaching and mentoring activities and the new Cancer Center role.”
Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor Kristen M. Swanson, PhD, RN, FAAN, expects this collaboration between the SON and the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center will benefit both institutions.
“Dr. Mayer has demonstrated many times over how valuable patient-centered research is to developing clinically relevant care that eases the journey through cancer survival” said Dean Swanson. “We are very excited that she will be leading teams in development of cancer survivorship care plans that will make a difference in NC and beyond.”
Currently, Dr. Mayer is serving as Editor of the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. She is a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Survivorship committee and chair of the ASCO Survivorship Care Plan Work Group. She is a former president of the Oncology Nursing Society and has held appointments on the National Cancer Institute’s National Cancer Advisory Board and their Board of Scientific Advisors.
Dr. Mayer’s new duties will allow her to develop programs for cancer survivors treated across North Carolina and the nation. “This position is a natural extension of my research, teaching, and clinical work aimed at improving cancer care for survivors. It will allow me to extend the efforts already underway through the Comprehensive Cancer Support Program. We have a critical mass of clinicians and researchers interested in the impact of cancer and its treatment has on the long term health of survivors. “
Dr. Mayer will assume her new role on July 1, 2014.