Making a Difference

After their own diagnoses of cancer, four Adventist HealthCare team members have found additional meaning in their work providing compassionate cancer care.

Katie’s Story

As the cancer program and registry manager, Katie Ronca has been advocating for many years in her work finding ways to improve the cancer programs offered at Adventist HealthCare.

“I advocate for patients by looking at the data,” explained Katie. “This helps plan services and offerings for patients and focuses on the quality of care we provide.”

Katie didn’t think cancer would happen to her. She was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer in 2017. As Katie walks through Adventist HealthCare’s two cancer centers, she remembers sitting in the same seat as the patients, feeling scared and nervous. “I know the value of a warm and genuine ‘Good morning’ or ‘Hi, how are you doing today?’ It matters that patients feel welcomed,” Katie said.

Although Katie works behind the scenes, she is constantly influencing patient care by looking at the big picture. As cancer registrar, the data she manages helps to put the patient at the center of care, not only within Adventist HealthCare, but nationally and even globally.

Tiffany’s Story

Tiffany Horvath, practice administrator at the Center for Advanced Radiation Oncology at White Oak Cancer Center, is dedicated to ensuring patients receive the care they need throughout their journey. She knows what it’s like to be scared when faced with a health crisis. She was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system and a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This type of cancer is slow-growing, but that didn’t change the feelings of stress and anxiety she felt when she first learned her diagnosis.

“While I was going for my scans, I realized I didn’t know the exact process and what to expect even though I worked in healthcare,” said Tiffany, who was heavily involved in patient care as a scribe at a cancer center when she was diagnosed. “It actually humbled me because if this is my experience, then what are people who aren’t in healthcare dealing with?” Now, her goal is to always let patients know they are not alone, and the entire cancer care team is there to support them.

Melissa’s Story

Melissa Hogle is the business development manager at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center. She meets with community physicians to spread awareness about all the services available, including cancer care at the Shady Grove Adventist Aquilino Cancer Center.

Since being diagnosed with stage 1 estrogen-positive breast cancer in her left breast in 2019, Melissa has become more passionate in her role. She understands the feelings of being scared, in shock and confused. “I know how I felt,” Melissa said, “and when I’m talking with physicians in the community about our wellness programs, I explain why they are special, important and beneficial to patients.”

Melissa also had an impact on care when she was in treatment. Knowing the risk associated to the heart and lungs when radiation is targeted to the left breast, she met with her radiation oncologist, Marie Gurka, MD, at the Aquilino Cancer Center. She asked about the possibility of receiving prone breast radiation therapy since it changes the treatment position, lowering the radiation exposure.

Working together, they successfully added access to the therapy. “I was the first patient to have this type of treatment at the cancer center,” she said. “I’m glad my diagnosis has helped future patients who come after me since this piece of equipment is so important.”

Michele’s Story

Michele McBride, RN, serves as the oncology nurse navigator at the Aquilino Cancer Center, connecting patients to resources like transportation, financial support and wellness programming. She also leads a program offering free wigs to women who lost their hair during treatment.

Michele recognizes the uncertainty women feel when they start to lose their hair; she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2017. “Your appearance is one thing you can control, so being able to help women look their best is important to me,” Michele said.

Life doesn’t stop for cancer treatment and Michele aims to find ways to not only assist patients with their physical appearance, but through grants and programs that help with paying bills, meal deliveries and connecting them with appropriate resources to assist with family life and mental health.

“I’ve found that sharing my own experience with others helps them realize they aren’t alone,” Michele said. “I want to make their experience a little easier by finding them resources that help with everyday life, so they can focus on healing.”

Through their own experiences, these Adventist HealthCare team members are making a difference every day in the lives of our patients. With dedication, compassion and advocacy, they are finding new ways to bring world-class cancer care to our community.