Conferences
Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Hawai‘i (O‘ahu) Chapter Annual Conference

Since 2005 the Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i has been a co-sponsor of the Oncology Nursing Society, Hawai‘i (Oahu) Chapter’s Annual Conference. Oncology nurses work at the front lines in the care of individuals with cancer. Their practices span the entire age spectrum from infants to the elderly. They provide care in the physician’s office, the patient’s home, the outpatient clinic, the hospital, and hospice.

With the ever changing and improving technology in cancer care, oncology nurses strive to update and keep maintain their knowledge base and skills through continuing education. This quest enables them to provide the most current and highest quality care for their clients. The Hawai‘i Oncology Nursing Society’s Annual Conference serves as an important local education program which has been held for many years on Hawai‘i’s Admission Day holiday.

The 2009 conference, titled, “Following the Stars: Navigating the Course of Cancer Care,” will be held on August 21 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. The keynote speaker will be Bertie Adams Ford, MS, RN, AOCN, who will address her talks on health disparity with the integration of patient navigation, and fertility and the cancer patient. Other topics will include patient navigation local style, a pharmaceutical update, cancer-related health disparity, and advanced care planning for end-of-life services.

The luncheon at the Annual Conference provides a venue and opportunity to celebrate oncology nurses through a special recognition program held in honor of the nominees and finalist for the Mana‘olana Award. The award recognizes an outstanding oncology nurse, selected by a panel of judges, who represents the highest ideals of cancer nursing, demonstrates excellence in nursing, continuously furthers his or her cancer nursing education, and is involved in activities benefiting the cancer community. At the August 2008 Annual Conference luncheon the 2009 Mana‘olana Award was presented to Beth Freitas from the Queen’s Medical Center.