The Rees Skillern Cancer Institute at CHI Memorial announced that Catherine Marcum, DPN, APN, AGACNP-BC, received certification as an advanced genetics nurse (AGN-BC), with a specialty in adult cancer, from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She is one of approximately 50 with this certification in the United States. The certification is good for five years.
Everyone is at some risk of developing cancer in his or her lifetime. The precise risk of any one individual depends on many factors including age, family history and lifestyle. A small percentage of people, however, are at far greater risk for developing cancer because of their genetic makeup. Dr. Marcum works in CHI Memorial’s Cancer Risk and Survivorship Center at the Rees Skillern Cancer Institute and offers cancer risk counseling to help people better understand how their family history of cancer might affect their individual risk.
“The entire experience for oncology genetic testing is designed to improve a person’s understanding of their family history, adjust the appropriate surveillance based on their risk and determine what further actions patients and physicians feel would be beneficial,” says Kathy Dittmar, market director, oncology operations, CHI Memorial. “Our priorities focus on education, research and advancing the field of genetics. Catherine’s certification as an advanced genetics nurse strengthens that commitment and it’s making a real impact on this community.”
For more information on CHI Memorial’s genetics services, call (423) 495-7778.