Colleen Lewis, NP, will become interim director of the Ambulatory Infusion Center on Winship's Clifton Campus beginning on January 1, 2020.
Colleen Lewis, NP, will become interim director of the Ambulatory Infusion Center (AIC) on Winship's Clifton Campus beginning on January 1, 2020. Lewis will continue in her role as director of clinical operations, Phase I Program at the same time she takes on this new role.
Lewis's appointment follows the retirement of Catherine Parker, RN, in November. Parker retired after 40 years of dedicated oncology nursing at Winship, which included 13 years as Unit Director of Winship's largest infusion center.
"We are so appreciative of all the years of service Catherine Parker provided the Winship Infusion Center. As she leaves this position, this interim leadership role will give us an opportunity to evaluate what is needed for current and future growth in infusion," says Winship Vice President of Cancer Nursing Lana Uhrig, PhD, RN.
Uhrig says evaluating how to manage infusion services is critical as Winship implements The Winship Way, a new approach to cancer care aimed at integrating and streamlining services while delivering innovative research-based treatment. This approach includes increased collaboration between disciplines in order to identify innovative strategies focused on delivery of excellent patient-centered care.
"This gives us an opportunity to help our teams become more aligned across clinics and infusion centers," says Winship Chief Medical Officer Sagar Lonial, MD. "We will continue to study and implement ways to enhance infusion services at Winship."
Lewis oversees clinical operations for the Phase I program and serves as a co-investigator on Phase I trials collaborating with physicians, nurses and research team members to care for patients enrolled on trials. She led the collaborative integrated facility design process of the new Phase I Unit and developed operational practices centered around ensuring excellent patient care, accurate research conduct, and enhanced staff involvement.
As part of the transition, Erin Peone, RN, has been promoted from shift nurse manager to senior nurse manager and will partner with Lewis. Jonathan Kaufman, MD, medical director and section chief of Winship's Ambulatory Infusion Centers, says the transition will be smooth.
"Colleen Lewis and Erin Peone are experienced nursing leaders who will ensure the center continues to provide excellent care during the transition," says Kaufman.
