Colleen Lewis, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, has been named senior vice president of cancer nursing for Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and Emory Healthcare.
Colleen Lewis, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, has been named senior vice president of cancer nursing for Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and Emory Healthcare and will join Emory on Feb. 17. In this role, Lewis will lead cancer nursing practice, education and research across all Winship locations with a focus on advancing patient-centered care at the highest level of quality and safety and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
Lewis returns to Winship from Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute in Tampa, where she served as vice president for nursing and research. She began her career as a staff nurse in Winship’s Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Center and was promoted to leadership positions with increasing responsibility during her distinguished 15-year tenure with Winship. As director of clinical operations for Winship’s Phase I Clinical Trials Unit, she collaborated with executive leaders, nurses, physicians and administrators to ensure the highest standard of patient care and research conduct. She spearheaded successful strategic initiatives as assistant director of process improvement and oversaw myriad aspects of clinic operations as interim director of the ambulatory infusion center on Winship’s Clifton campus.
“Colleen is an exemplary clinician, researcher and strategic leader with nearly 20 years of experience in oncology nursing,” says Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, FACP, FASCO, Winship's executive director. “We are thrilled to welcome her back to Winship to serve in this key leadership role.”
“I look forward to working with Colleen to advance the integration of research and teaching with clinical care across our entire health system,” adds Sharon Pappas, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, FAAN, chief nurse executive for Emory Healthcare.
Prior to Lewis’s appointment, Veronica Buckovich, MS, RN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, and Nicole Bansavage, DNP, RN, OCN, served as interim vice presidents of nursing.
“We are grateful to Veronica and Nicole for their extraordinary service during the search process and throughout the transition,” says Sheryl Bluestein, MBA, MHA, senior vice president of cancer service line operations at Winship and Emory Healthcare. “They excelled in their work and demonstrated steadfast leadership and commitment to our patients, our teams and Winship as a whole.”
Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Miami and a master’s in nursing from the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. As a clinical researcher, she has authored or co-authored more than 50 scientific abstracts and peer-reviewed articles related to her contributions to clinical trials and patient care. She is the recipient of the Oncology Nursing Foundation’s Leadership Scholarship, two Oncology Nursing Society conference travel scholarships and Winship’s Katie Ferraris Taylor Oncology Nursing Fund Award.
A sought-after speaker, she has presented at national conferences and symposia on topics such as clinical trials access, equity and best practices; process and quality improvement in the inpatient and outpatient setting; career development for advanced practice providers; and the impact of integrated facility design in cancer care. She is an affiliate member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and a member of the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology and the Oncology Nursing Society, serving on its Nurse Practitioner Special Interest Group. Additionally, she has served on committees and task forces for the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology, Association of Community Cancer Centers and the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner program.
“I am delighted to join Winship with a focus on driving collaboration, excellent patient-centered care and innovation,” says Lewis. “I look forward to partnering with nurses and care teams across the system to advance the field of oncology.”