The Twila Showalter Supportive Care Clinic has welcomed its first Nurse Navigator, a role designed to serve as the heartbeat of its patient-centered model. That pioneering responsibility now belongs to longtime RMH nurse Lisa Shank.
For Shank, the position feels like the culmination of both her professional journey and a family legacy. With 20 years of nursing experience—all at RMH, including more than a decade in outpatient oncology—she brings not only technical expertise but also a deep personal commitment. Her mother, also an oncology nurse, first inspired her by sharing stories of patients’ resilience, struggles, and the powerful relationships forged in moments of care.
“This role pulls together everything I’ve done—infusion nursing, education, care coordination, and leadership,” Shank explained. “But more than that, it means patients and families don’t have to walk this journey alone. I get to be there with them the whole way.”
Already, the impact of her work is clear. Shank recalled one young leukemia patient who faced daunting challenges: newly pregnant, uninsured, and uncertain about how to access treatment. With support from philanthropy, Shank was able to connect her to lifesaving care and the medication she urgently needed.
Colleagues say that combination of skill and compassion makes Shank uniquely suited for the position. “She’s the total package,” said Dr. Mark Prichard, M.D., underscoring her ability to anchor the clinic’s vision of continuous, comprehensive support.
As the Supportive Care Clinic launches this new model, Shank’s role represents more than a job title—it symbolizes a promise to walk beside every patient and family facing the challenges of cancer.
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