Emily Gentry BSN, RN, HON ONN-CG, OCN

Emily Gentry, BSN, RN, HON ONN-CG, OCN, is senior director of education and program development for the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators. In addition, Gentry is also the co-director of certification for AONN + Foundation for Learning, INC. Prior to joining AONN+, she served as the Navigation Director, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Medical City Healthcare in Dallas/ Fort Worth, which provides world-class cancer care and access to leading –edge therapies for patients across North Texas. Emily Gentry has been engaged in supporting cancer patients and their families for more than 30 years. Across her oncology career, she has worked as an oncology and hematology nurse at the bedside, a chemo-infusion nurse, a research study nurse, navigator, patient education leader, community outreach liaison, and oncology program director, leading care teams that support cancer patients and family members. A graduate of the Baylor University School of Nursing, Gentry joined HCA in 2014 after a 28-year career with Baylor Healthcare System. While at Baylor, she collaborated with colleagues to develop and grow the organization’s efforts with cancer survivorship and patient navigation, working first with Baylor Medical Center Dallas and then Baylor Medical Center Plano. She was recently recognized as Nurse of the Year in 2011 with Baylor Medical Center Plano. She developed numerous community-facing programs while at Baylor and with HCA to support cancer patients and their families. In addition to Gentry’s professional oncology work, she enjoys serving the community as a volunteer with American Cancer Society, North Texas Komen, and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Gentry served on The Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators (AONN+) Leadership Council in 2016 and founded the local AONN+ chapter in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2013. Gentry is a current chapter member of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and North Texas AONN+ chapters. Gentry currently serves on the national AONN+ national conference planning team. She has worked over the last several years to elevate the relevance and define the role of the oncology nurse navigator within the community hospital setting. Gentry’s focus is on building processes and defining outcomes that will enable nurse navigators to work as part of an integrated care team. Gentry’s passion is in mentorship and building collaborative teams to ensure professional self- care while providing quality oncology patient care. Currently, Gentry is involved in quality improvement projects focusing on compassion fatigue and professional health. In 2018 Gentry contributed to the book entitled Team-Based Oncology Care: The Pivotal Role of Oncology Navigation. This resource provides expertise from members of the Leadership Council of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators. Gentry’s contributions focus on compassion fatigue and community outreach. Ms. Gentry has facilitated and spoken nationally on the importance of proactively building strategies that address the importance of assessing burn-out in the oncology nurse navigator. In addition, Gentry is collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to address the psychosocial oncology needs of cancer survivors serving as a co- investigator for a qualitative research study focusing on survivorship quality of life. Ms. Gentry enjoys her growing family and volunteering in her local community as she has the privilege of caring for cancer survivors along their journey.