Frank dela Rama RN, MS, AOCNS, AGN-BC

Frank dela Rama is the Prostate Cancer Nurse Navigator at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. He began has career in oncology as a registered nurse in radiation oncology there in 2000. In the midst of expanding the radiation oncology nursing service at PAMF, he established the role as of Oncology Nurse Navigator, primarily working with prostate cancer patients, to make their journey from diagnosis through to treatment as smooth as possible.

Frank then completed his Master’s degree at the University of California, at San Francisco, to become an Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS) in Oncology/Genomics. Soon after graduation, he created the Cancer Genetics program at PAMF, which provides genetic counseling and testing, predominantly for the BRCA1/2 genes (Hereditary Breast / Ovarian Cancer Syndrome), as well as the Lynch Syndrome genes (Hereditary Colorectal Cancer). He continues his work in developing programs and services at PAMF, including Survivorship, Oncology Nurse Navigators, the Prostate Cancer Buddy Program, and studies in Cancer Treatment Decision Making Strategies.

He serves on the Board of Directors for Breast Cancer Connections, a nonprofit organization located in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering free programs and services for those touched by breast cancer and the people who care about them.

Frank is on the editorial board for several oncology nursing publications, including our own Journal of Oncology Navigation and Survivorship.

He has also written chapters for Oncology Nursing Society publications, geared toward navigators including, Oncology Nurse Navigation: Delivering Patient-Centered Care Across the Continuum (1st ed., 2014), and Oncology Nurse Navigation Case Studies (1st ed., 2017).

He is a featured speaker at conferences and events, sharing his passion for quality cancer care, focusing upon prostate cancer and genetics.