Carrie Tompkins Stricker, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, CRNP, Receives APSHO Award for Excellence in Oncology Advanced Practice

The Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO) presented the fifth annual Mary Pazdur Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice in Oncology to Carrie Tompkins Stricker, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, CRNP, an associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing. Created in honor of the late Mary Pazdur, RN, MSN, the award is presented to an advanced practitioner and member of APSHO who consistently demonstrates exemplary leadership and outstanding contributions to clinical practice, research, and education in the oncology/hematology field.

A charter member of APSHO, Dr. Stricker is the founding director of Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing’s graduate program in Transformative Systems Leadership and an entrepreneur, health services researcher, and clinician. In 2013, she co-founded Carevive Systems, Inc., whose EMR-integrated cancer care digital platform enables evidence-based cancer care management and patient engagement to improve clinical outcomes. As chief clinical officer, Dr. Stricker saw Carevive’s oncology solutions widely adopted and integrated for clinical and research use, and then expanded to include computerized algorithms for symptom management decision support.

Despite her many pursuits outside of the clinic, “Carrie has unerringly demonstrated her deep commitment to patient care by retaining an active practice as an oncology nurse practitioner,” said Deborah Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN®, FAAN, of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In her recommendation letter, Dr. Mayer cited the 2010 memoir of U.S. Senator (PA) Arlen Specter, Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate, wherein he mentioned Dr. Stricker’s “keen awareness of the psychological dimension of the cancer experience.”

Dr. Stricker is also the executive director of Canopy Cancer Collective, a learning health network of 14 NCI-designated cancer centers, dedicated to improving care and patient-defined quality survival for pancreatic cancer. In addition to her other roles, she is the president and founder of Accelerate Outcomes, LLC, a consulting company that provides expertise in all areas of health care and health technology for health system and corporate clients who want to improve their capacity and funding support to drive high quality outcomes.

Known for her oncology supportive care expertise as an oncology nurse practitioner, Dr. Stricker is respected for her leadership in using digital health and care delivery innovation to transform cancer care. “Carrie Stricker embodies the focus of the Mary Pazdur Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice in Oncology in so many ways,” said APSHO Board of Directors President Sandra Kurtin, PhD, ANP-C, AOCN®, FAPO, from the Arizona Cancer Center at the University of Arizona. “Carrie’s unrelenting innovation, exemplary leadership, patient-outcome–focused research, interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and dedication to advancing the AP role exemplifies excellence.”

Former colleagues describe a supportive and driven partner when talking about Dr. Stricker. After joining the CT Challenge Survivorship Network’s Medical Advisory Board, where she advised on state-wide development of cancer survivorship programs and services, “she enhanced both the visibility and impact of oncology nurses and advanced practitioners in our state…in both community-based and academic settings,” said Andrew Salner, MD, FACR, of the Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut.

The award ceremony took place during JADPRO Live, an annual educational event during which the APSHO annual meeting takes place. The conference welcomes more than 1,000 attendees annually, including oncology/hematology nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other advanced degree nurses and health-care professionals. Past recipients of the award include Jody Pelusi, PhD, FNP, AOCNP®, of HonorHealth Research Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona; Jeannine Brant, PhD, APRN, AOCN®, FAAN, of City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California; Christina Cone, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, AOCNP®, of Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina; and Allyson Price, PA-C, Thought Leader Liaison for AbbVie.

To learn more about the Mary Pazdur Award, please visit marypazduraward.com.

About JADPRO Live
JADPRO Live is a medical conference inspired by the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology. This year’s meeting took place from October 20 through October 23 in Aurora, Colorado.