Karen Palmer, BSN, RN, OCN

Growing up I knew I had a passion for helping others through volunteering at the local nursing home where my grandmother lived and going on mission trips every summer. When I was 18 and trying to figure out my future, nursing fit perfectly. I started my nursing career in critical care at a Level I trauma center in Pittsburgh, PA. After four and a half years there I decided to use my experience in a new endeavor which led me to an outpatient hematology oncology clinic. I did not know much about bone marrow transplants going in but quickly found my passion. The oncology field is rapidly growing and evolving and I find it exciting to be a part of it all. I spent almost two years working there before my husband and I decided to return to the Philadelphia area. I knew about FCCC because I grew up in the area. I also knew that if I wanted to stay in bone marrow transplant this is where I needed to be. Once I started working with oncology patients I realized just how complicated their treatment plans are and how overwhelming the entire treatment process can be for them, especially those patients who have never been in the medical world before their diagnosis. As a nurse navigator I am able to help patients and their families navigate through their difficult journey.