No astrologer could possibly predict what was on display in the Fox Chase Cancer Center cafeteria on October 14, 2025, where the latest group of STAR – Special Talent Achieving Results – Award winners were announced and celebrated. This employee recognition event highlights excellence in achieving the organizational goals, leadership competencies, and core values of Fox Chase.
“The heart and soul of this organization is the people who come here every day to seek our help,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, Fox Chase’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We celebrate all of you who are there when people ask for help and to walk beside them on their journey.”
The STAR Award is part of the Fox Chase Recognition Program to honor employees for excellence in performance and to foster a culture of recognition where every employee feels valued and respected. The award honors employees in each of the following categories: Excellence in Administration, Excellence in Management, Excellence in Patient Support, and Excellence in Research Support.
The latest STAR Award winners include:
- Alan Van Norman Jr., Director, Security – Excellence in Administration
- Nicole Seeley, Clinical Nurse Manager, Radiation Oncology – Excellence in Management
- Emanuel Gonzalez, Ambulatory Care Representative, Radiation Oncology – Excellence in Patient Support
- Christopher Merlo, Scientific Technician, Whitaker Lab – Excellence in Research Support
2nd Place Winners:
- Jordyn Lynn Biro, Manager, Service Line Operations – Excellence in Administration
- Tracey Hunter, Supervisor, Respiratory Care – Excellence in Management
- Kathleen Zielinski, Advanced Nurse III, Ambulatory Care Clinic Nursing – Excellence in Patient Support
- Shannon Fabrie, Disease Site Research Manager, Clinical Research Phase 1 Unit – Excellence in Research Support
3rd Place Winners:
- Katerine Tsakiris, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Protocol Support Lab – Excellence in Administration
- Jordan Sellers, Manager, Service Line Operations – Excellence in Patient Support
- Lillian Nguyen, Budget Financial Analyst, Office of Clinical Research – Excellence in Research Support
Alan Van Norman Jr. – Excellence in Administration
As Director of Security for the entire Burholme Campus, Alan Van Norman Jr. exemplifies excellence in administration through his visionary leadership, operational expertise, and unwavering commitment to safety. An Air Force veteran with a commitment to professionalism, Van Norman has transformed the culture and infrastructure of campus safety into a proactive, data-driven, and responsive operation. In FY25 alone, his team managed nearly 52,000 security events — from staff escorts and medical emergencies to theft prevention — all handled with professionalism and compassion.
According to his nominator, Joshua Lahav, MBA, Vice President of Cancer Center Operations, Van Norman is often the first to know about any event on any campus and communicates the situation widely. “He has the answer to most common—and unusual—circumstances, and everyone at Fox Chase relies on his expertise,” said Lahav.
Under his leadership, Fox Chase has expanded security infrastructure across all sites, adding cameras, card readers, panic buttons, and improved lighting. Every new location receives an in-depth security review, resulting in strong, reliable systems that protect patients, staff, and visitors. Van Norman also provides comprehensive training, including security briefings and active shooter preparedness for all new employees, fostering a culture of awareness and shared responsibility.
“We have to be right every single time, and there are bad consequences if we fail,” Van Norman said. “If patients and staff alike perceive that Fox Chase is a safe and secure place, it is because it is safe – and that is the work of my entire team.”
Beyond operations, Van Norman’s leadership is defined by empathy.
“Security under Alan’s guidance is not just about protection — it’s about creating a welcoming, reassuring environment for vulnerable patients and their loved ones during some of life’s most difficult moments,” Lahav said. “He has made Fox Chase a safer, stronger, and more supportive place for patients, families, and staff alike.”
As Van Norman explains, this award is representative of his entire staff and their dedication to the people of Fox Chase Cancer Center. “Everyone here at Fox Chase does great things – caring for patients, laboratory science, operations, finance, keeping all the stuff running,” Van Norman said. “So, I am grateful that the STAR Award program does take the opportunity to recognize people; I see this as a reward for the entire security team across Fox Chase.”
Nicole Seeley, MSN, RN – Excellence in Management
Nicole Seeley is not just a clinical nurse manager in Radiation Oncology Nursing. According to her nominator, Erin Longstreth-Papsun, MSN, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, Clinical Director of Ambulatory Satellite Clinics and Radiation Oncology Nursing at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Seeley has gone beyond mere superstar status in her role. She is – and this is a direct quote – “The Beyoncé of Radiation.”
“Nicole exemplifies what it means to be a transformational leader, consistently fostering a culture of respect, growth, empathy, and excellence in the Radiation Oncology department,” Longstreth-Papsun said. “Nicole’s advocacy on behalf of her team is tireless, and she is more than deserving of this STAR Award recognition.”
At work, Seeley is also a champion of recognition and morale. Through her weekly “Monday Minute” and the department’s “Shout Out Board,” she celebrates staff contributions and fosters a sense of shared purpose and appreciation. Her thoughtful initiatives have elevated team spirit and reinforced a positive workplace culture that values every individual’s impact.
Beyond daily management, Seeley is deeply committed to mentorship and professional development. She has guided staff through projects that earned national recognition, empowering them to lead and innovate. Her advocacy extends to improving safety protocols, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentoring emerging leaders—all while pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare management.
“What motivates me daily is the personal experience I have had with cancer—and with Fox Chase Cancer Center,” she reflected. “Both a close friend and a close family member had radiation as part of their treatment plan, and seeing the experience from a patient level is eye-opening. Understanding the anxiety, the uncertainty, and the demands of radiation treatment from a patient’s lens has given me a passion for impacting every patient who walks through our doors.”
That empathy informs her leadership style. “I am grateful for the privilege to not only serve our patients, but also to empower, inspire, and support the oncology nurses on my team,” she said. “Oncology nursing has given me a sense of perspective, purpose, and gratitude that I don’t think I could have found anywhere else—and nursing leadership has given me the opportunity to influence patient experience and outcomes beyond the bedside.”
Emanuel Gonzalez – Excellence in Patient Support
Emanuel “Manny” Gonzalez is an ambulatory care representative in Radiation Oncology and, according to his nominators, “one of the kindest and most dedicated individuals you’ll ever meet.”
To represent the impact Gonzalez has on patients and colleagues, it took both Nicole Seeley, MSN, RN, Clinical Manager, Radiation Oncology Nursing, and Sarah Ruszkowski, Director of Ambulatory Operations, to nominate him for the STAR Award. Primarily, they cited him for his genuine compassion.
“He doesn’t just point patients in the right direction — he personally walks them to where they need to be,” they wrote. “He does this not for recognition, but because he truly cares about making their experience as smooth and comforting as possible.”
That compassion extends to his colleagues, too. Manny is patient and thorough when training others and has become a trusted expert in all aspects of Radiation Oncology. His reliability and initiative have made him a go-to problem solver across multiple Fox Chase locations. When he identifies a challenge, he doesn’t wait for direction — he creates solutions. For example, noticing confusion over symptom-related calls, Manny developed a secure chat workflow that connects front desk staff directly with nurses, physicians, and therapists. The system now operates seamlessly at Fox Chase’s main campus and network sites, ensuring urgent patient needs are addressed quickly.
“For me, it’s knowing that what I do can make a difference for someone going through a tough time,” Gonzalez said. “Whether it’s helping a patient get scheduled, answering a question, or just being kind when they need it — those little moments matter. I take pride in making things a little smoother and a little kinder for people.”
A recent patient letter captured the impact of Manny’s care. When a woman faced a long wait between appointments, Manny personally rearranged her schedule so she could complete treatment hours early. His thoughtfulness turned an anxious, tiring day into a positive experience — one more example of how Emanuel’s quiet leadership, compassion, and problem-solving make him indispensable.
Christopher Merlo – Excellence in Research Support
When it comes to research excellence at Fox Chase Cancer Center, few embody dedication and collaboration quite like Christopher Merlo, a scientific technician in the Whitaker Lab. Known among his colleagues as the “engine that keeps the lab running,” Merlo combines technical mastery, teamwork, and generosity of spirit to drive scientific progress.
“Chris provides outstanding research support through his unmatched dedication, expertise, and generosity of spirit,” said Amy Whitaker, PhD, his supervisor, nominator, Assistant Professor in Fox Chase’s Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, and a member of the Cancer Epigenetics Institute. “He contributes to virtually every experiment in our laboratory, ensuring that projects are executed with precision and reproducibility.”
A wizard of enzyme kinetics, Merlo has elevated the quality of the lab’s research through his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to helping others succeed. He trains new students and postdocs, helps troubleshoot complex experiments, and even assists in drafting manuscripts and generating high-quality figures for publications and grant proposals. His efforts have strengthened numerous studies and directly contributed to the lab’s recently funded NIH R35 grant.
Recently, Merlo earned a master’s degree in biotechnology at Temple University, completed while working full time in the lab.
When he learned of his STAR Award nomination, Merlo was both humbled and grateful. “I was genuinely surprised when I first heard the news,” he said. “Being recognized in this way feels like a reflection of the amazing community we’re all part of, and I’m deeply grateful for that.”
For Merlo, the true reward lies in collaboration. “Something truly special about the Whitaker Lab is that it’s so much more than just a research group—it’s a family,” he said. “Any success I’ve had is entirely because of the incredible individuals I get to work with every day.”
Merlo believes that recognition programs like the STAR Award “shine a light on the incredible people whose hard work and dedication keep Fox Chase moving forward.” His humility, expertise, and deep sense of purpose make him not only a model scientist but also a cornerstone of the Fox Chase research community.