About Us and Our Mission

Sharon Francz is the Oncology Nurse Navigator for Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. Sharon is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) with 20 years experience and has a degree in Health Care Administration. Prior to coming to Shady Grove in 2006, Sharon has worked with persons with cancer and AIDS in a hospital setting, corrections, as a home care nurse, as a hospice nurse, as a study coordinator for a Phase I study of pain medication, and more recently in a general and specialized surgical practice. In addition to her work experience, she has served as an Advocate Grant Reviewer for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, at the local level. She is a C-change member and board member for a non-profit, Critters for the Cure.

Sharon navigates all cancer diagnosis and is the single point of contact for patients and families regardless of their entrance point into her facility. She is the facilitator for four cancer support groups including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In her role as the Oncology Nurse Navigator, Sharon is an advocate for all who have cancer and caregivers who support those who have cancer as well as for those who are concerned about cancer. She is a guide and personal care coach for patients and families at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and throughout the expanded community.

Rebecca Trupp is currently the nurse navigator for Breast and Gyn oncology at Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, MD. She is highly dedicated to her patients and the promotion of the nurse navigator role. Rebecca created and manages the nurse navigator program at Suburban Hospital, serving both inpatients and outpatients. She participates in the hospital patient education committee, provides in-service training to the hospital staff, and gives lectures in the community. She has explored political advocacy, speaking on Capitol Hill in support of patient rights.

Prior to working at Suburban, Rebecca was an integral member of the team that envisioned and developed the Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic Breast Health Program. She has worked in women's health care for the majority of her career in various positions including: Genitourinary Med/Surg, Postpartum, Labor and Delivery, High Risk Antepartum, Mother/Baby home health, and High Risk Obstetrical Case Management. Rebecca received her degree in nursing from Montgomery College and has been a Registered Nurse since 1991. She received her certification in Oncology Nursing in 2006.

Fran Wingerter is the Director of Operations for Affiliated P.E.T. Systems (APS), an outpatient imaging company with facilities in Rockville and Silver Spring, Maryland. As a radiology Center of Excellence with multiple accreditations, APS is reflective of Fran’s commitment to the oncologic clinical community and cancer patients and their families. APS continues to be a strong corporate supporter of NCONN and its Mission and Vision.

Fran has been in medical administration and operations for fifteen years. Her background includes Directorships in both radiology and oncology for George Washington University Hospital and US Oncology. Fran brings to NCONN a diversified background in Marketing and Business development, which will provide a strong basis for this undertaking. Her goals and objectives include bringing the platforms of NCONN to prominence within the medical and corporate communities and engaging both administrators and clinicians in the absolute importance of the role of the oncologic nurse navigator.

Anne-Marie is the Breast Care Coordinator at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Anne-Marie has been navigating women with abnormal mammographic findings through the healthcare continuum in a timely manner for the past five years. Additionally, she provides patient, staff and community education on early detection strategies; assists in performance improvement activities; planning multidisciplinary cancer conferences; and facilitates of breast and general cancer support groups. Anne-Marie has written, implemented and monitors a grant through Komen for the Cure Central and South Jersey Affiliate to educate and screen un/underinsured women. Recently, Komen named her 2010 Grantee of the Year.

Anne-Marie is also member of the Cancer Committee, Cancer Survivor Day Planning Committee and has initiated the Lung Nurse Navigator role at St. Francis. She has been the Co-Captain for Race for the Cure annually from 2005 to 2009; and assisted in the planning of a two-day breast conference with the Fox Chase Cancer Center Partners. She is a member of several professional organizations including: the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators (NCONN), American Society of Breast Surgeons and she currently holds the position of President Elect for the Mercer County ONS.

Kathleen Gamblin started her career 15 years ago as a staff oncology nurse in Panama City, Florida. She proudly served our country for seven years as a Nurse Corps officer in the United States Air Force. After leaving the Air Force in 2003, she returned to her first passion in nursing, oncology.

In 2006, she and her husband and three daughters settled in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She went to work for WellStar Health Systems as an oncology nurse navigator that same year. The Atlanta Journal Constitution honored her in 2008 with a Nurse of Excellence award for her work in oncology nurse navigation. She is currently the Thoracic Nurse Navigator for the Specialty Teams and Treatments (STAT) Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic at WellStar Health Systems.

Kathleen earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania and is completing her master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis in education from Walden University. She is active in the Metro Atlanta chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society as the chapter’s secretary and is a graduate of the Oncology Nursing Society’s Leadership Development Institute.