Oncology Nursing Foundation Announces 2024 Awards at 49th Annual ONS Congress®

Jonathan Anotado Gapilango, MSN, RN, NE-BC, OCN®, was awarded the 2024 Connie Henke Yarbro Excellence in Cancer Nursing Mentorship Award. This award celebrates Gapilango’s significant contributions to the development of oncology nursing through his leadership and advocacy for excellence in patient care. Gapilango serves as the administrative director of oncology performance measures and accreditation at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. His mentorship extends beyond individual guidance, encompassing significant contributions to the development of oncology nursing through his active involvement in professional associations and his upcoming term as president of the Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey.   

Bill Brummel, an award-winning documentary producer and 27-year cancer survivor, was the 2024 Mara Mogensen Flaherty Memorial Lecture award recipient. Brummel delivered a lecture that draws on his personal experiences and his documentary Can You Hear My Voice? Through film clips and personal narratives, Brummel explored themes of identity, resilience, and the transformative journey of survivorship. 

This year, the Foundation also recognized Genentech and the Puget Sound ONS Chapter with the 2024 Friend of the Foundation Award. Genentech, along with the Genentech Foundation, has invested over $233 million since 2017 in equity-focused giving, supporting healthcare and education equity; diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and the needs of underserved communities, including grants to the Foundation for scholarships, research grants, and career advancement opportunities. The Puget Sound ONS Chapter actively participates in community service, partnering with the Downtown Emergency Services Center to support over 2,500 individuals facing housing insecurity, by donating and sorting essential supplies. They also organized a food drive for the Lynnwood Foodbank in 2023 and expanded scholarship opportunities for oncology nurses, emphasizing its dedication to their professional development.  

“These awards underline the Oncology Nursing Foundation's commitment to supporting oncology nursing excellence and its profound impact on patient care,” said Oncology Nursing Foundation Executive Director Angie Stengel, MA, CAE. “Through educational, research, and leadership development initiatives funded by generous donations, the Foundation continues to advance the practice and professionalism of oncology nursing.” 

The Oncology Nursing Society created the Oncology Nursing Foundation in 1981 to accept charitable contributions to advance important activities on behalf of oncology nursing. The mission of the Oncology Nursing Foundation is to support oncology nursing excellence. Thanks to the generosity of individuals and institutions over the years, the Oncology Nursing Foundation has awarded more than $32 million in funding since its inception for oncology nursing education, research, and leadership development, giving nurses the opportunity to pursue excellence in delivering care to patients with cancer.