Navigating a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming.

At Arizona Oncology, our team is committed to supporting you throughout your cancer experience. As a part of our integrated approach to care, our patients have access to nurse navigators and social workers who work with them every step of the way to ensure they have the information needed to participate in treatment decisions, as well as the appropriate emotional support.

Social workers at Arizona Oncology support our patients and families with their emotional and physical needs by connecting them to support services and appropriate community resources. Our social workers provide supportive counseling during your diagnosis and as you adjust to your illness and treatment plan. They help assess barriers to care, like transportation and community resources. Your social worker will also evaluate crisis situations and provide resources to caregivers.

Our nurse navigators guide our patients through the healthcare system by providing support and advocacy, from the initial diagnosis to treatment—and beyond. Your nurse navigator will check in with you after starting new treatments, provide education management and support, and collaborate with the other members of your care team on your behalf. They work proactively to meet your patient care needs.

At Arizona Oncology, we work together to help our patients thrive with and beyond cancer.

Meet our team

Kelly is the manager of the social work department statewide. She joined Arizona Oncology in 2020 and has been a social worker for 37 years. She has a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Arizona State University. She is licensed by the AZ Board of Behavioral Health as a licensed clinical social worker.

Lorraine is the manager of the nurse navigators statewide. She previously worked in the gynecologic oncology setting managing patients from initial visit, during treatment and into survivorship. Her background also includes managing several busy physician surgeons and their healthcare teams. She has a passion for helping patients and their families and in building strong teams who support patient care needs. This passion is displayed daily with her communication and strong work ethic.

Our Social Workers can:

• Evaluate crisis situations and provide behavioral health assessments
• Address elevated depression and distress screenings
• Educate and assist with advance care planning — living will, medical, and mental health power of attorney and DNR status
• Assist patients with applying for AHCCCS, Social security disability, Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), and nutrition services
• Provide supportive counseling for new diagnosis and adjustment to illness
• Refer to palliative care/hospice and educate patient/family on end of life issues
• Provide substance abuse resources and smoking cessation counseling
• Support and provide resources to patients’ families and caregivers
• Assess barriers to care, including transportation and community services needs

Our Nurse Navigators can:

• Support patient care needs from initial diagnosis, during treatment and into surveillance
• Address distress screen assessment
• Contact patients after starting new treatments
• Provide education and symptom management support
• Collaborate with provider team members to ensure patient needs are met
• Engage community resources and referrals
• Maintain a proactive approach to patient care needs
• Provide support for palliative care/hospice and end of life needs
• Advocate for patients and caregivers

Please feel free to email us with any questions or concerns: aonavigator@usoncology.com | aosocialworker@usoncology.com