Illuminating problems, defining processes, and improving outcomes: the essence of oncology nursing research.

Abstract

Growing up in a small farming village in the rural Hudson Valley of New York state, Lillian was recognized as bright and curious. This opened doors for her, including participation in a school enrichment program that unlocked the world of culture and ideas. Monthly field trips to New York City introduced her to opera, art, and the exchange of ideas on contemporary issues by prominent thinkers and scientists. One memorable evening was spent having dinner with Margaret Mead. These experiences lead Lillian to value inquiry and set her on her way to an education at the University of Rochester and a nursing degree. As an undergraduate, she was exposed to research as a vehicle to build knowledge. Lillian made a lifelong connection between her curiosity and research as the means to explore and learn. As a staff nurse, Lillian sought positions where she could care for patients participating in clinical research trials. She eventually worked with a research team involved in the early development of the intra-aortic balloon pump. Out of this experience came her first publication, a coauthored article in Heart & Lung in 1973 about the device. Soon she returned to the University of Rochester for a master’s degree in nursing; after she earned this degree, she took a teaching position in a nursing program at a small liberal arts college. Within a year she missed the excitement she felt in the university research environment, and she soon headed back to the University of Rochester to pursue a doctoral degree in nursing.