Oncology Department Staff at UF Health Go the Extra Mile to Support Cancer Patients and Their Families
Supporting patients at the UF Health Medical Oncology Clinic is more than a job for Nina Powell and Kristin Tarbox. It is a calling.
Working at the Medical Oncology – Davis Cancer Pavilion has been a wonderful experience for the two social workers. Powell and Tarbox support patients and their families as they navigate their cancer journeys. Whether it is through emotional support or helping patients and their families find resources, they are there to give comfort during a difficult time.
The most important thing, said Powell, is to create a welcoming atmosphere. She and Tarbox have private offices, but their doors are always open. They keep pictures of their pets up –– Powell has yorkies and Tarbox has cats –– to give people a glimpse of their personalities. Little touches like these are what make their offices inviting instead of clinical.
“We try to give patients and their families a warm, inviting place where they can come to talk about anything,” Powell said. “Whether they just need a place to cry or vent or just be, we want our patients and families to know that we are always here for them.”
Extending a Helping Hand
Powell and the entire oncology department keep an eye on what patients and their families may need. Powell and Tarbox make sure that all needs are met, not just with chemotherapy, but with any other kind of assistance the patient may need.
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For example, the entire oncology department collects food and puts together Thanksgiving bags for patients and families who need it most. They do this all on their own, from their own pockets. They do not take an outside collection, and they do not make a big deal of their mission. The bags are meant to show their patients that the department cares for them like family.
Powell said 10 bags were given out in 2022, each filled with items that were easy to open and prepare.
“It’s such a nice moment to provide a little something for our patients who need it most,” she said. “Some of these patients are homeless. Others are barely making it. They are trying to get better and provide for their families, which is such a hard thing.”
The department also provides food for needy patients year-round. Powell said the doctors and staff will routinely bring in food to her office. It is a sign that everyone thinks about their patients even after the day is done. She keeps a box there for anyone who needs it.
Bringing Joy in Difficult Times
In addition to helping patients with their needs, Powell works with the oncology department to help improve patients’ quality of life. They reunite patients with the things they enjoy.
Powell fondly recalled how everyone worked to help one patient get back to the pastime he loved most: fishing.
“Our patient just loved to go fishing. That was his happy place,” she said. “We all worked hard to support him and get his pain under control so he could go fishing. It was exactly what he needed to keep his spirits up.”
Powell said her heart would keep her here with the patients and their families until she retires.
“I won’t ever leave,” she said. “This is my heart and my passion.”
In an area of medicine that is daunting and even frightening, the work that Powell and Tarbox do makes dealing with cancer a lot easier.
By Michelle Stephens.