Speakers Bureau Staff Biographies
Life With Cancer
Staff
Biographies
Sage Bolte, LCSW, Metastatic Breast Cancer Counselor
Sage came to Life with Cancer in June 2004, after completing two years of psychosocial oncology research and patient care at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Sage joined the staff to help develop a program that specifically addresses the needs of the women, men and families impacted by metastatic breast cancer. Sage provides individual and family counseling, facilitates metastatic breast cancer support groups, and partner support groups. Her other interests lie in the areas of sexuality and the impact of a cancer diagnosis on sexuality and teaching patients and families how to problem solve around common problems experienced by a cancer diagnosis. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan and is working toward her PhD of Social Work at Catholic University.
Drucilla Brethwaite, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, Oncology Counselor
Drucilla joined the Life with Cancer staff in October 1998 and as an oncology counselor provides psychosocial services to inpatients and outpatients and their families to promote adjustment to illness and improved quality of lofe. Areas of interest include caregivers, transplant, end of life, palliative care and grief/bereavement. Drucilla facilitates a number of support groups including the colorectal group, BMT/PSCT group, caregivers group and Good Grief bereavement group, as well as provides individual and family counseling. She earned a Masters in Social Work Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Eric Cohen, RN, BSN, OCN, Education Program Manager
Eric came to Life with Cancer in January of 2004 after working as an Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Nurse on the in-patient unit of the Inova Fairfax Cancer Center. As a Patient Educator, Eric meets with both in-patients and out-patients to discuss their diagnosis, treatment plan, management of side-effects and available resources. Eric is also responsible for developing Life With Cancer's patient teaching materials that are currently used throughout the Inova Health System. Eric is an active member of the Oncology Nursing Society and is currently Immediate Past President of the Northern Virginia Chapter.
Deborah Cook, RN, Breast Cancer Nurse Educator
Deborah joined the Life with Cancer team in the spring of 2004
as a 10- year Inova Health System veteran. After graduating from
Georgetown University Nursing School, she spent the next 24 years
of her career in various critical care specialties as clinician,
educator and manager. A breast cancer diagnosis in 1995 and 1997
catalyzed a career move into oncology where she could teach and
support others with breast cancer. Deborah has designed and teaches
a pre-op educational program that prepares women with breast cancer
for surgery. Her passion for cancer care and prevention has also
led her into the community where she can frequently be found speaking
to large audiences on her oncology nursing knowledge and her survivorship.
For the past five years, Deborah has been the Area Lay Pastor
for Healing and Prayer at her church, leading monthly healing
services and participating in Care Ministries.
Geronima Cortese-Jimenez, RN, MPH, OCN
Prior to joining Life with Cancer in January 2007, Geronima worked as an oncology nurse on the solid tumor/gynecological oncology floor at Georgetown University Hospital. She has been a Reiki Master for over seven years and has a profound interest in complementary and alternative modalities (CAM). Geronima received her Master's in Public Health from George Washington University in September 2000; her thesis explored how CAM can help improve breast cancer patients' quality of life. She currently speaks to community groups and co-facilitates a support group for patients with gynecological cancers. Geronima meets with both in-patients and out-patients to talk about their illness, treatment plan, side-effects and available resources in English and Spanish. She is an Oncology Certified Nurse.
Jennifer Eckert, MSW, Children's Program Manager
Jenny Eckert began work at Life with Cancer in September 2001. She came from East Carolina University School of Medicine where she was a pediatric hem/onc social worker in the outpatient clinic. She also worked as a social worker in the emergency department for 13 years. Jenny's employment history includes the public health department as well as the Neonatal follow up clinic. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work from East Carolina University.
Sabine Gnesdiloff, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, Pyschosocial Program Manager
Sabine has been with the Life with Cancer since February 1989; prior to that she was a social worker in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital. She earned her Masters in Social Work in 1987 from Catholic University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Oncology Social Worker. Originally from Germany, Sabine spent 20 years in California where she was reference librarian at Stanford University and other San Francisco Bay area libraries, before moving to the East Coast. She also holds Masters degrees in Library Science and German Literature, both from the California State University System, as well as a BA in International Relations. Sabine has facilitated many of the programs offered at LWC, and has a special interest in complementary therapies, bereavement, and bone marrow transplant.
Catherine Intartaglia, MSW, Volunteer Program Coordinator
Catherine joined Life with Cancer in February 1997. She earned a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1981 with a concentration in health care and group work. In addition to her work as Life with Cancer's volunteer program coordinator, Catherine maintains a limited practice as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a position she has enjoyed since 1986.
Marsha Komandt, RN, BSN, OCN, Oncology Patient Educator
Marsha Began working at Life with Cancer in 1990 and is currently the Oncology Education Manager. She worked as a staff nurse on the oncology unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital from 1982 to 1990. Marsha is a Buckeye, having graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor's in Nursing. She and her husband Jerry, who is now retired from the United States Government, traveled extensively with tours overseas. Marsha is active in her church as the Health and Wellness Coordinator, having taken the certification course in Parish Nursing at Shenandoah University. She is active in the community as a volunteer and in the Oncology Nursing Society, serving as President of the local chapter in 2001.
Shara Sosa, MSW, Oncology Counselor Counselor
Shara joined Life with Cancer in January of 1999 as the Children's Program Coordinator and Oncology Counselor. In December of 2000 Shara's family began to grow and as of November 2004, Shara and her husband, Sammy share 3 beautiful daughters Gabriella, Liliana and Isabella. Shara now works part time so that she may spend more time with her family. She currently helps with the children/teen support programs, co-facilatates the breast cancer support programs at Inova Alexandria Hospital, and meets with patients and families in the hospital. Shara rarely knows if she is coming or going, but is thrilled to be a part of the team wherever else she may be needed.
