Care specialists join Beaufort Memorial New River Cancer Center

Beaufort Memorial has added three experienced cancer care specialists – a medical oncology social worker, an oncology research nurse and an oncology nurse navigator – to its team at Beaufort Memorial New River Cancer Center in Okatie.

Samantha Bruns, BSW, a medical oncology social worker, assists with connection to counseling and support groups that can help guide patients and their families, as well as assistance in finding resources for transportation needs; navigating the medical leave- and disability-related application processes; and financial resources and community services.

Bruns, who earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Huntington University in Huntington, Ind., most recently was a breast oncology patient navigator at Parkview Cancer Institute in Fort Wayne, where she provided support and guidance to patients throughout diagnosis and treatment.

Crystal Conran, BSN, RN, joined the cancer care team as an oncology research nurse. In her role at both New River Cancer Center in Okatie and the Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort, Conran serves as a resource for patients and their families, providing them with ongoing education on the latest cancer treatment options and clinical trials as well as assisting them with trial eligibility assessment, enrollment and progress monitoring.

Formerly a nurse at Beaufort Memo- rial, Conran holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

Catherine Healy, BSN, RN, an oncology nurse navigator, manages all aspects of care for patients, connecting them with resources and services; assisting with coordination of their multidisciplinary care teams; providing detailed information about what to expect at every stage of their passage from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship; and offering emotional support to them and their families.

Before coming to Beaufort Memorial, she worked for several Centura Health Physicians Group clinics across Colorado. Healy received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida State Universi- ty in Tallahassee.

In affiliation with MUSC Health, Beaufort Memorial New River Cancer Center brings the hospital’s cancer services closer to home for patients who live south of the Broad River. Equipped with the state-of-the-art Varian Halcyon Linear Accelerator radiotherapy system, the center offers access to surgical, medical and radiation oncology as well as genetic testing, lab, imaging, chemotherapy/infusion, breast health services and a wide range of support services.

Through this collaboration with MUSC, patients have access to subspecialists experienced in treating rare or complex cancers and are able to participate in clinical trials of promising new cancer drugs and treatments.

The New River Cancer Center is located at the Beaufort Memorial Okatie Medical Pavilion, 122 Okatie Center Blvd., North and can be reached by calling 843-522-5619.