The Compassionate Care Award recognizes a patient/nurse navigator (clinical/nurse, community health worker, social worker in the role of a navigator) for his or her outstanding contributions to patient care, support or education. Sarcoma is a challenging disease to navigate alone, and many sarcoma patients need additional support. Navigators assist patients from diagnosis to survivorship, helping them understand their condition and treatments as well as manage side effects; coordinate care among medical specialists; and connect patients to available community resources to overcome barriers to care. They can also help patients manage their psychosocial needs, such as work, school and home environments; relationships; mental and emotional health; and financial concerns. SFA recognizes the important role these individuals play in the sarcoma patient journey.
Christina Kim, NP
Mass General Cancer Center
Christina Kim is a dedicated nurse practitioner at the Mass General Cancer Center.
Her father’s cancer experience and the inspiration she felt by his care team motivated her to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing rather than continue pursuing a career in laboratory research.
For the past eight years, she has focused exclusively on the care of patients diagnosed with sarcoma, providing compassionate, comprehensive support during some of the most challenging moments in their lives.
Christina was nominated for the Compassionate Care Award by her patient Jonathan Gardner. In Jonathan’s words, “Christina played an essential role in my journey with Ewing’s Sarcoma, and her compassion, dedication, and unwavering support continue to impact my life today. One of the most memorable things Christina did for me was adapting the traditional pain scale to something that made sense to me as a person who happens to have Autism. The typical smiley face chart didn’t work for me, so Christina personalized it using something I love, video games. She created a pain scale based on how long I could play video games, making it easier for me to communicate my pain levels. This thoughtful adaptation showed how much she cared about my individual needs and made my treatment journey less daunting.”
Christina is passionate about delivering holistic, patient-centered care. She strives to address not only the medical needs of her patients but also the emotional and social dimensions of their experience. She believes that cancer care extends beyond the individual, impacting families, relationships, and all facets of life, and she is committed to supporting patients and their loved ones every step of the way.