Profota is new oncology nursing director at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, succeeding Bedell

Oncology Nursing Forum, March, 2007 by Diane M. Otte

ONS member Lori Profota, MS, RN, NP-C, OCN[R], has been named nursing director for inpatient oncology nursing and radiation oncology nursing at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. Profota succeeds ONS member Marilyn Bedell, MS, RN, OCN[R], who retired in February after 35 years in oncology nursing at DHMC and Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

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Profota worked most recently as an oncology clinical nurse specialist in the inpatient oncology unit. Prior to coming to DHMC, she worked for the St. Anthony Hospital System in Denver, CO. Her prior nursing positions include nurse practitioner, nursing clinical faculty, emergency department nurse manager, and flight nurse. She began her career as a staff nurse on the oncology unit at DHMC, where she was hired by Bedell in 1986.

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Bedell began as a staff nurse at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH, in 1972 and moved to the hospital's oncology unit later that year. She was promoted to assistant head nurse in 1975, head nurse in 1980, and oncology nursing director for DHMC in 1999. As a leader, Bedell emphasized mentoring, continuing education, and certification for nurses. Her encouragement of advanced education has resulted in nearly 60% of RNs at the cancer center being certified in oncology nursing.

Norris Cotton Cancer Center combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth Medical School and patient-centered cancer care at DHMC. It is one of 39 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For more information, visit www.cancer.dartmouth.edu/nurses.>

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