Amanda Bilbrey Highlights the Role of Oncology Nurses: Celebrating Oncology Nursing Month 2025

Sarah Cannon Research Institute shared a post by Amanda Bilbrey, Vice President of Research Operations at SCRI, on LinkedIn, adding:

“Behind every successful trial is a nurse guiding a patient with compassion, clarity, and strength.

This Oncology Nursing Month, we’re celebrating the oncology nurses who make our mission possible at Sarah Cannon Research Institute. From managing protocols to supporting patients in the most vulnerable moments, these healthcare heroes are advancing research every day. Our Vice President of Research Operations, Amanda Bilbrey, reflects on her experience starting her career as a nurse and the important role oncology nurses play in research and care. Discover more about her journey in her article below.”

Quoting Amanda Bilbrey‘s post:

“May is Oncology Nursing Month and I want to shine a light on the nurses who make clinical research possible.

When I took my first job as a nurse in a Phase I research unit, I had no idea the impact this path would have on me or the patients I’ve cared for. Today, I’m proud to be a leader at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, supporting oncology nurses who play a vital role in many cancer breakthroughs. They help patients navigate complex trials, uphold the highest standards of care, and bring compassion to science.
To every nurse in this field: thank you for being the heart of oncology research and patient care.

Read more about how they are the hidden heroes of clinical trials in my latest article below.

Hidden Heroes of Clinical Trials: Celebrating Oncology Nurses

I didn’t set out to become a nurse. Growing up, I thought I wanted to be a physician. I loved science and was passionate about helping people, so medicine felt like the obvious path. But one conversation in college changed everything.

A professor asked me, “What is it about being a physician that draws you in?”

My answer was simple: “I want to care for people.”

She looked at me and said, “Then you might want to think about nursing.”

That moment shifted my perspective entirely. I realized I wasn’t just interested in healthcare but rather I was drawn to caring for others. It was the connection, the presence and the moments in between that made nursing feel like the right career path for me.

At the same time, I was working in an administrative role at a community oncology practice, where I witnessed patients facing the most vulnerable moments of their lives with grace, gratitude, and incredible strength. It was a kind of human connection I had never experienced before. That’s when my calling became clear: oncology nursing was where I could make a meaningful impact on patients.

When I graduated nursing school, one of the openings available at my practice was in a Phase I research unit. Truthfully, I didn’t know much about clinical trials—frankly, they were barely mentioned in my textbooks—but I took the role with curiosity and commitment. I saw it as a challenge, and I embraced it.

Years later, I remember vividly a moment that cemented my passion for clinical research and the transformative power of clinical trials. A fellow nurse ran upstairs from the oncology clinic below, asking about a new drug they were administering. I didn’t recognize the name at first. But when we made the connection, I soon realized that it was a therapy we had administered years earlier in a clinical trial. It had since received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

In that moment, I understood the full circle of our work: the hands that gave the first dose, the eyes that monitor every response, and the heart that holds the patient’s fear and hope all at once. Oncology nurses are the invisible thread tying clinical research to real-world treatments.

At Sarah Cannon Research Institute, our mission is to advance therapies and improve outcomes for all who are facing a cancer diagnosis through innovation and clinical trials. Oncology nurses are part of a larger, interconnected team, working alongside physicians, researchers, and every member of the healthcare system to bring clinical research into real-world treatments. They play a critical role as navigators, protocol experts, and fierce patient advocates. They help patients understand complex trials, ensure adherence to the highest standards of care, and bring compassion to the most uncertain moments.

This Oncology Nursing Month, I want to express my gratitude to the oncology nurses who show up, stay curious and fight for their patients, often behind the scenes.

While the success of clinical trials depends on every member of the team, nurses are often the ones who ensure patients feel seen and supported throughout the process. Your dedication and commitment are integral to the success of the work we do.

And to every aspiring nurse out there: every role in healthcare is vital, and each contributes to a larger mission. Sometimes, the most impactful form of care is not the most complex procedure, but the simple act of showing up and being present for your patients.

Together with the many other professionals in the field, you’ll be part of a team that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

More posts featuring SCRI on OncoDaily.