Announcing the 2023 DCI Superstars

Published

In December 2023 and January 2024 Duke Cancer Institute senior leaders surprised three deserving recipients with the coveted DCI Superstar Award in recognition of their achievements and exceptional service in going above and beyond in their work.

DCI Executive Director Michael B. Kastan, MD, PhD, and DCI Chief Administrator Robin Famiglietti, PhD, MBA, FACHE, arrived at the three DCI cancer centers with bright gold and shiny black balloons, glittering confetti, “You’re a Superstar” water bottles, and personalized cakes to celebrate the awardees. They read excerpts from the nomination letters and presented each awardee with a special crystal award engraved with their name.

Family members of the honorees were invited to join the celebration; being careful not to reveal the news before the big moment. Managers and colleagues, including nominators, arrived to show their support for their teammates.

Anita Fernandez, CMA
Certified Medical Assistant II
Duke Cancer Center North Durham 

woman standing with a glass trophy and 11 others surrounding her, posing as a group. A large screen displaying three yellow stars and reading "Duke Cancer Intitute 2023 Superstar Awards" is behind them.
Certified Medical Assistant Anita Fernandez, CMA, poses with her colleagues after receiving her 2023 DCI Superstar Achievement Award.
A woman holding a glass trophy stands two other adults, her mouth wide-open in surprise
Executive Director of DCI Michael Kastan, MD, PhD, and Chief Administrator of DCI Robin Famiglietti, PhD, MBA, FACHE, present a 2023 DCI Superstar Achievement Award to a very surprised Anita Fernandez, CMA, who was also joined by her family.

Nominators: Nicki Coates, RN, OCN (2022 DCI Superstar Achievement Award winner), and Jana Linsenmeyer, BSN, RN, CMSRN, CNML

Supervisor: Jana Linsenmeyer, BSN, RN, CMSRN, CNML, Nurse Manager of Operations, Duke Cancer Center North Durham

Anita’s nominators describe her as: patient, professional, compassionate, dedicated, mindful, calming, diligent, thorough, modest, helpful, knowledgeable, hardworking, so smart, a self-starter, caring 

Nicki Coates, RN, OCN / Clinical Nurse III, Medical Oncology
Jana Linsenmeyer, BSN, RN, CMSRN, CNML / Nurse Manager of Operations, Duke Cancer Center North Durham

In addition to her own nomination letter, Linsenmeyer recounted the experience of a grateful patient with her submission.

“This patient asked to speak to the nurse manager. When the manager approached the patient, she was gushing over the care she received at Duke Regional Hospital. She particularly wanted to thank Anita for her patience, care, and professionalism. The patient admitted she has "difficult" veins and said she was impressed by the compassion of the nurses and CMAs to draw her blood and educate her. She said she wouldn't imagine being treated anywhere else,” wrote Linsenmeyer. “Hearing these things do not surprise me as the manager, because I see this level of dedication and heart in our team every single day. Anita is one of the members of this incredible team and makes us all better (for) getting to work with her.”

Meg Helsley, MSN, APRN, AOCNS 
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Duke Cancer Center 

In the background, a man stands holding a bouquet next to a woman. In the foreground a man stands behind a woman hugging another woman behind a table with two balloons.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Meg Helsley, MSN, APRN, AOCNS, gets a hug from DCI Chief Administrator Robin Famiglietti, PhD, MBA, FACHE, after receiving her 2023 DCI Superstar Achievement Award. At left, Meg's husband, holding a bouquet, Meg's supervisor Kelli Van Wagner, MN, RN, OCN (Clinical Operations Director, Duke Cancer Center), and Executive Director of DCI Michael Kastan, MD, PhD.
A man and two women pose next to each other. The woman in the middle holds a glass award.
Executive Director of DCI Michael Kastan, MD, PhD, and Chief Administrator of DCI Robin Famiglietti, PhD, MBA, FACHE, present Clinical Nurse Specialist Meg Helsley MSN, APRN, AOCNS (center) with a 2023 DCI Superstar Achievement Award.

Nominators: Kerri Dalton, DNP, MSN, RN, AOCNS; Michelle Olson, MPH; Jennifer Frith MSN, RN, OCN, NE-BC 

Supervisor: Kelli Van Wagner, MN, RN, OCN (Clinical Operations Director, Duke Cancer Center)

Meg’s nominators describe her as: a quiet force, dedicated, a teacher, a mentor, kind, calm, professional, supportive, helpful, patient, hard-working, persistent, organized, committed, dedicated, engaged, innovative

Kerri Dalton, DNP, MSN, RN, AOCNS / Clinical Nurse Specialist
Michelle Olson, MPH / Manager, Patient Education
Jennifer Frith, MSN, RN, OCN, NE-BC / Clinical Operations Director, Inpatient Oncology and Blood Cancer Center
Jennifer Frith, MSN, RN, OCN, NE-BC / Clinical Operations Director, Inpatient Oncology and Blood Cancer Center

In 2021, Helsley received the Edward & Florence O’Keefe Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice from the Duke Friends of Nursing for her innovation, teamwork, and patient care. (Hear from Meg in this video.)

Kaynisha "Renee" Martin, CMA 
Certified Medical Assistant
Duke Cancer Center Raleigh 

Woman holding two bouqets and a glass award, surrounded by 13 other men and women possing with her in front of a black screen with gold stars
Certified Medical Assistant Renee Martin, CMA (center) — holding two bouquets and her 2023 DCI Superstar Achievement Award — joins her colleagues for a group photo following the ceremony.
A man and a woman pose on either side of a woman holding a glass award in front of a table with a cake and a black screen with gold stars on it.
Executive Director of DCI Michael Kastan, MD, PhD, and DCI Chief Administrator Robin Famiglietti, PhD, MBA, FACHE, present Renee Martin (center) her 2023 DCI Superstar Achievement Award.

Nominators: Cynthia Peterson, RN, BCEN, BSN, and Yun-Hua Chiang, MSN, AGNP-C, RN

Supervisors: Rachel Nash, RN, BSN (Assistant Nurse Manager) and Amanda Eley, RN (Nurse Manager, Operations)

Renee’s nominators describe her as: brilliant, smart, efficient, dedicated, committed, polite, kind, supportive, proactive, empathetic, welcoming, alleviates stress, extra care, compassionate, kindhearted

Cynthia Peterson, RN, BCEN, BSN / Assistant Nurse Manager, Oncology Infusion
Yun-Hua Chiang MSN, AGNP-C, RN / Nurse Practitioner
This page was reviewed on 01/17/2024