Carrie Tompkins Stricker is both a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and a nurse practitioner specializing in breast oncology at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Carrie is the recipient of the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program CLINICAL RESEARCH NURSE AWARD ($199,462.00 - July 2003 through 2005).

This Clinical Research Nurse Training Award by the Department of Defense (DOD) 2002 Breast Cancer Research Program aims to prepare nurses for active careers in collaborative breast cancer research through intensive mentored research training. Carrie saw an unprecedented opportunity to remain in the Cancer Center, where she has established expertise in breast cancer, while pursuing additional dedicated research training both at the Cancer Center and within the School of Nursing’s Doctor of Philosophy program.

She eagerly sought the guidance of her mentors, Neville Strumpf, PhD, RN, Edith Clemmer Steinbright Professor in Gerontology and Director of the Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence, and Lynn Schuchter, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Abramson Cancer Center Clinical Trials Unit, in developing this proposal for an interdisciplinary research training program. Both Drs. Strumpf and Schuchter mentor Carrie through a training program that combines the renowned geriatric research expertise and multidisciplinary scholarship opportunities within the School of Nursing with the multidisciplinary clinical cancer research program at Abramson Cancer Center, and will help her begin to achieve her long term goal of improving the outcomes of older women with breast cancer.

Carrie Stricker's career as an oncology nurse has been characterized by her intense commitment to promoting a close relationship between clinical practice and research, as evidenced by her national leadership in evidence-based practice initiatives of the Oncology Nursing Society.

She presents frequently on evidence-based practice and symptom management of oncology patients at both international and national clinical and research conferences.

She was selected to receive a 2004 MASCC Young Investigator's award during the upcoming 16th International Symposium Supportive Care in Cancer, being held June 24-27, 2004. Carrie also co-chairs a University of Pennsylvania Medical Center workgroup which was awarded the 2003 International Research Utilization Award by the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing for their work in developing, implementing, and evaluating guidelines specific to oral care of cancer patients. On a local level, her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania Health System recognized her with the 2002 Helen McClelland Award for Clinical Scholarship.

Through her clinical appointment at the Abramson Cancer Center, Carrie is currently conducting research on the fatigue and symptom experiences and functional status of women undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. Her interest in studying older women’s adaptation to and recovery from breast cancer therapy grew not only from this research but also her clinical practice with individuals with breast cancer. As a first step in a research career directed at the design and evaluation of interventions specific to older women with breast cancer, her dissertation research will assess the effect of an exercise intervention on the symptoms and functional status of older women recovering from adjuvant breast cancer treatment.

Carrie Tompkins Stricker, MSN, RN, CRNP, AOCN
Doctoral Student, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Oncology Nurse Practitioner, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
14 Penn Tower - 3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 349-5332
carrie.stricker@uphs.upenn.edu

International Research Utilization Award from Sigma Theta Tau: "Show Me the Evidence: Using an EBP Model to Develop an Oncology Oral Care Clinical Practice Guideline".

Penn Nursing Doctoral Students Organization (DSO) Hall of Fame

Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program (Students and Alumni Achievements)

Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence - Gero Scholars Group

Carrie Stricker's Profile page