Dr. Neville Strumpf is widely recognized for her outstanding contributions to the field of gerontology. Although Dr. Strumpf is probably best known for her work with her colleague, Dr. Lois Evans, on the elimination of physical restraints in nursing homes and hospitals, her remarkable career as ground-breaking researcher, innovative teacher, caring mentor, as well as top administrator, is unmatched.

Lynn Schuchter, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology-Oncology) and Director of the Abramson Cancer Center, Clinical Trials Unit. Dr. Schuchter's research interest focuses on Melanoma; breast cancer; emphasis on new approaches to treatment and prevention.

Drs. Strumpf and Schuchter provided the critical mentorship integral to successful receipt of funding by the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program from July 2003 through 2005. They continue to 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 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. She is also a member of the Hartford Center Geroscholars Group.

Her 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. Carrie Stricker 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. Furthermore, she continues to co-chair a University of Pennsylvania Medical Center workgroup which was recently 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.

International Research Utilization Award, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

* Stricker, C. T., Drake, D. A., Hoyer, K. A., & Mock, V. (2004). Evidence-Based Practice for Fatigue Management in Adults with Cancer: Exercise as an Intervention. Oncology Nursing Forum 31(5), 963-976.

Stein, S. & Stricker, C. (2003). A patient with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer treated with gemcitabine/trastuzamab. Case Studies in Breast Cancer 2(4), 1-6. (Continuing Medical Education).

*Rutledge, D., Cunningham, M., Joyce, M., Stricker, C. T., Clark, J., Hawkins, J., & Hoyer, K. A. (2003). Synthesis of Research Evidence: Collaboration among practitioners, educators, and researchers. Oncology Nursing Forum 30(3). (Abstract)

Stricker, C. T., Sullivan, J. (2003). Evidence-Based Oncology Oral Care Clinical Practice Guideline for the
University of Pennsylvania Health System: Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing 7(2), 222-227. (invited).

*Buckanovich, R. J., Liu, G., Stricker, C., Luger, S. M., Stadtmauer, E. A., Schuster, S., Duffy, K., Tsai, D., Pruitt, A., and Porter, D. L. (2002). Nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation for refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma complicated by interleukin-2 responsive progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Annals of Hematology 81: 410-413.

*Stricker, C. T., Sullivan, J., & Foust, J. (2002). “Show Me the Evidence”: Using an Evidence Based Practice Model to Develop an Oncology Oral Care Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG). Oncology Nursing Forum 30. (Abstract #162).

*Houldin, A. and Stricker, C. T. (2001). Multidisciplinary Rounds: a case study of coping in a young man with Hodgkin’s Disease and his family. Cancer Practice 9(6), 272-76. (invited response).

*Buckanovich, R.J., Luger, S.M., Stricker, C., Laport, G.G., Schuster, S., Stadtmauer, E.A., Pruitt, A., Liu, G., Porter, D.L. (2000). Non-myeloablative therapy (NMA) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) complicated by progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Blood: Journal of the American Society of Hematology 96(11), 5346. (Abstract).

Stricker, C. T. (1999). Practice Corner: Accessing Oncology Nursing Resources on the Internet. Philadelphia Area Chapter Oncology Nursing Society Newsletter 20(1), 4-5.

Mock, V., Cameron, L., Tompkins, C., Lin, E., & Stewart, K. (1997). Every step counts: A Walking exercise program for persons living with cancer [Booklet]. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University.

*Tompkins, C., and Mock, V. (1998). Walking for Fitness: Exercise for People During and After Cancer Treatment. Oncology Nursing Forum (26)2. (Abstract).

*Tompkins, C., and Glass, E. (1996). An Individualized Walking Program for Hospitalized Oncology Patients. Oncology Nursing Forum 23(2). (Abstract).