Flynn Foundation Appoints Pediatric Oncology Nurse to its Board
STAMFORD, CT (August, 8 2023) — The Flynn Foundation today announced the appointment of Amy P. Kaiser to its board of directors. Kaiser, a former Flynn Fellow at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is a pediatric oncology nurse at Duke University Hospital.
“Amy Kaiser is a shining example of the high quality of oncology nurses we are developing and is a wonderful role model for our growing nationwide community of 300 Flynn Fellows,” said Frederick C. Flynn Jr., the foundation’s President and founder. “During the past two years, while working full time, Amy has successfully cultivated an expanded relationship for our foundation with the Oncology Nursing Society and has also played a valuable role in fostering more active engagement by our Flynn Fellow alumni with our ongoing professional development work.“
During her two-year term on the Flynn Foundation’s board, Amy will also serve as the Chair of the Flynn Fellows Advisory Board and help further develop that important program support group for former Flynn Fellows.
“I am honored and excited to serve as a board member of the Flynn Foundation, with the opportunity to help nursing students discover the same passion for oncology nursing that I found during my Flynn Fellowship,” Kaiser said. “I look forward to assisting the professional development efforts of the organization, specifically by continuing to develop our relationships with leading national oncology organizations such as the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON). I hope to also promote the value of nursing research by increasing the dissemination and publication of our Flynn Fellows work and to foster an energized community of current and past fellows.”
The appointment comes as the Foundation celebrates its 10th year of partnering with several of the nation’s leading hospitals and nursing schools to help address the critical shortage of well-trained oncology nurses while also proving an exciting and meaningful career pathway for aspiring nurses. Its 2023 class of Flynn Fellows included 37 nursing students — a record total for the growing program.
Earlier this summer, the foundation announced it plans to grow its programs even further by providing support to 60 or more Flynn Fellows annually by 2028 — including at least 10 participants in its new Palliative Care Fellowship program. In conjunction with that announcement, it also formally changed its name from the Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Development Program to align more closely with its expanded mission.
With Amy’s appointment — along with the recent appointment of Kristina Capretti, director of patient services, Bridgeport and Greenwich Hospitals — the foundation’s 5-person board now includes two oncology nurses.
“We are fortunate to be able to call on Kristina and Amy’s extensive clinical expertise, passion for oncology nursing, and leadership skills as we pursue our exciting program expansion plan.” Flynn said.
Flynn created the foundation’s flagship Oncology Nursing Fellowship program in 2014, inspired by the Palliative Care staff at Greenwich Hospital who managed the care of his late wife, Susan, during the last few weeks of her life in 2013.
About the Flynn Foundation
The Flynn Foundation’s mission is to attract, inspire, and help professionally develop the next generation of oncology nurses with the goal of improving the future quality of care for cancer patients and their families. Its flagship Oncology Nursing Fellowship program was established in 2014 by Fred Flynn in memory of his late wife Susan, who died of ovarian cancer in 2013.
Since then, 300 aspiring oncology nurses have completed its fellowship program — addressing an important workforce development gap for hospitals, many of which struggle to identify and attract well trained oncology nurses.
