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UNC Lineberger’s Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, will continue to work at UNC-Chapel Hill while providing counsel to the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences on issues related to cancer survivorship.

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Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, has been appointed to an advisory role on cancer survivorship issues with the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences

Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, director of cancer survivorship at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Nursing, has been appointed to an advisory role on cancer survivorship issues with the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS).

Mayer, who is nationally recognized for her expertise in cancer survivorship research, will provide insight on current and future DCCPS research projects as well as partner with colleagues across DCCPS, the NCI and the National Institutes of Health to address issues in cancer survivorship. She will maintain her appointments at UNC and actively serve in her leadership of UNC Lineberger cancer survivorship efforts, while also working directly with DCCPS, NCI and NIH colleagues and programs.

Mayer has more than 30 years of experience in cancer nursing, education and research. She is past president of the Oncology Nursing Society and a former member of the National Cancer Institute’s National Cancer Advisory Board and the Board of Scientific Advisors. In 2016, Mayer was appointed as the only nurse to the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative’s Blue Ribbon Panel. She lectures internationally on oncology and oncology nursing, has published more 150 articles and book chapters, and maintains a clinical practice working with breast cancer survivors at UNC-Chapel Hill.

UNC Lineberger Director Shelton Earp, MD, said Mayer’s appointment will further advance the field of cancer survivorship research and care on the national level. “Deb Mayer is a visionary leader who values collaboration among caregivers and has a deep understanding of the challenges facing cancer survivors. Her own clinical practice has always informed her research. Her recent analysis of the next ten years with its increasing number of cancer survivors is both a cause for celebration and a major wake up call for the U.S. health care infrastructure. NCI and the nation are wise to tap Dr. Mayer’s expertise to guide research and policy.

The NCI established DCCPS in 1997 to reduce cancer risk, incidence, and death and enhance quality of life for cancer survivors by supporting innovative research and recommending ways to apply that research in quality health care delivery.

“The good news is that better, more effective cancer treatments has resulted in more people surviving their cancer diagnosis, but there are many consequences of having cancer that we need to do a better job in addressing,” said Mayer. “I am looking forward to building on my work with the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative and working with the DCCPS on the direction of its survivorship research,” said Mayer.

Mayer will serve as an advisor through 2018.