Ijeoma Eche-Ugwu, PhD, MPH, FNP-BC, a nurse scientist in the Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been recognized with the 2025 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Victoria Mock New Investigator Award.
This prestigious award, which is presented to a single candidate annually, honors the contributions of new investigators building a scientific foundation for oncology nursing practice. It is named for nursing pioneer Dr. Victoria Mock, who died from cancer in 2007.
Eche-Ugwu was recognized for her research on eliminating cancer-related inequities and improving psychosocial outcomes through developing and testing of culturally congruent, nurse-led interventions to better address the specific needs of these families.
"The Cantor Center is the kind of place I dreamed of - where I'm surrounded by so many nurse-scientists and researchers who are motivated to improve the lives of people affected by cancer," Eche-Ugwu said.
"Dr. Eche-Ugwu brings an outstanding passion and strong analytical skills that are already proving beneficial to improving the care of children with cancer and their families," said Marilyn Hammer, PhD, DC, RN, FAAN, director of the Cantor Center.
Eche-Ugwu was a postdoctoral fellow in the Cantor Center in 2019 and, in 2022, became a nurse scientist at Dana-Farber and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. More recently, she has also taken on the role of associate director of the Pediatrics and Family Health Core within the Precision Health Symptom Science program at the Cantor Center.
During her doctoral studies and postdoctoral fellowship, Eche-Ugwu discovered that African American families of children with cancer are poorly represented in pediatric psychosocial intervention studies. As a result, their psychosocial needs are less likely to be addressed compared to white families. Continuing this research has deepened Eche-Ugwu's understanding of the specific needs of African American families and how pediatric hematology oncology nurses can better support them.
Findings from Eche-Ugwu's foundational studies informed the development of ACCOMPANI (African American Childhood Cancer Multiprong Psychosocial Nurse Intervention), a nurse-targeted, educational intervention designed to enhance pediatric oncology nurses' ability to identify and address the psychosocial needs of African American families affected by childhood cancer. The intervention incorporates storytelling, resource matching and communication skills to leverage nurses' underutilized expertise in providing psychosocial support.
Eche-Ugwu is the fifth Dana-Farber Cantor Center nurse scientist to win the ONS Victoria Mock New Investigator Award following Rachel Pozzar, PhD, RN, in 2023; Robert Knoerl, PhD, RN, in 2019; Meghan Underhill-Blazey, PhD, RN, AOCNS in 2018; and Mary Cooley, PhD, RN, FAAN in 2003.
"Dr. Eche-Ugwu's groundbreaking contributions to nursing science reflect not only her remarkable innovations and dedication, but also the deep legacy of excellence at Dana-Farber," said Anne Gross, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Dana-Farber. "As the latest in a distinguished line of Dana-Farber nurse scientists to receive this prestigious award, Dr. Eche-Ugwu continues a tradition of transformative impact on health care and patient care."
Eche-Ugwu will be recognized during the 50th annual ONS Congress on April 13, 2025, in Denver. As part of the award ceremony, she will virtually present the background and framework of ACCOMPANI.
