Patients at Gothenburg Health can receive cancer treatments close to home thanks to dedicated oncology nurses like Phil Miller and Ainsley Cole, who provide chemotherapy through intravenous (IV) therapy and subcutaneous injections. The two recently attended the Oncology Nursing Society Congress in Denver, where they joined more than 4,000 professionals from across the country to learn about the latest advances in cancer care.

“It is important to me to provide treatments locally. We are treating friends and neighbors. Everyone knows someone who has had cancer,” said Miller, who has been an oncology nurse for 13 years. “For me, the joy comes from giving the treatments and then later seeing the people in the community getting to live their lives.”

Cole became an oncology nurse in September 2024. She said she became interested in oncology nursing after observing Miller and Jordan Sieh, DNP, build close relationships with patients. “It’s meaningful work to be able to build connections and relationships with patients undergoing cancer treatment,” she said.

Miller said what he gained from the ONS congress was a greater awareness that cancer treatments are growing leaps and bounds from doing cellular-specific treatments to increasing the number of immunotherapies in cancer treatments. “We both came back with some great ideas about how we can better care for our patients, not just treating the cancer but treating the whole patient–mind and body–a multidisciplinary approach. It takes a team, and I’m hoping to raise some money to help our cancer patients with their journey.” 

“I came back from the ONS Congress with a full heart and my purpose renewed,” Cole said. “There’s something special about being surrounded by 4,100 oncology nurses, as well as doctors, pharmacists and researchers, who all share the same mission – to walk with patients through one of the hardest journeys of their lives.”

She said a key takeaway from the conference is that oncology nurses are more than just part of a treatment plan – they become part of people’s lives. She added that she learned that in the last year, the FDA approved 26 new cancer treatment agents. “It is so cool to see how the world of oncology is evolving every single day.”

Miller and Cole both earned their Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy certification through ONS, which must be renewed every two years and requires continuing education.

At Gothenburg Health, Cole and Miller not only administer cancer treatments, but also assist patients in managing side effects and monitoring progress throughout their care. The hospital completed renovations on a new Chemo Room this past fall, further enhancing its ability to serve local patients.