Position: Nominating Committee
Ruth Gholz, RN, MS, AOCN®
Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Cincinnati VAMC
ONS member: 36 years; Special Interest Group member: 25 years; CTC ONS Chapter
member: 26 years, past member and co-founder of Western New York Chapter
EDUCATION:
State University of New York, Buffalo, MSN, 1978
SUC at Plattsburh New York, BSN, 1973
ONS PARTICIPATION (national and local):
2012-present: Newsletter Editor, Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter, ONS
2012: Member, ONS “Connections” Conference Program Committee
2008-2011: Member, ONS EDGE Board
2007-2009: Invited member representing ONS on Board of American Psychosocial Oncology
Society (APOS)
2008-2009: Team Leader, ONS Leadership Development Institute (LDI) Conference
Scholarship Review Team
2006-2009: Chair, Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter Nominating Committee, ONS
2006-2008: Abstract Reviewer, ONS Congress
2005-2007: Liaison, ONS EDGE Board
2004-2007: Director-at-Large, Oncology Nursing Society
2004-2005: Liaison, ONS Steering Council Board
2003-2004: Leader ONS Leadership Development Institute (LDI) Team
1997-2004:: Newsletter Editor, Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter, ONS
2000-2010: Reviewer, ONS Seal of Endorsement
2000-2002: Faculty, ONS Leadership Development Institute (LDI)
2000: Member, ONS “Treatment Induced Peripheral Neuropathy” Project Team
1999-2001: Coordinator, ONS Pain Management Special Interest Group (SIG)
1999-2000: Fellow, ONS Leadership Development Institutute (LDI)
1996-2000: Secretary, Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter, ONS
1994-1996: Member, Clinical Practice Committee, ONS
1990-1994: Co-Chair, Program Committee, Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter, ONS
1985: Judge, Educational Exhibit 10th Annual Congress, ONS
1984-1986: Chair, Nominating Committee, Western New York Chapter, ONS
1982-1984: President, Western New York Chapter, ONS
1982: Co-founder, Western New York Chapter, ONS
WORK RELATED SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP:
2015: Member, RPIW for Cancer at CVAMC
2009-present: Member, Oncology Field Advisory Council for VA nationally
1990-present: Nursing representative for Cancer Care Committee CVAMC
1992-2014: Member, Pain Advisory Board CVAMC representing cancer pain
2001-2013: Co-Chair, APRN Council Cincinnati VAMC 2007-2010: Treasurer, Association of VA
Hematology Oncology
1992-2009: Coordinator, CVAMC Hospice Consultation Team
2002-2004: Director-at-Large, Greater Cincinnati Pain Society (Only female and only nurse)
1992-2000: Chair, Nursing Practice Committee, VAMC
1979-1988: Co-leader, Cancer Support Group VA, Buffalo, New York
1984-1986: Member, Human Studies sub-committee Buffalo
HEALTH CARE/ CANCER ORGANIZATIONS EXPERIENCE, OTHER PROFESSIONAL
NURSING ORGANIZATIONS /Additional experience (community, political etc.):
2007-present: Member, Medscape Nurses Editorial Advisory Board
2001-2002: Newsletter Editor, Ohio Pain Initiative
1996-2002: Member, Ohio Pain Initiative
Position Statement:
Oncology Nursing is my passion. As a member of ONS and the leadership opportunities
provided to me I know I have the skills necessary for the nominating committee. I was a
member of the ONS board when we were in a position to find a new CEO to replace Pearl
Moore. Needless to say this was a daunting chore. I had the opportunity to meet with recruiters,
strategic planners and contractors to assist us in the knowledge, process and appropriate
selection. Personally I needed to assess the future of ONS, identify the skills I needed and
maximized the education provided. Every member of ONS was on my mind in this selection
process. It was imperative to identify a leader to incorporate the needs of its members and
challenge oncology nurses to learn from the past, envision the future and act on it. Our board
learned to be selfless and visionary. As a result the skills learned in that experience provided
me with the qualities necessary for the nominating committee. The need to be a spokes person
for all members of ONS and drive the future to excellence.
Chose two of the ONS Core Values and discuss how you have actualized them in your
leadership experiences.
Stewardship:
Many members of ONS do not know understand the financial concerns. Dues, costs of
congress, educational programs and books are crucial for the future. I have attended budget
meetings, trying to keep costs down for members. Money plays a key role in membership,
certification and competence. Recently there has been concern about the chemo/bio class and
members having their employers pay. I negotiated with the education department at work to
pay for all of the oncology nurses to take the class as well as renewal. If we believe that this
education is necessary then we must provide it..
Advocacy:
Health care is changing rapidly; we need to change with it. Most of my career has been with the
Veteran's Affairs. I have not had to witness patients becoming bankrupt due to cost of care.
Unfortunately I have seen the public demean VA hospitals, lump veterans in a stereo type and
ask nurses, why do you work there? Cancer happens regardless of age, color or creed, we must
speak for all. Agent Orange is a carcinogen and multiple cancers have occurred as a result. I
have advocated for patients to report their exposures and get care. I pride myself in treating
persons with cancer as I want my family member treated.
Reflecting on the mission and vision of ONS, how have you addressed relevant issues to
oncology nursing?
As the newsletter editor of my local chapter the written word is powerful. This has become an
avenue to educate and empower members of the chapter. We have articles on leadership,
mental health, community involvement and learning opportunities. Nurses from all areas of
oncology are encouraged to write, kudos are offered and differing opinions are reviewed. No
one can be an expert in all areas of oncology and we now have a forum to share areas of
expertise. Just this past year we had an article from a navigator, home care nurse and
psychiatric clinical nurse specialist. In addition we have an area for nurses to search websites or
up to date information they may have missed. Nurses of the present and future share ideas and
stimulate life long learning. One area of difficulty is nursing participation and bringing in new
nurses to share this information. I have taken on the responsibility of contacting new nurses to
the chapter and promote their skills and mentoring them in writing for this newsletter. I want
these nurses to step up and help us all move forward.