A nurse navigator has special training to help AYAs with cancer “navigate” the healthcare system and manage daily life needs and general concerns and expectations. The navigator answers questions and connects AYAs to hospital and community resources and acts as the patient’s advocate and supporter.

Margaret obtained her Associates of Science Nursing Degree from Utah Valley Community College and her Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from Brigham Young University, Idaho. Just after graduating from Utah Valley Community College, she began her nursing career in Spokane, Washington where she worked with pediatric and young adult oncology patients for 23 years filling many different roles such as inpatient floor nurse, charge nurse, and assistant nurse manager, outpatient infusion nurse, bleeding/clotting disorder nurse coordinator, hematology/oncology nurse coordinator and APHON chemotherapy/biotherapy instructor.

In her spare time Margaret enjoys spending time with her husband and 7 young adult children and 8 grandchildren. She also enjoys being outdoors mountain biking and hiking whenever possible.

Margaret says, “It has been a wonderfully challenging and rewarding career. It is nice being back in Utah. I am looking forward to serving the adolescent and young adult oncology population in my role as AYA Oncology Nurse Navigator. I love working with the oncology population. My goal is to help improve quality of life while dealing with the reality of a cancer diagnosis and to assist these young adult patients in navigating their lives with hope and anticipation of survivorship.”