Rutgers Cancer Institute Executive Named to the Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators Board

New Brunswick, NJ September 29, 2025 – Jeanne Silva, MSN, RN-BC, CN-BN, CMSRN, Assistant Vice President, Oncology Access and Navigation, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, has been appointed as a Trustee-at-Large for the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+), beginning October 1, 2025. AONN+ is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators.

Silva was recognized for her leadership in building and transforming the Oncology Navigation Program at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, creating the gold standard for oncology navigation across the country. She was also recognized for her commitment to strengthening the role of navigation through evidence-based solutions and her efforts to improve care coordination and elevation of the professional role of the navigator.

“Jeanne is a national leader in oncology navigation and her commitment to improving the patient experience through navigation has impacted countless lives across New Jersey,” stated Susan Solometo, Senior Vice President of Administration for Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health. “We are proud, yet not surprised, of her selection and recognition by this important national organization.”

The Oncology Navigation Program at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute is one of the nation’s largest, staffed by nurses with a specialty in cancer. Located at each of our hospitals across the state, our navigators provide individualized personal assistance to patients and their caregivers and serve as an important member of the patient’s healthcare team. They help ease the stress and burden of a cancer diagnosis through coordination of care, providing guidance and answering questions, scheduling appointments and serving as a resource. Our navigators also identify and address barriers to care and ensure a seamless coordination of service.