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MCCAN Conference
Clinical
Outreach

Clinical Outreach

The Clinical Outreach Team manages programming for the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network (MCCAN). This innovative clinical outreach program leverages a voluntary affiliation of community-based oncology programs in hospitals across the state that are not managed by UK HealthCare. MCCAN was designed to promote mutually beneficial partnerships, to ensure access to high-quality cancer care closer to home, especially in underserved rural and Appalachian communities, and to advance the implementation of cancer care guidelines. 

MCCAN hospitals agree to seek and maintain Commission on Cancer (CoC) accreditation and follow National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, and they participate in the annual MCCAN Cancer Care Conference. To support these standards, the Clinical Outreach team provides MCCAN hospitals with a menu of services:

  • Network support
  • Marketing and public relations
  • Quality improvement programs and technical assistance
  • Resources for community outreach and screening events
  • Educational programs related to CoC standards and best practices

In addition, the MCCAN Nurse Liaison Program facilitates referrals and navigates patients from MCCAN hospitals who are referred to Markey for specialized care and clinical trials. In 2022, the Clinical Outreach Team developed a novel program to train oncology nurses and clinical staff at MCCAN hospitals as “Clinical Trial Referral Ambassadors,” who serve as local champions promoting referrals to clinical trials as an option for patients.

Since 2006, MCCAN’s partnership model has demonstrated sustainability and effectiveness in improving quality of cancer care outcomes in community-based hospitals. See the publication reporting evaluation findings here.

Learn more about Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network.

Clinical Outreach Team

Cheri TolleCheri Tolle, MAEd, CHES
Team Leader, MCCAN Administrative Director
[email protected]

Cheri Tolle provides administrative leadership and direction for the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network, a position she has held since the Network’s inception in 2006. She has established key relationships for the Markey Cancer Center with hospitals, healthcare facilities, and community organizations and is committed to MCCAN’s mission of providing high-quality cancer care close to home. Her previous positions at UK include deputy director for the UK Prevention Research Center and partnership program manager for the Cancer Information Service of the Mid-South. Cheri has over 30 years of experience in management, partnership development, and health communications.
 

Susan ReffettSusan Reffett RN, MSN, CNOR 
MCCAN Quality Director
[email protected]

Susan Reffett is the quality director for the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network and also oversees the MCCAN Nurse Liaison Program. She has over 15 years of cancer program development experience and is actively engaged in working with community, state and national partners to further promote quality cancer care. Susan is also a network site reviewer for the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and is part of the CoC Rural Task Force to enable rural hospitals to develop and maintain their own cancer programs to enrich the lives of their cancer patients.
 

John KimJohn Kim, EdD, MPH 
MCCAN Education Director
[email protected]

John Kim provides administrative and programmatic leadership for educational initiatives of the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. He collaborates with internal and external partners to develop and implement programs and events that address the educational needs of affiliate cancer programs across Kentucky. John has extensive experience leading various federal and private sector programs, including the Early Head Start Program, that supports underserved children and youth in rural Appalachian communities and urban centers of Lexington and Pittsburgh.
 

Allissa AndersonAllissa Anderson, MJ, CTR
MCCAN Quality Program Manager
[email protected]

Allissa Anderson is the quality program manager for the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. In this role, she supervises the quality improvement team that works closely with the affiliate hospitals to ensure Commission on Cancer standards—the gold standard for hospital cancer programs—are being met. Allissa also holds a Certified Tumor Registrar certification, sitting for and passing the exam in 2012. She also has experience in program development and cancer registry management.
 

Beverly ArthurBeverly Arthur
MCCAN Office Coordinator
[email protected]

Beverly Arthur serves as the Office Coordinator for the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. She received an associate degree from Bluegrass Community Technical College and has been with the University of Kentucky for a combined total of 25 years.
 

Debbue CareyDebbie Carey, CSW, OSW-C
MCCAN Quality Coordinator
[email protected]

Debbie Carey provides support and education to central Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network sites, enabling them to improve the quality of the cancer care they provide. Her passion for patient care drives her curiosity in best-practice models and program design. Debbie obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Kentucky in 1997 and has social work experience in children’s mental health, hospice, and oncology social work. Before joining the MCCAN team, Debbie managed an outpatient radiation oncology department through many program changes, a successful Commission on Cancer reaccreditation survey, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She became a certified oncology social worker in 2018 and is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Social Work through the University of Kentucky with an emphasis on leadership. She is an active member of the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) and serves on Markey Cancer Center’s Survivorship Committee. Debbie desires to support and encourage those who care for cancer patients, helping them implement creative programs and services that benefit their patients and communities.
 

Melissa DarseyMelissa Darsey
MCCAN Program Coordinator
[email protected]

Melissa Darsey is the program coordinator for the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications, and served seven years as the assistant manager of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge before joining MCCAN. Melissa formerly sat on the board for Camp Kesem at the University of Kentucky and remains an avid supporter of the program. She currently serves on Markey Cancer Center’s patient advocacy group and steering committee.
 

Sabrena FulkersonSabrena Fulkerson, RN, BSN
MCCAN Quality Coordinator
[email protected]

Sabrena Fulkerson provides support and education to western Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network sites, enabling them to improve the quality of the cancer care they provide. Her passion for patient care and health equity is evident in her pursuit of oncology navigation as a standard of care across the Commonwealth.  Sabrena obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University in 2015. Her nursing experience is in oncology, post-surgical care, orthopedics, oncology navigation, hospice and nursing administration. Before joining the MCCAN team, Sabrena worked at a hospital as the director of outpatient infusion therapy, inpatient oncology/surgical services and the oncology program coordinator, leading the facility in a successful Commission on Cancer accreditation survey and the opening of a new and expanded infusion center. Sabrena is the co-founder of the Kentucky Oncology Navigation Network and a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators, where she is a member of the professional development committee. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Kentucky and looks forward to expanding the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network into more western Kentucky hospitals to bring the expertise of an academic medical center to all of Kentucky’s citizens.
 

Paige HarderPaige Harder, MS
MCCAN Multimedia Communications Coordinator
[email protected]

Paige Harder is the multimedia communications coordinator for the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. Paige is a graduate from the University of Kentucky’s Department of Community and Leadership Development with an emphasis in communications and education. She is also an instructional designer with a Master of Science from UK. Paige has an extensive creative background in program design and development and previously served as the communications marketing specialist for the Commonwealth Council on Development Disabilities, solely creating logos and branding guidelines. Paige supports MCCAN’S mission of providing high-quality cancer care education, training, and resources through multimedia production.
 

Alisa HughesAlisa Hughes, RN, BSN
MCCAN Nurse Liaison
[email protected]

Alisa Hughes is a Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network nurse liaison who works with cancer care teams at the Markey Cancer Center and affiliate hospitals. When cancer patients and their caregivers come to Markey from one of our affiliate hospitals, Alisa can help ease a patient’s transition and offer support and guidance. Alisa graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing almost 10 years ago and has spent her entire nursing career working to make UK the best place to get care in Kentucky.
 

Stephanie MalicoteStephanie Malicote, RN, BSN, OCN
MCCAN Nurse Liaison
[email protected]

Stephanie Malicote is a Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network nurse liaison who works directly with Markey affiliate sites to assist with streamlining and expediting referrals into Markey, connecting patients with the appropriate staff to address barriers to care, as well as facilitating a patient’s care close to home whenever possible. She remains available to the patients for assistance throughout their continuum of care. Stephanie is an oncology-certified nurse and has been working at Markey for 10 years. Her background includes working in the multi-disciplinary clinic as well as clinical research at Markey. 
 

Asia NethertonAsia Netherton, RN, BSN
MCCAN Nurse Liaison
[email protected]

Asia Netherton is a Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network nurse liaison who works closely with the cancer care teams at the Markey Cancer Center and affiliate hospitals. Asia assists with referrals to Markey and can ease a patient’s transition while offering support and guidance. She remains available to assist once the patient transitions back to care close to home. Asia worked in the multi-disciplinary clinic at Markey for over three years before transitioning into the nurse liaison role.
 

Kristal VaughanKristal Vaughan, RN
MCCAN Quality Coordinator
[email protected]

Kristal Vaughan provides support and education to eastern Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network sites, enabling them to improve the quality of the cancer care they provide. Her passion for patient care is advancing high-quality oncology care across the state. Kristal obtained her Associate of Science in Nursing from the University of Pikeville in 1995. Her nursing experience is in oncology and pre- and post-surgical care. Before joining the MCCAN team, Kristal led her facility’s oncology program through two successful Commission on Cancer reaccreditation surveys and was the coordinator for a GI clinic. Kristal is the co-founder of the Kentucky Oncology Navigation Network and is a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators and Oncology Nursing Society.

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