In March, 2018, The Marin Prostate Cancer Information and Support 
Group recognized UCSF’s nurse navigator Geronima Cortese-Jimenez, MPH, RN, OCN for her service. The following is a speech prepared by Stan Rosenfeld, the group’s leader:
When a man is first diagnosed with prostate cancer he is likely to be more upset than he will be at any other time in the course of his disease.
What is called for at this time is a friendly, knowledgeable, navigator.
I hear from the men in this group again, and again how helpful Geronima Cortese-Jimenez, Nurse Navigator par excellence, has been in solving their problems, comforting them, and figuratively, if not literally holding their hands through their disease process. It is as if the men have been thrown a lifeline.
Geronima consults with an incredible 80 to 100 patients a week!
Some men who could not be here today wrote to me:
- “Geronima does an awesome job at UCSF and has a wonderful personality to match.”
- “Awesome”
- “Geronima, how wonderful to have someone like yourself guiding us through the maze of todays' medical world. UCSF can be very complicated at times. I am sure UCSF appreciates you as we all do and we are so glad we can count on you to help us.
- We are very lucky to be able to rely on you. Keep doing what you do so well. I wish I was there to shake your hand. Thank you so very much.”
For this, The Marin Prostate Cancer Information and Support Group is delighted to present Geronima Cortese our 2017 award In Recognition for her Invaluable Contributions to the Prostate Cancer Community. The first ever, I might mention, to a non-physician at a hospital.
Geronima earned a bachelor's degree in Anthropology at George Mason University. Subsequently, she completed a master's degree in Public Health at George Washington University. Although she enjoyed public health, she wanted patient contact, so Geronima returned to nursing school at Mary Mount University and became a registered nurse. She is also an oncology certified nurse through the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and is an ONS Leadership Development Institute graduate.
She has presented on various oncology topics nationally and internationally.
Geronima has co-published research on complementary and integrative therapies used to manage the side effects of cancer and its treatments. She is also involved in several clinical trials in the practice, including the STAND clinic.
She helps newly diagnosed patients and those seeking 2nd and 3rd opinions.
- Giving an overview of the practice
- What to expect at the appointment
- Education on their diagnosis
- Triaging them for urgency
- Guiding them as to which records are needed
- How to go about obtaining those records
- Coordinates any specific testing prior to appointments
- Once patient is scheduled, Geronima creates a detailed note for the doctors so that they have a nice, concise summary of the patient
To ensure consistency in delivering care, she created a Nurse Navigator council, of which she is the head. And, Geronima even attends surgeries with various surgeons so that she can give a better explanation to our patients.
On top of all of this, Geronima finds time to come to our meetings to get feedback on UCSF. For all of this, we extend our gratitude.