Newsroom

New Cancer Coach is a Familiar Face

June 15, 2021

Callie Laurin has been helping patients navigate their cancer journey since she worked at the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic more than 15 years ago. “I really enjoyed finding different ways to support the patients from pre-diagnosis to post-treatment,” she recalls.

Callie continued providing this type of support when she came to Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH), first working as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and then as a Registered Nurse after receiving her Bachelor of Nursing Science degree. She has worked in almost every area of the hospital and joined the Oncology team in 2017, becoming Team Leader three years ago. Now, Callie is also taking on the role of WDMH’s Cancer Coach.

“I’m excited to continue to support the community,” she says. “Cancer diagnosis can be very difficult for patients and their families. There is a lot of support that can be offered – from information to emotional and physical needs throughout their journey. We want to help them meet their wellness goals, including beyond cancer.”

WDMH’s Cancer Coach is available to help cancer patients and their families both at WDMH and in the local area. Callie works with patients to identify their needs and to help them develop a plan to meet their specific goals. She can answer questions about care, provide education, and link to local community resources. Anyone can refer someone to the program, including patients and families themselves.

Callie says former Cancer Coach Linda Johnson inspired her to move forward in her career. “Linda was one of my mentors and encouraged me to get my nursing degree,” she says. “I’m grateful for the support of the entire WDMH team.”

“Often people are fearful of what they don’t know and there’s no magic pill for that,” sums up Callie. “But it’s OK. They are not supposed to know what to do. We are here to help.”