Agnes Masny, RN, MPH, MSN, CRNP

In the clinical setting, I work with individuals at risk for cancer based on their family history or other medical risk factors. Some individuals have had genetic predisposition testing to see if they have inherited genetic mutations that put them at higher risk for cancer. Once individuals know their risk based on the genetic testing, I help plan risk reduction strategies and provide medical follow-up that hopefully will prevent cancer from occurring.

I also work with women in our benign breast disease clinic. Women with certain types of breast biopsies are at higher risk for breast cancer. These women also receive education and counseling about ways to reduce their risk includes using medication called chemoprevention.

I believe patient and family education is an important part of the nurse practitioner role. Therefore, part of my time is devoted educational research with health professional education in cancer genetics and the integration of genetic and genomic technologies into community-based practice.

I enjoy working with community-based nurses through the Fox Chase Partner programs to establish evidence-based, quality services for risk assessment clinics in the community. I am also a mentor for high school students seeking to learn more about nursing and science, for nurses wishing to publish and for visiting international nurses seeking to learn more about cancer risk assessment.

Patients rely on nurses for information, support, resources, referrals and, most of all, care. Educating nurses is a way to extend the latest advances about oncology and cancer genetics and genomics to a wider group of patients. It is similar to the 'ripple effect,' with nurses as the ripples that extend to patients the hope that together, we can face the cancer experience.

I have published several articles on the impact of genetics and genomics for nursing practice and have worked to integrate human genetic and genomic advances to improve patient care.

Nurse Practitioner and Genetics Nursing Educator
Medical Oncology

Meet other members of the Breast Cancer Team

Learn more about the Family Risk Assessment Prgram

Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497

To make an appointment, call:
215-728-2570.

For general information, call:
1-888-FOX CHASE.
An oncology certified nurse will assist you.

Nursing Education:

Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., Master of Nursing and Nurse Practitioiner, 1997

Certification/Licensure:

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP);
MammaCare Specialist: Certified to conduct and train clinicians in clinical breast examination and to instruct women in the MammaCare method of breast self-examination.

Clinical Interests:

Family Risk Assessment Program

Honors/Awards:

Special Contributor Award, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 1996;
International Society for Nurses in Genetics Founder's Award for Nursing or Patient Education in Genetics, 2000;
American Medical Writer's Association Medical Book Awards Competition (2003) for Genetics in Oncology Practice: Cancer Risk Assessment. In Tranin, A.S., Masny A. & Jenkins, J. (eds). Pittsburgh, Oncology Nursing Society;
Temple University Founder's Certificate of Honor Award, Temple University, 2004
The Mary Nowotny Excellence in Cancer Nursing Education Award, Oncology Nursing Society, 2005

Professional Organizations:

Oncology Nursing Society, Cancer Genetic Special Interest Group, Coordinator, 2002-2004; National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics, Representative, 1997-2001;
American Nurses Association, working group on Nursing Genetic and Genomic Competencies, 2005;
Pennsylvania Nurses Association;
National Society of Genetic Counselors;
International Society for Nurses in Genetics, Educational Program Committee, member, 2008;
Sigma Theta Tau International - Honor Society of Nursing;
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society, Chair, the Genetic Discrimination Task Force, 2002-2006.

Research & Publications:

Masny, A., Ropka, M., Peterson, C., Fetzer, D., and Daly, M.B., Mentoring Nurses in Familial Cancer Risk Assessment and Counseling: Lessons Learned from a Formative Evaluation. Jounal of Genetic Counseling 17(2), 196-207, 2008;
Lea, D.H. and Masny, A., Genetic perspectives in nursing. In S.C. Smeltzer & B.G. Bare (Eds.) Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (11th ed.), Chapter 9 pp. 139-164, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007;
Calzone, K., Lea, D., and Masny, A., Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as an exemplar of the effects of genetics and genomics. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 38(4): 335-343, 2006