Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: Highlights from the 2025 ONS Congress® in Denver

The 50th Annual ONS Congress in Denver, Colorado, was a landmark celebration of oncology nursing excellence, bringing together more than 4,000 attendees in one of the largest gatherings in Congress history. From inspiring sessions to record-breaking support, this year’s event honored five decades of impact while laying the foundation for the next 50 years. 

The Oncology Nursing Foundation was proud to be part of this historic moment, fueled by the generosity, energy, and leadership of the oncology nursing community and our partners. 

A favorite tradition of Congress returned with energy and heart during the 31st Annual Fun Run, Walk & Wheel, proudly sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and City of Hope. Held in the beautiful backdrop of Denver, the event brought together nurses, supporters, and friends for a morning of movement, camaraderie, and cause. 

This year’s event raised more than $16,000 in support of the Ann Olson Memorial Scholarship Fund, which helps oncology nurses pursue doctoral degrees. The turnout reflected the passion and unity of our community, with participants walking, running, and rolling side by side in celebration of nurse-led impact and advancement. 

Whether it was your first time lacing up or your 31st, thank you for making this year’s Fun Run, Walk & Wheel unforgettable. We look forward to seeing you on the course again next year in San Antonio! 

A deeply moving and memorable moment at this year’s Congress was the Quality of Life Lectureship, generously sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This year’s speaker, Christin Brown, LSW, RN, MBOE, captivated the audience with her powerful story of resilience, advocacy, and the human side of oncology care. Drawing from her unique experiences as a licensed social worker and registered nurse, Christin emphasized the critical importance of whole-person care and the emotional labor oncology nurses perform every day. 

Her reflections were a poignant reminder of the psychosocial strength that defines the nursing profession and left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. A recorded livestream of her lecture will be available soon for those who were unable to attend in person—an opportunity not to be missed. 

We extend our sincere gratitude to all Passport to Care sponsors, whose partnership helped make this year’s Congress experience more interactive and educational than ever. These companies played a key role in engaging attendees and showcasing resources that support nurses in delivering high-quality cancer care. Thank you again to this year's partners that include: AbbVie; Acrotech Biopharma, Inc.; AVEO Oncology, an LG Chem Company; Bayer; Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Genentech; Genmab; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.; Kyowa Kirin, Inc.; LeanTaaS; Legend Biotech USA; Pfizer Oncology; Regeneron; Servier Pharmaceuticals; and SUN Pharma.  

We also extend our thanks to La Roche-Posay for their generous in-kind support, which helped enhance the Congress experience for so many attendees. 

Thank you to everyone—attendees, donors, sponsors, and supporters—who helped make this a truly unforgettable Congress. We look forward to continuing this momentum and celebrating together again in San Antonio, Texas, in 2026. 

Together, we are imagining the possibilities—and making them real—for the future of oncology nursing.