Choosing Oncology: An Unexpected Journey
AnnMarie Walton, PhD, MPH, RN, OCN®, CHES, FAAN, never anticipated falling in love with oncology nursing, but the camaraderie of her colleagues and the inspiring patient population led her to find her unexpected passion for cancer care.
How ONF supports oncology nurses throughout their careers.AnnMarie Walton, PhD, MPH, RN, OCN®, CHES, FAAN
Most oncology nurses have a clear enthusiasm for the specialty or a personal anecdote for why they work in cancer care, but Dr. Walton admits that she inadvertently discovered her passion for oncology nursing. She became a nurse during a significant nursing shortage, so she signed a contract to work at one of the local hospitals in exchange for her tuition.
What began as a work-study contract became the start of Dr. Walton’s career of more than 20 years in oncology nursing and nursing research. “When I shadowed on various units to prepare to interview, I was drawn to the staff—their caring nature, their teamwork, their camaraderie, and their sense of purpose,” Dr. Walton said. “I didn’t intend to stay past my contract or fall in love with the patient population. I remained on that unit for 13 years.”
Now as an assistant professor and the Dorothy L. Powell Term Chair of Nursing at Duke University, Dr. Walton’s contributions to oncology nursing practice and her work in oncology nursing research continue to advance the field and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered cancer care.
Dr. Walton received her first award from the Oncology Nursing Foundation (ONF) in 2011—an academic scholarship to support her doctoral studies. In 2018, she was selected to participate in the ONF’s Oncology Nurse Scientist Research Intensive, an experience that paved her way for successful future research proposals. Ultimately, ONF recognized her dedication once again in 2024, awarding a research grant for her study titled, Testing Silicone Wristbands as a Tool to Monitor Healthcare Workers Exposure to Antineoplastic Drugs.
Dr. Walton also has a lengthy history of giving back to ONS. In 2016, she was honored as the recipient of the ONS Excellence in Health Policy and Advocacy Award for her leadership in advocating for health policy legislation at the federal and state level. She has served as a content expert for ONS on the writing of several resources for members, including the Safe Handling Toolkit. She also served as a content expert for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as a contributor and peer reviewer for guidance materials about hazardous drugs.
As a nurse scientist, Dr. Walton has received research funding from multiple agencies throughout her career, and ONF has been a part of her journey from the beginning. Dr. Walton is passionate about giving back to ONF and supporting nurses through programs that were so impactful to her through her journey into cancer care.