St. Joseph Mercy Director of Palliative and Pain Services to receive national honor for 'warm hand of service'

Pontiac, Mich. — St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) Director of Palliative and Pain Services Peg Nelson, NP, BC-PCM, MSN, APRN, ACHPN, has been named to receive the prestigious Lane Adams Quality of Life Award from the American Cancer Society (ACS). She will receive the award in May at the ACS National Board of Directors meeting in Atlanta, Ga.

The award is named for Lane W. Adams, former ACS Executive Vice President, who sought to provide special recognition to nurses who provide extraordinary and compassionate care, counsel and/or service to cancer patients and their families. In 1991, the awards were expanded to recognize Oncology social workers, physicians, clergy, chaplains, hospice workers, psychologists and other direct care providers.

The Lane Adams Award emphasizes what Adams called the “warm hand of service,” efforts of those who go above and beyond their duties to make a difference in the daily struggles of cancer patients.

“Peg Nelson provides an invaluable service to patients and their families who come to St. Joe,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO. “This prestigious honor is a reflection of her excellence in providing quality, compassionate patient care.”

Nelson came to SJMO in 1980. She is board certified in palliative care and participated in several research projects. Nelson has several publications to her credit and is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the American Hospital Association Circle of Life Award (2004 and 2006), Thanks for Giving Award, Michigan Spirit of Collaboration Award in End of Life Care, Innovations in Clinical Excellence Quality Award, Florence Nightingale Award, Oakland University Board of Visitors Award, SJMO Mercy Service Award and the American Heart Association Basic Life Support Achievement Award.

She is a resident of Rochester Hills, Mich.