Shelby Robin receives MD Anderson’s highest nursing honor
MD Anderson News Release June 04, 2015
The Brown Foundation, Inc. honors cancer survivor for excellence in oncology nursing
MD Anderson News Release 06/04/2015
Shelby Robin, pediatric nurse and former sarcoma patient at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, is the recipient of the 2015 Brown Foundation Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing.
Formerly known as the Ethel Fleming Arceneaux Outstanding Nurse-Oncologist Award, the recognition is the institution’s highest nursing honor among the nearly 3,000 nurses at MD Anderson. The Brown Foundation, Inc. established the award in 1982.
A selection committee of MD Anderson’s clinical faculty, patient care administration and nursing staff reviewed peer and patient nominations before narrowing the selection to three finalists. Robin, the top candidate, works in Pediatric Intensive Care Services at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital.
Robin will receive a cash prize of $15,000, a crystal plaque and a commemorative pin at a 1 p.m. ceremony June 11 in the Onstead Auditorium at MD Anderson’s George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building. Ron DePinho, M.D., president of MD Anderson, will serve as master of ceremonies.
The selection committee, co-workers and friends surprised Robin May 28 with the news and a large bouquet of flowers.
“I’m blown away at winning this award,” said Robin. “MD Anderson has the best nurses out there. The quality of nurses I’ve worked with and learned from is a testament to that. Many mentors, preceptors and clinical coaches have guided me, so I think this is an award for everyone.”
Robin first came to MD Anderson as a patient when she was 12 years old.
“I had Ewing’s sarcoma, and I was actually treated on this same floor where I work now,” she said. “The nurses held my hand, made me feel normal, talked me through everything and helped me to not be afraid. To me, there’s no higher honor than to become one of those people for the children at MD Anderson.”
Robin returned to MD Anderson in 2010 as a professional student nurse extern in the Pediatric Inpatient Unit. From there, she advanced to clinical nurse and charge nurse in the same unit, eventually moving to Pediatric Intensive Care this May.
“Kids getting cancer is a really maddening, unfair thing,” said Robin. “Being able to help those kids is what brings me back every day. I want to learn more and do more for these families.”
The Brown Foundation Award ceremony, on Thursday, June 11, at 6767 Bertner Ave., includes remarks by:
• Ron DePinho, M.D., president of MD Anderson
• Barbara Summers, Ph.D., vice president for nursing and chief nursing officer
• Diane Barber, Ph.D., 2014 Arceneaux Award recipient
• Shelby Robin, 2015 Brown Foundation Award recipient
1 p.m. Arceneaux Award presentation
1:30 p.m. Reception honoring Shelby Robin
2 p.m. Reception concludes
Media may park in the John McGovern Commons Garage.
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