Teresa Inkawhich, BA, RN, is the lung nurse navigator for the Lung Cancer Screening Program at the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). This program is a collaboration between Cancer Services and the Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery program. As the lung nurse navigator, Inkawhich will assist Primary Care providers in our community identify high-risk lung cancer patients who meet the criteria for lung cancer screening and monitor these patients in the program. Inkawhich will also be the primary point of contact for patients and families if a lung cancer diagnosis is made, and will offer individualized assistance to help overcome healthcare system barriers and facilitate timely access to quality health from pre-diagnosis through all phases of the cancer experience.
Inkawhich has been an employee of St. Elizabeth Medical Center since 1992 and started her nursing career in the Telemetry/Ventilator unit. She then worked in the Ambulatory Cardiac Care Unit as a staff and charge nurse for several years. Inkawhich also worked as an Infection Preventionist for a number of years and most recently was the Lead Quality Professional at the St. Elizabeth Campus.
Inkawhich can be reached at 1-877-909-LUNG (5864) or tinkawhich@mvhealthsystem.org.
Inkawhich received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania and her Associate of Applied Science from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing in Utica, New York.