Nurse Navigation
At the Lee Health Cancer Institute, we understand that a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming for you and your family. It's not just the diagnosis its also all the questions about your care, appointments, number of decisions, and more. This can lead many patients to feel confused, anxious, or lost in the process.
That’s why we developed our Cancer Navigator program. Our dedicated oncology nurse navigators are here as your personal guide through every step of the cancer journey. From helping you understand your diagnosis and treatment options to coordinating care appointments. They have your side through the whole process, our navigators ensure that you never walk this path alone.
Meet Our Nurse Navigators
Liz Bachoo-Garib RN, MSN, MHA, OCN, CBCN, Breast Health Nurse Navigator
Liz began her nursing career in the tiny Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago in 1995. From there she went to Oceanside, NY before making Lee County and Lee Health her home. She has worked exclusively with cancer patients since 2002. Liz earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at SUNY Empire State College, NY and two Master degrees, Master of Science in Nursing Degree (MSN) and Master of Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ. She is also an Oncology Certified Nurse and a Certified Breast Care Nurse.
Veena Sharma, MSN, RN, CMSRN, OCN, Oncology Quality Specialist Nurse Navigator
Veena currently works at Lee Health Cancer Institute as an oncology quality specialist for oncology service line. Veena graduated from University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada in 2002 with Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) and from Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, with Master of Science in nursing (MSN) in 2009. She is oncology certified nurse, lean six sigma certified (green belt) and received certification for ASCO’s quality training program. In quality specialist role, Veena Implements quality improvement initiatives to improve patient outcomes and ensure adherence to regulatory standards and evidenced based guidelines to maintain highest standards of care. She participates in strategic planning and decision-making processes to achieve organizational goals and objectives. Develops new programs and protocols that lead to improved patient care. Assists with quality Improvement projects using quality improvement methodologies, processes, and tools for continuous process improvement. Coordinates and oversees data collection and analysis, reporting, and improvement activities. She also supports cancer care family advisory council (PFAC) as a liaison.
Rhonda Kesterson RN, MSN, OCN
Rhonda received her BSN from Carson Newman University and MSN from University of Pennsylvania. She began nursing in 1996 and has over 20 years in oncology nursing. She is originally from Tennessee then relocated to SWFL in September of 2020. Her focus as an ONC NN is to identify barriers to care such as education, psychological, transportation and financial for all LPG patients. She is passionate about oncology and serving patients and families who are faced with an oncology diagnosis. She is located in the Oncology/ Hematology LPG offices.
Jennifer Snider, RN, BSN, OCN, Nurse Navigator
Jennifer's focus is on GI / GU / Pancreatic oncology patients. Jennifer is a native to Southwest Florida and comes from a strong family of health care providers dedicated to helping others. She received her Bachelor's in Nursing from Florida Gulf Coast University, and she is Oncology Nursing certified. She has over ten years of oncology patient care experience. Jennifer is very passionate about helping her patients through their treatments and ensuring that they receive quality healthcare with compassion and understanding.
Frances Hutchinson, RN, BSN, Breast Health Nurse Navigator
Frances received her BSN at Auburn University Montgomery and started her nursing career is Auburn, Alabama where she cared for a diverse population of patients. She then relocated to Lee County, FL and began assisting the oncology population as a case manager in 2020. Frances serves our community by assisting those who are in need of breast screening and breast care. She facilitates pre-operative classes for those undergoing a lumpectomy or mastectomy. She also assists with any barriers to care (education, financial, transportation, and psychosocial) for breast cancer patients during their treatment journey.
Ruth Madwick, RN, BSN, MSN, OCN
Ruth currently works as Oncology Nurse Navigator for Lung Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer and Brain Tumor at the Regional Cancer Center. As a Nurse Navigator she guides patient through care continuum, educates patients about disease process, nutritional needs, treatment, side effect and how to manage side effects. Ruth also looks for barriers to care assessment and finds resources based on their needs. Each person’s cancer journey is different, so individual assistance is needed in addressing barriers to care. Ruth received her BSN from Lakeview College of Nursing and MSN from the University of Illinois. She brings more than twenty years of experience in navigation services and oncology nursing and is excited to be part of the Cancer Care Team.
Tina Toole-Harper, RN, CBCN
Tina is a Nurse Navigator for Breast Health Centers here at Lee Health. She has over 30 years of experience in oncology nursing. She is a certified breast health nurse. She has extensive knowledge of breast diseases. She provides valuable support and information to women concerned with the health of their breasts. She supports patients through the imaging and diagnostics associated with breast health. She provides education, emotional support, coordination of care, and assists with connecting patients to resources, removing barriers to care.
Jeani McNamee, BSN, RN, Oncology Nurse Navigator
Jeani is a dedicated and compassionate registered nurse with over a decade of experience in critical care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan in 2012, where she began her career caring for patients with complex, high acuity needs. After relocating to Fort Myers, Florida in 2018, she joined Lee Health, where she had been a valued member of the Neuro Intensive Care Unit. Now stepping into the role of Oncology Nurse Navigator, Jeani is excited to bring her critical care experience to the oncology setting, with a focus on supporting patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers. With her unique blend of knowledge and heartfelt compassion, Jeani is honored to walk alongside patients as they navigate the challenges of cancer treatment and recovery.
Nicole Stone, BSN, RN, OCN, Oncology Nurse Navigator
With over 15 years of experience in oncology nursing, Nicole has worked across diverse settings including hospitals, outpatient infusion centers, and in leadership roles. She is an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) and is deeply committed to continued education, recognizing its importance in delivering best-practice care in the dynamic field of oncology. Nicole joined Lee Health in 2016, where she served as a Critical Care Oncology Infusion Nurse and later as an Oncology Nurse Supervisor. In 2025, she was honored to become part of the Oncology Nurse Navigation team. In her role as an Oncology Nurse Navigator, Nicole is a dedicated advocate for her patients, committed to addressing their multidimensional needs. She focuses on supporting both patients and caregivers, striving to make a positive impact during some of the most challenging times in their lives.
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Outpatient Center at the Sanctuary
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Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic - Bonita Health Center
3501 Health Center Blvd Estero, FL 34135