What’s New at Western MaineHealth

Cancer Resource Navigator Provides Health & Wellness

Coaching at Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine

For the past year, Barb Perry, RN, has worked at the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine as a Cancer Resource Navigator, meeting individually with cancer patients and their families from western Maine to provide psychosocial support and address basic needs. Barb works collaboratively with Stephanie LeBlond, LSW, a part-time oncology social worker at the CRCofWM. Both positions are made possible via grant funding.

“We were excited to have Barb join our team,” said Diane Madden, executive director of the Center, which was established in 2015 to provide free wellness and supportive resources to individuals and families in western Maine affected by cancer. “Barb’s experience as clinician, and most recently managing a cancer survivorship program, not only benefits patients and families facing the daily physical, emotional and financial challenges of cancer, but has a positive impact in advancing the Center’s mission to ensure that no-one faces cancer alone.”

For over 20 years, Barb worked as a Nurse Practitioner in a number of different settings with various populations. She then assisted in the development and management of Maine’s State-wide Tobacco Treatment Training Program for health professionals, administered by MaineHealth. She went on to become certified as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist and managed both the inpatient Tobacco Treatment Program at Maine Medical Center and an outpatient clinic at MaineHealth. More recently, Barb managed the Cancer Survivorship Program for MaineHealth and was involved in a variety of activities to improve comprehensive survivorship care and the overall quality of life for cancer survivors. As a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Barb has participated as a wellness provider in the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine’s Live Well Program since fall 2021, providing individual wellness coaching and offering the “Finding Your New Normal” class for patients who are or have recently completed treatment. Barb Perry, RN, Certified Health & Wellness Coach can be reached at 207890-0205 or bperry@crcofwm.org.