This October, Robin Morash was honoured with an Oncology Nurse of the Year award from the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO). Morash, who retired in June, says that receiving the award from her peers was a lovely way to finish her 35-year career. “It was very humbling. I was floored when I was nominated, and even more so when I won,” she says. “The timing couldn’t have been better.” 

Morash began her career in Toronto General Hospital’s surgical oncology department in 1983. Cancer care at that time was often more about making terminal patients more comfortable, she explains. “In those days, cancer wasn’t a chronic disease. People died,” she says. “Back in the 80s, we treated the disease. You treat the whole person now.” 

Morash found herself working in other nursing roles throughout her career, including advanced practice nursing, but found her way back to oncology, and specifically supporting patients dealing with bladder cancer. “When patients were diagnosed…I was the first nurse they met with to provide them with education and support,” Morash explains of her most recent role. 

She isn’t sure what’s next, but Morash says she wants to continue volunteering with Bladder Cancer Canada. She also currently co-chairs a CANO special interest group on survivorship.