Staff

Cindi Cantril, RN, MPH, OCN, CBCN is the founder of CAN R & R and has been an oncology nurse for over 45 years. She began her career doing research in solid tumor research as the first “nurse oncologist” at a large university in the Midwest. In 1975, she was a founding Board member of the Oncology Nursing Society. In the 1980s, Cindi managed nursing education responsibilities in San Francisco at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Her work focused on patient and healthcare worker safety and was revolutionary for the time.

 

Beginning in 2000, Cindi established a community-based cancer center, the Big Sky Cancer Center, in Bozeman, Montana (now a Cancer Support Community). During this time, she created “Mending in the Mountains”, an immersive retreat for patients. Then, in California, she replicated retreats for patients and began an innovative cancer support program for patients, families, and nurses, which included retreats.

 

Because of her lifelong commitment to patient and caregiver support, Cindi has become a nationally and internationally recognized advocate for oncology patient navigation services. She received the Oncology Nursing Society’s Distinguished Service Award in 2010, Cure Magazine’s Extraordinary Healer Award in 2014, the Oncology Nursing Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, and the Biden Cancer Initiative’s FIERCE Award in 2018.