The Screener

Jacquelin Holland, RCN, CRNP
Columbus Cancer Clinic
Columbus, Ohio

Jacquelin Holland finds herself watching ER on television and remembers the excitement of working in that bustling environment when she first graduated from nursing school. "I loved the energy of it," she said.

Jacquelin went on to work in a variety of health-related jobs, including serving as a women's health nurse practitioner, handling managed care at an insurance company and serving as an instructor in family planning. "I found whatever I did led to patient education. It's a passion of mine," she said, recognizing a need to provide health care counseling to African Americans. "Many health problems develop from not knowing how to take care of ourselves."

Today, as director of screening services at the Columbus Cancer Clinic, one of her responsibilities is oncology patient education -- teaching others how to take better care of themselves and to practice wellness, early detection and prevention. She also teaches coworkers about her heritage. "I am so open about myself, my culture, my heritage, my beliefs, that I've helped others to understand the problems, hopes and dreams of African Americans."

Besides leading cancer detection and prevention presentations at schools, colleges, clinics and community centers, Jacquelin loves to be creative. She's overseeing the "MaMa Says" marketing campaign for the Columbus Cancer Clinic and is a trainer for All Women, One Cause, an advocacy group that's spreading the message about breast cancer detection within the minority and underserved communities. Her nature photography is on exhibit at a local gallery. She hopes to someday write two books -- one on racial blending and its effects on health care, and the other on honoring older adults.

Throughout her career, Jacquelin admits she's seen many barriers. "But I pushed them aside or climbed over them to achieve my goals," she said. "Somewhere in my soul I knew I had something to contribute to the nursing profession." She also credits her husband, Benjamin, for being very supportive.

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