From the author: Denise Drevdahl

Meet Denise Drevdahl (right in the photo), with her co-author Kathleen Shannon Dorcy (left) with one of their “buddies” on the Oregon coast!  Denise and Kathleen wrote the current featured article  “Transitions, decisions, and regret: Order in chaos after a cancer diagnosis”.  Their research explores the dilemma of entering an experimental treatment in the midst of a life-changing illness.  I was particularly inspired by the closing sentences in their article: “It is not so much the ability to remain stable and unchanged that should be the goal of care encounters, rather the goal should be flexibility and responsiveness to new paths and ways to traverse the unknown terrain and transitions together. Chaos, it seems, does give us the opportunity to see the world differently.” In reflecting on their ANS article, Denise wrote:

Kathleen and I are honored that our article was selected as an Editor’s Pick for the current issue of ANS. I have had the pleasure of teaching with Dr. Shannon Dorcy since 1996 and then working with her since 2004 on the research project that generated the data for the present manuscript. It has been a collaboration that has endured over time even though we come from different clinical backgrounds and expertise (mine in community/population health; Kathleen’s in cancer and cancer research). Despite (or perhaps because) of these differences, we share many commonalities, including an abiding interest in issues of social justice, as well as an ongoing commitment to examining concerns central to nursing through “a different lens.” A prime example is Kathleen’s inspiration to use a model of epigenetics to illustrate the transitions that occur in those participating in cancer research. This line of research has generated an interest in examining how physician/researchers, research nurses, and IRB members understand the differences between research and treatment. That, along with our continuing work on bringing social justice to nursing practice, education, and research promises to keep us working together far into the future.