Carilion Proud: Get to Know Donna Shelor

Meet Donna Shelor, RN Oncology Nurse Navigator with 10 South at CRMH.

How long have you worked at Carilion? 32.5 years

How does your job contribute to patient care and/or Carilion’s mission? My current job as a navigator helps patients with a suspicion of cancer or a new cancer diagnosis. I help get them connected to the right providers in a timely manner while allaying their fears and helping remove anything that may prevent a patient from getting the care they need.

What is your favorite thing about working here? Being able to help those going through one of the scariest times in their life—being the kind compassionate hand reaching out in their time of need with a more personal touch. They are not a number—they need reassurance that someone sees them, understands, and will that person they can call for concerns.

Describe a typical day in your job. I work from an office making calls to patients, responding to questions/concerns, getting new referrals, contacting providers for patient needs, and following along in charts to make sure patients have what they need—all day every day.

How are you involved in your community outside of work? I don’t have a lot of time for community involvement but try to help with Carilion events—for example the recycling event that Carilion recently did to help save the environment as well as raise money for the new cancer center. I am active at my church.

What’s one thing that would surprise people about you? Not much, I don’t think—I’m pretty transparent. I don’t want people to know this, and most probably do, but I’m very gullible. I believe what people tell me.

Name someone at Carilion who has had an impact on your career or who has inspired you. Dr. Bill Fintel inspired me to join this oncology navigation team. It is a new department with lots of challenges, but he totally sold it to me! He inspired me to want to help create a world-class cancer center here in Roanoke—he had the vision.

What advice do you have for a new employee here? Don’t be afraid to try new things. There are so many needs in healthcare—we need a well-rounded diverse workforce who are committed to the patient and to Carilion.

How has Carilion changed over the years? Oh, I could write a book—but the thing that stands out to me the most over the years is going from paper charts/orders to an electronic medical record. The technological advancements have been amazing to watch as well as the growth of Carilion.

Do you know someone with an interesting job who should be featured in a future Q&A? Let us know!