As Nurse Case Manager for PCC’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, Suzy C. sees community health from two distinct—and deeply connected—perspectives. Each day, she works directly with vulnerable populations who are low income and uninsured who need help navigating the health care system and coordinating with clinical staff and offering guidance, reassurance, and patient education. She educates patients about screening and prevention, assesses eligibility and enrollment, and follows patients through the continuum of care from screening to diagnosis for breast and cervical cancer. She works to decrease barriers to care including transportation, language, and access with the available resources. By staying closely engaged throughout the process, Suzy helps ensure that patients complete recommended follow-up care. Suzy believes it is important to address any barriers, and says, “I want each person to feel supported throughout their care as navigating can be alone can be challenging.”
Suzy also provides clinical data to the Maryland Department of Health for monthly reporting and analysis, contributing to a broader assessment of how residents and communities across the state are faring. Together, these responsibilities allow Suzy to connect individual experiences with larger trends. It is a rare perspective—and one that reflects PCC’s commitment to pairing compassionate, person-centered support with informed approaches that advance the health and well-being of the entire community. Suzy explains, “the data helps us recognize patterns across communities, but the individual work with patients allows access to understanding that each patient has a unique story. Seeing both sides helps me better understand where needs exist and how thoughtful programs and policies can make a meaningful difference.”
For Suzy, a career devoted to health and community well-being feels like a natural calling. Helping people has been her passion since childhood, and she remembers wanting to become a nurse for as long as she can remember. After earning her nursing degree, she began working as a clinical nurse at a local hospital. The experience showed her firsthand how difficult the health care system can be to navigate—even when hospitals, physicians, nurses, and other staff are doing all they can to help. She saw that some people needed additional guidance, advocacy, and a moral support. After working in a hospital settings and various community settings including homeless shelters, Suzy was encouraged to apply to the role after completing a contract with health agency and the opportunity presented itself. The position offered exactly the kind of meaningful, people-centered work she had envisioned for herself. “Working directly with people, gives me a very human, real-world understanding of the challenges residents face,” Suzy says. “I can also see the bigger picture—how programs and health policies are affecting communities across the state.”
Outside of work, Suzy enjoys spending time with her husband and their three dogs, who keep her busy and active. She also makes time for creativity through journaling and enjoys gardening. Whether she is supporting an individual, contributing to a clearer picture of community health, or creating something new, Suzy brings care, curiosity, and a genuine desire to make a difference.