EARLY CAREER NURSES WORKING GROUP 

Dimitrios Protogiros, Greece, Co-chair

Dimitrios is a cancer nurse from Greece with specialisation in cancer supportive and palliative care. He has worked in different areas of cancer nursing, such as in clinical practice and as a researcher, and was volunteer in the education of undergraduate nursing students. Since 2020, Dimitrios has been involved in major national projects of the Hellenic Ministry of Health for the control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reform of the primary health care in his country. Currently, he is a scientific advisor of the Deputy Minister of Health in Greece, and his focus is mainly in the reform of the National Health System and cancer and palliative care. He serves as member of the National Committee for Palliative Care Development, board member in the Greek Society for Paediatric Palliative Care, and member of European Cancer Organisation’s Young Cancer Professionals group. Since 2018, Dimitrios has had a great involvement in various EONS projects. His main focus of interest is in the following areas: health-related issues of sexual and gender minorities with cancer (LGBTQI+); advocacy and policy; leadership in cancer and palliative care; cancer nursing specialty recognition; young professionals’ empowerment.

Irati Rodriguez Matesanz, Spain, Co-chair)

Irati graduated in 2016 with a BSN from the University of the Basque Country, having received excellency scholarships and participated in a competitive exchange with San Diego State University. She obtained a graduate degree in critical care in 2017, and an MSN in Advanced Practice and Management in 2019 from the University of Navarra. She completed a post-MSN in FNP in 2023 by Georgia College & State University, being awarded the outstanding student award.

She started to work in a medical oncology unit in 2016 and since then has worked in a variety of settings including infusion departments, primary care, and emergency room as a RN. Transitioning to the role of NP in 2023 as a Breast Medical Oncology Nurse Practitioner with City of Hope, Atlanta (USA). The research and leadership backgrounds are most well known for collaborations with the BioDonostia Research Institute 2016-2020, as well as the Public University of Navarra in 2021, having published in peer reviewed journals about oncology nursing, survivorship, frailty and COVID-19.

Representative for Spain in the YCN Network at EONS since 2021, becoming an ECN WG Co-Chair in 2024.

Carike Barnardo, UK

Carike Barnardo is a registered nurse who currently works in a Medical Day Unit at The Royal Marsden Foundation Trust in London, administering chemotherapy and caring for people living with cancer. Her career in nursing started when she retrained from a teacher to a nurse, by studying at the University of Dundee in Scotland, for both her undergraduate degree in Adult Nursing and her masters degree in Nursing and Health. Whilst studying for this postgraduate degree, she worked as a staff nurse on a Medical Oncology ward for 10 months before acceptin a position at the Royal Marsden, UK. After working for almost three years as an oncology nurse, she has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and complexities in this field and the importance of providing empathetic, holistic care. Her passion for narrowing the gaps of inequality in cancer care is the driving force behind her commitment to advance oncology nursing and care, through helping pioneer change, pursue excellence, work collaboratively and simultaneously show kindness. Consequently, she is very excited to embark on this journey with the EONS Early Career Nurses Working Group to foster collaboration, mentorship and professional development among early career nurses. 

Farah Al-Khazae, Croatia

Farah Al-Khazae was born on January 12, 1994 in Zagreb, Croatia. She attended elementary school in Zagreb, and for a few months of her last year, attended elementary school in Detroit, Michigan, USA. After that she went to nursing high school in Zagreb and then studied at the undergraduate studies at the University of Osijek, School of Medicine, followed by a Master’s degree at the University of Zagreb, School of Medicine. She has a knowledge of Croatian, English and Spanish. She participated in many oncology congresses and courses as a speaker. She is a member of the youth initiative for human rights.

Farah has been working as a nurse for 6 years. For 3 years she was employed at the Clinic for Lung Diseases Jordanovac on Department of Intensive and Post-intensive care and after that for 3 years until now has been employed at the Oncology Clinic of University Hospital Centre Zagreb where she had the opportunity to improve her knowledge and skills.

Francesca Cardone, Italy

Since 2020, Francesca has been working in the field of oncology at IFO Hospital in Rome. She is part of the Clinical Neuro-oncology department, which offers a comprehensive diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive care pathway for neuro-oncology patients. Additionally, she is part of a multiprofessional care program designed for integration between hospital and community services and palliative care.  In 2023, she got a MSc in Nursing at the University of Tor Vergata with a thesis about the Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Caregiver and Self-Care in Oncology Patients Undergoing Oral Chemotherapy: An Observational Study. Her plan for the future is to pursue a PhD in oncology with a specific focus on palliative care or cancer control.

Hazal Özdemir Koyu, Turkey

Hazal Özdemir Koyu is pursuing a PhD in Pediatric Nursing and working as a research assistant at Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences in Ankara, Turkey. Her primary focus lies in pediatric oncology nursing, encompassing the oncology nurse’s well-being, the family, and most importantly, the child.

She is in her PhD thesis phase and dedicated to a development process that aims to empower children, families, and oncology nurses in the challenging journey of pediatric oncology. Her active membership of the Turkish National Cancer Society and EONS Early Career Nursing Working Group highlights her commitment to this cause.

With a passion to contributing to the field internationally, her drive and determination to develop her skills seamlessly overlap with the global perspective provided by the EONS Early Career Nursing Working Group. Through active participation and collaboration, her efforts in the field of oncology nursing will be enriched.

Beatriz Maria Teixeira, Portugal 

Beatriz graduated as a nurse from the Catholic University of Portugal in 2020 and has since worked in the field of Haematology. She began her career in the inpatient unit, collaborating on the Haematology Day Hospital and the Haematology Emergency Department. Nowadays, she is working in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit since 2024, always at the Local Health Unit of St. Joseph, in Lisbon. Her areas of professional interest focus on pain management in cancer patients and patients in septic shock, and she actively participates in the training of undergraduate students and professionals in her unit, both through her role as co-coordinator for the annual training plan and management of the training needs and through student mentoring.

In the future, she would like to pursue an MSc in nursing focusing on cancer patient care and hope to contribute to shaping programs and resources that strengthen early-career nursing practice.

Mark Dornan, UK

Dr. Mark Dornan is an experienced primary care nurse and cancer care researcher with a diverse background in clinical practice, academia, and digital health. Holding a PhD in Nursing from Ulster University, his doctoral research focused on developing interventions to promote social eating for patients living with and beyond head and neck cancer. Recent publications advance the growing area of scholarship in cancer survivorship. Alongside this he has a keen interest in LGBTQ+ specific health and social needs.

Beyond research and clinical practice Mark has significant experience in digital health and clinical informatics, supporting the development of a variety of platforms for the use of clinicians and patients in healthcare situations. He has held senior leadership roles and was recently awarded the Royal College of Nursing Foundation Impact award for contribute to professional development in Northern Ireland.

Ciara Nic Giolla Chomhaill, Ireland

Ciara Nic Giolla Chomhaill graduated from University of Galway in 2016 with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. She gained valuable nursing experience working in Australia, in acute clinical settings in Syndey and in a rural hospital in Tasmania. Upon returning home in 2021, she began working in an outpatient oncology day ward, delivering systemic anti-cancer treatments and caring for people at various stages of their cancer journey. 

She obtained her Master’s degree in Oncology and Haematology nursing in 2023. Her thesis focused on fear of cancer recurrence in women with ovarian cancer. This qualitative evidence synthesis was published in the European Journal of Oncology Nursing in 2024; Ciara also presented this research at the Irish Association of Oncology Nursing and at UKONS in 2024.

Currently she works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in gynaecological cancers in University Hospital Galway. She is passionate about this role and strives to improve the survivorship care available to people living with gynaecological cancers. She values the importance of providing evidence-based care and improving outcomes for patients with cancer through participating in ongoing research initiatives.

Nuria Aguado Machancoses, Spain

Núria graduated as a nurse in 2022, and since then she has been working with cancer patients. She holds a master’s degree in Oncological Nursing from the University of Valencia. Currently, she is working as a nurse investigator in a Stage I Oncological Clinical Trials unit in INCLIVA, a biomedical research institute. Her research focuses on the association between greenness exposure and lung cancer mortality.