Brianna Lynes, MSN, RN, CCRN pursued her passion for oncology nursing at Hartford Hospital after graduating in 2016. After two years, in the midst of pursuing her Masters in nursing education, she decided she wanted to expand my clinical expertise by working in critical care. Brianna maintained her chemotherapy provider card and became certified in oncology in 2018. She was able to join the worlds of oncology nursing and critical care by continuing to administer chemotherapy to critically ill patients. In 2019, she received her masters and in 2020, started a clinical nurse educator position in critical care. Brianna knew her passion was always in oncology and in 2022, took a position as a nurse educator in the ambulatory oncology space. Here she is able to blend her clinical expertise, love for oncology and interest in encouraging nursing education and professional development. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge and leadership in oncology nursing and how she can bring such experiences back to her team.
Treasurer
Sabra Dunn, MSN, RN, OCN has been working as an oncology nurse for 6 years in both the inpatient and outpatient setting at the Hospital of Central Connecticut. She recently completed her Master’s in Nursing with a focus on nursing education at UHart and is currently working as an ambulatory nurse educator for HHC. She enjoys running and outdoor activities and loves working in oncology for a lot of reasons but especially because of the strong focus on evidence-based practice and that the field is constantly evolving with new research and things to learn.
Program Director
Hayley Dunnack Yackel, PhD, RN, CMSRN, OCN is currently an Oncology Clinical Research Nurse/ Scientist in the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute. She is a PhD-prepared nurse with a research interest in interprofessional approaches to enhance symptom management and cancer care delivery. Hayley received the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing in 2018. Hayley is committed to improving healthcare delivery, particularly cancer care delivery, for CT residents and beyond.
Director-at-large
Holly DeFeo MSN, RN, NPD-BC is an oncology nurse educator for the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute. She is a University of Connecticut and University of Hartford graduate and has enjoyed a 22-year career in oncology nursing and nursing education. Holly started at The Hospital of Central Connecticut as a registered nurse on the medical-oncology unit where she served for a period of time as the assistant nurse manager. Throughout her career, she has held multiple roles including Clinical Educator, Professional Development Educator and adjunct faculty at Charter Oak State College where she assisted with the revision of the RN Refresher program curriculum. Holly received the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing in 2006. She is nationally certified in Nursing Professional Development and serves as a Director-at-Large for the Central Connecticut Oncology Nursing Society.
Director-at-large
Mary Kate Eanniello RN, DNP, OCN is a Director at Large for the Central Connecticut Oncology Nursing Society. She is currently the Director of Nursing Education & Professional Development at the Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute. She has been an oncology nurse for the majority of her 35-year career at Hartford Hospital serving in many different clinical roles. She is the co-chair of the CCONS/SWONS Annual Symposium. She serves the chapter in the role of political advocacy as well as strengthening partnerships with local university nursing programs.
Director-at-large
Lisa Bazinet MSN, RN, OCN is a Director-at-large of the Central Connecticut Oncology Nursing Society. She is currently the Regional Nurse Manager of Oncology Services, East Region at Harford Healthcare. She has been an oncology nurse for the majority of her Nursing career – working in both the inpatient as well as the outpatient departments. She also adjunct clinical facility at the University of Connecticut with focus on oncology care. She is married to her husband Paul and has two sons, Alex and Jack along with two German shorthaired pups- Chase and Echo. In her free time, she enjoys reading James Patterson and Kathy Reichs murder mysteries.
Director-at-large
Nicole Zaza, BSN, RN is currently an infusion nurse at the Hospital of Central Connecticut. She has been an oncology nurse since graduating in 2016 working in both inpatient and outpatient departments. Nicole is currently working to help standardize chemotherapy teaching materials throughout the Hartford Healthcare system. She enjoys training new nurses and finding new evidence-based practices to further the nursing practice.
Arlene Paradise Mingione, MSN, RN, OCN is a practice nurse for medical oncology and hematology at Yale New Haven Hospital in the Smilow Guilford Care Center. Her focus has been oncology for the duration of her nursing career and has experience in both the in-patient and ambulatory setting. Arlene has held a Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse certification and is currently Oncology Nurse Certified. She has recently completed her master’s in nursing management and leadership. Arlene’s current efforts are expended on normalizing the advance care planning conversation with dissemination of her cap-stone project throughout the Yale Health Care System and beyond. She enjoys advocating for policy that benefits oncology patients and the nursing profession. Her free time is spent watching the NY Giants with her husband, Stan, cuddling with her pups: Lennon, McCartney, and Georgie, and partnering with her friend as “GiveBackGirls” for a year of volunteer!
Director-at-large
Diana Irrizarry, MSN, RN, CCPR is currently the Ambulatory Clinical Operations Nurse Manager for Medical Oncology and Infusion Services, as well as the Operations Manager for the Wellness Alternative Services at the Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute in the Fairfield Region. She has been an oncology nurse for the majority of her 15-year career serving in many different clinical roles as Bed Side, Clinical Research, and Hospice. She is a certified clinical research professional and is an advocate for the holistic approach in Nursing. She serves as a Director at Large for the Central Connecticut Oncology Nursing Society.