Rosanna Pollack, RN, MSN, CRNP

My role is to coordinate care for children with tumors of the central nervous system and neurofibromatosis type 1, and to provide clinical care to patients and families. I also educate other health professionals, patients and families. As a nurse practitioner, I take an active role in supporting clinical research. The most rewarding aspect of my role is interacting with the children and empowering families to feel comfortable caring for their child once their diagnosis has been established and care at home is clearly going to be complex and challenging.

My area of specialty is neuro-oncology. Over the last 14 years that I have worked in pediatric oncology, I have learned that families are remarkably strong and can become experts in their child’s care mostly from the education they receive from the interdisciplinary team that cares for them.
I have co-authored several articles and presented posters and lectures that focus on supportive care issues in children and families with brain and spinal cord tumors.

My research interest is mainly looking at supportive care issues in children with brain and spinal cord tumors, specifically, the acute and sub-acute side effects of radiation.

Selected Publications, Honors and Professional Activities

Memberships in professional organizations

1998-present, Association of Pediatric Oncology Nursing

Original Papers

2006

Deatick JA, Thibodeaux AG, Schmus C, Pollack R, Hieb B. Family management style framework: new tool with potential to assess families who have children with brain tumors. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs. 2006 Jan-Feb;23(1):19-27. Cited in PubMed; PMID 16689400. Read the abstract

Posters and presentations

2007

Pollack R, Schmus C, Quillen J, Goodsell C. Childhood brain tumors: the circle of care [poster presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nursing 31st Annual Conference; 2007 Oct 14-16; Milwaukee, WI.