About Us
The International Thoracic Oncology Nursing Forum (ITONF) is an international organisation for those who are directly caring for people with lung cancer or mesothelioma in a nursing role. The ITONF is a group of avid nurses with a common focus of improving patient care, health care delivery and outcomes for patients, their families and carers. This network provides an opportunity for debate, education and knowledge transfer throughout the continuum of treatment. This setting also allows Nurses who have extensive experience to mentor those nurses who are new to the arena.
Nurses around the world have a shared vision – that is patients, their needs and reducing the impact of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
The purpose of the ITONF is:
- Provide a platform where, globally, nurses can work together, collaborate and network
- Learn and share with colleagues from around the world
- Bring together many organisations and nursing roles
- Formalise and enhance nurse involvement and visibility in future events
Contact
For all enquiries relating to the International Thoracic Oncology Nursing Forum (membership, administration, sponsorship, donations, education materials, research, etc.), please contact us at:
Address: International Thoracic Oncology Nursing Forum
Secretariat: Christine Lawson
Eventage, Hazeltonhead Farm, Mearnskirk, Glasgow, Scotland, UK G77 6RS
Email: secretariat@itonf.com or membership@itonf.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 141 639 8123
Fax: +44 (0) 141 639 8123
: International Thoracic Oncology Nursing Forum
: ITONF @thoracic_forum
The ITONF Steering Committee structure
Meet Our committee
Kate Kuhns (USA)
ITONF Co-Chair
Kate is a Senior Advanced Practice Provider at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Kate has worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the department of Thoracic Surgery caring for patients with lung and oesophageal cancer for over 20 years. Kate received her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Thomas Jefferson University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kate is passionate about educating and assisting patients and their loved ones as they navigate through their thoracic surgery and treatment.
Kate currently works as a Thoracic Nurse Practitioner at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; USA.
Dianne Zawisza (CAN)
ITONF Co-Chair
Dianne Zawisza is a Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada. She has been an oncology nurse for over 30 years. Her career started within the Leukaemia Lymphoma ABMT transplant unit and then transitioned to Outpatient Systemic therapy delivery. Her current role for the past 20 + years is within Clinical Research under the direction of Dr. Natasha Leighl and is the Practice Site Lead for Lung. Areas of interest include all aspects of Clinical Research from Phase 1 Early Drug Discovery to Phase 3 Clinical Trials; supporting patients and families through there trajectory of treatment and management. She has mentored nurses locally and from abroad presenting internationally. She is passionate about Clinical Research and excited at the new treatments Clinical Research offers.
Caitlin Broderick (AUS)
Past Co-Chair Adviser
Caitlin is a Medical Oncology Nurse Practitioner at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Graduating in 1998 from Curtin University, Caitlin has spent the majority of her career in Oncology, with more than a decade managing thoracic cancer patients. She has been an active member of many local and international professional organisations, and has a passion for improving the care and outcomes of cancer patients, in particular managing toxicities and smoking cessation. In addition to constantly furthering her own education and knowledge and sharing this with others, Caitlin contributes to a variety of guidelines, policies, publications and reviews abstracts for national and international conferences, and has presented to local, national and international audiences. In 2019, Caitlin was recognized as the winner of the WA Nursing & Midwifery Excellence in Nursing Award.
Mary Duffy (AUS)
Past Co-Chair Adviser
AM. RGN/RSCN, RSM, Graduate Diploma of Advanced Nursing in Oncology and Palliative care. M. Phil by Nursing Research. Mary is an Advanced Practice, Clinical Nurse Consultant in the Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) at the Peter Mac Callum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Australia. Mary works primarily with patients who have lung cancer or mesothelioma, and their families. Mary has worked with lung cancer patients for over 25 years in a variety of roles. She is passionate about all aspects of lung cancer care, her key areas of interest include patient experience such as supportive care for people with lung cancer and mesothelioma, symptom management, patient and carer information and advocacy. Mary advocates for palliative care for the patient groups she cares for and has a close working relationship with the palliative teams in the hospital and local communities. Mary is an active member of both national and international, nursing and lung cancer professional organisations. She was the inaugural chairperson of the Australia and New Zealand Lung Cancer Nurses Forum (ANZ-LCNF). She has presented at both national and international conferences. In 2021 Mary received the IASLC Lectureship Award for Nurses and Allied Health. Most recently Mary was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for significant service in the field of lung cancer.
Melissa Culligan (USA)
Chair of ITONF Research Subcommittee
Melissa is the Director of Clinical Research for the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Temple University Hospital. She received her BSN from Wilkes University and a Master’s of Science degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in area of Clinical Research. She has more than 30 years of experience working in the field of thoracic surgery with a special focus and expertise in caring for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and advanced stage lung cancer. She is the co-author of multiple peer-reviewed papers on the topics of lung cancer and mesothelioma and has lectured nationally and internationally on the nursing care of patients undergoing thoracic surgery. She has a special interest in clinical trial development and management for thoracic oncology patients and leads multiple surgery-based clinical trials at Temple University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Her doctoral research is focused on the experience of dyspnea for patients undergoing lung-sparing surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Melanie Rabbets (AUS)
Chair of ITONF Communications & External Relations Subcommittee
Melanie is a Thoracic Oncology Clinical Nurse Consultant at The Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. Melanie completed a Masters Degree as Nurse Practitioner in 2020. Melanie has worked in oncology for 18 years, first as a chemotherapy nurse and currently as a nurse consultant. Melanie is interested in all areas of supportive care, with a focus on patient and carer education. Melanie believes that although she cannot alter a patient’s outcome, she can help smooth the path. She aims to learn something new every day and has continued learning and professional development throughout her career. Melanie is a member of Australia and New Zealand Lung Cancer Nurses Forum (ANZ-LCNF), Thoracic Oncology Group Australia (TOGA), American Society Clinical Oncology (ASCO), International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). She has participated in national and international webinars and conferences to share knowledge with and build capacity in lung cancer nurses.
Simon Bolton (UK)
Chair of ITONF Mesothelioma Subcommittee
Simon is Regional Mesothelioma UK Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Simon has worked as a CNS in Thoracic Malignancies since 2004, working solely in Mesothelioma since 2020. He has worked closely with all lung teams in the region to establish a fortnightly specialist MDT which reviews all new mesothelioma cases diagnosed across the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance. Simon has recently completed a qualitative research project exploring the barriers and facilitators around mesothelioma patients accessing clinical trials. In 2025, the study won the Lung Cancer Nursing UK (LCNUK) Annual Award with Simon being awarded an Excellence in Research honour at the UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) 20th Anniversary Awards. Away from work, Simon enjoys independent cinema and frequently attends live music events. He co-hosts the ‘bring your own vinyl’ night ‘Charity Shop Disco’. He’s an avid supporter of Newcastle United Football Club.
Amanda Kluxen (USA)
Co-Chair of ITONF Educational Subcommittee
Amanda is an oncology and research nurse with experience in early phase clinical trials in New York City. She is currently completing her graduate degree in clinical research nursing at NYU and works on projects for improving access to innovative therapies, strengthening research infrastructure, and advancing patient-centered education across the care continuum. As our Educational Subcommittee Co-Chair, Amanda is committed to fostering global collaboration and developing programming that supports the evolving roles of nurses and allied health professionals in lung cancer care and research.
Charlotte Smith (UK)
Co-Chair of ITONF Educational Subcommittee
Charlotte Smith is a Nurse Consultant in Respiratory Medicine and a committee member of the Lung Cancer Nursing UK (LCNUK), specialising in lung cancer pathways and patient support. She has played a key role in developing lung nodule clinics in Norfolk, helping to streamline diagnostic pathways and reduce referral-to-treatment times for patients with suspected lung cancer.
Charlotte has also been instrumental in supporting face-to-face patient support groups across the Norfolk area, providing valuable opportunities for patients and families to access information, share experiences, and receive ongoing support, along with the CNS team.
As an active member of the LCNUK committee, she contributes to the advancement of lung cancer nursing practice at a national level. In addition, Charlotte serves on the steering group for Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) in Norfolk, supporting initiatives aimed at the early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer.
ITONF Secretariat
Christine Lawson & the team at Eventage support and provide Secretariat/Membership services to the International Thoracic Oncology Nursing Forum. Eventage are very excited to be working with ITONF on membership services, education, training, sponsorship and general administration of ITONF. Eventage work closely with the ITONF Steering Committee and its members.
Eventage specialises in healthcare working on a national and international basis. Eventage currently works with the Scottish Government Health Department, The Society for Acute Medicine, The International Primary Care Respiratory Society, Scottish Prescribing Advisers Association, Respiratory Managed Clinical Network Learning Forum, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, NorthWest London, Scottish Lung Cancer Forum and Health Services Research UK. Further information can be found at www.eventage.co.uk.
Partners
Sponsors
If your organisation would like to establish a long-term relationship with the International Thoracic Oncology Nursing Forum (ITONF) and wish to demonstrate your commitment to lung cancer patients by helping the ITONF improve patient care, health care delivery and outcomes for patients, their families and carers you would benefit most from becoming a Sustaining Partner. ITONF provides nurses with opportunities for training, education, build on current nursing infrastructures and knowledge transfer throughout the continuum of treatment.
Sponsorship
If your organisation funds (sponsors) a single activity such as a meeting or newsletter the following will apply:
- Your company logo is used on promotional material and in acknowledgements;
- The wording and/or position of the credit will be agreed in negotiations with your organisation;
- In a sponsorship agreement your organisation will have no involvement in the activity for which the sponsorship is granted;
- The ITONF will maintains editorial control over all materials or meeting programs;
- The ITONF will not endorse or promote a sponsor’s products or services
Project Funding
In a project funding arrangement the ITONF will establish a collaborative partnership with your organisation to undertake a specific project relating to an issue of mutual interest. Under a project funding agreement the following features will apply:
- Your company logo is used on promotional material and in acknowledgements;
- The wording and/or position of the credit will be agreed in negotiations with your organisation;
- Where appropriate your organisation will have representation on the project steering committee;
- The ITONF will maintain editorial control over all materials produced in connection with the project; and
- The ITONF will not endorse or promote individual products or services.
- Unrestricted grants
If your organisation provides funding through an unrestricted grant the following applies:
- Your organisation will have no involvement in the project for which the grant is used ;
- The unrestricted grant provided by your organisation will be officially acknowledged;
- Your logo will not be used;
- ITONF controls the wording and position of the credit
For all enquires please contact Christine Lawson, ITONF – Secretariat, Eventage Ltd, via email secretariat@itonf.com or phone +44 141 639 8123.
