Christine M. Beerman, RN, BS  PRESIDENT
Christine M. (Tina) Beerman, RN, BS, BCLNC, Clinical Program Manager for The Center for Breast Care at Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, MD. Tina is a breast cancer survivor and established the Center for Breast Care for Howard County General Hospital in 2002. Tina has 28 years in the nursing profession and has experience as a pediatric nurse, healthcare consultant, project manager, Quality and Performance Improvement Director and Clinical Director of a freestanding ambulatory surgery center.

Since becoming the Clinical Program Manager for the Center for Breast Care, Tina has successfully established support programs for women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer. These programs include facilitating a monthly breast cancer support group, creating partnerships with The Red Devils, Survivors Offering Support, Haelan Center for the Art of Healing and the Howard County Public School System. She developed the weekly Breast Tumor Board conferences and continues to facilitate these meetings. Tina also counsels women and families on navigating through the breast cancer treatment process.

In 2005, Tina received The Daily Record Healthcare Heroes Nurse Hero Award for her work. In 2004, she was honored with The Women of Distinction Award from the Soroptimist International of Howard County. She is the current leader of the MD/D.C./VA. Coalition of Breast Center Coordinators. She also serves as an Advocate Consumer Reviewer for the scientific grant review process for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program as well as the Susan G. Komen for the Cure scientific grant review program. Locally, Tina is a member of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Maryland Affiliate grant review board.

Rebecca Saron Trupp, RN, OCN  VICE PRESIDENT
Rebecca Trupp is currently the nurse navigator for Breast and Gyn oncology at Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, MD. She is highly dedicated to her patients and the promotion of the nurse navigator role. Rebecca created and manages the nurse navigator program at Suburban Hospital, serving both inpatients and outpatients. She participates in the hospital patient education committee, provides in-service training to the hospital staff, and gives lectures in the community. She has explored political advocacy, speaking on Capitol Hill in support of patient rights.

Prior to working at Suburban, Rebecca was an integral member of the team that envisioned and developed the Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic Breast Health Program. She has worked in women's health care for the majority of her career in various positions including: Genitourinary Med/Surg, Postpartum, Labor and Delivery, High Risk Antepartum, Mother/Baby home health, and High Risk Obstetrical Case Management. Rebecca received her degree in nursing from Montgomery College and has been a Registered Nurse since 1991. She received her certification in Oncology Nursing in 2006.

Minna Manalo Bacarra, MSN, CRNP  SECRETARY
Minna Manalo is a Nurse Practitioner at the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Hospital. She has 15 years experience in nursing and became a nurse practitioner in 1999. She received her BSN from University of Virginia and MSN from the Institute of Health Professions at Massachusetts General Hospital, with board certification as an Adult and Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner. She has previous experience in adult internal medicine at MGH in Boston, MA, where she grew an interest in women's health and breast disease, before joining the breast surgery division at Georgetown in 2002.

In 2003, she became a certified breast health specialist and an active member of the MD/D.C./VA. Coalition of Breast Care Coordinators. She helped develop the Patient Navigator Program at Georgetown. She received the award for Nurse of the Year in 2007 for the Department of Surgery at GUH. In 2008, she became a member of the education committee for the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Her current clinical practice involves management of patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or other breast diseases, high risk surveillance, patient education and community outreach. She participates in clinical research and has done health fairs and public speaking about breast health in the community.

Sharon L. Francz, Oncology Nurse Navigator  TREASURER
Sharon Francz is the Oncology Nurse Navigator for Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. Sharon is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) with 19 years experience and has a degree in Health Care Administration. Prior to coming to Shady Grove in 2006, Sharon has worked with persons with cancer and AIDS in a hospital setting, corrections, as a home care nurse, as a hospice nurse, as a study coordinator for a Phase I study of pain medication, and more recently in a general and specialized surgical practice. In addition to her work experience, she has served as an Advocate Grant Reviewer for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, at the local level. She is a board member for a non-profit, Critters for the Cure and is the Treasurer for NCONN the National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators.

Sharon navigates all cancer diagnosis and is the single point of contact for patients and families regardless of their entrance point into her facility. She is the facilitator for nine cancer support groups including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In her role as the Oncology Nurse Navigator, Sharon is an advocate for all who have cancer and caregivers who support those who have cancer as well as for those who are concerned about cancer. She is a guide and personal care coach for patients and families at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and throughout the expanded community.