This prestigious national honor for cancer care and commitment -- presented Jan. 13 during a ceremony in Atlanta -- recognizes individuals who exhibit excellence and compassion in providing care to cancer patients, going beyond their duties to make a difference in the life of cancer patients and their families.
The award also represents the concept of the "warm hand of service," which is an integral part of the Society’s commitment to excellence in cancer care and was specifically emphasized by Lane W. Adams when he served as executive vice president of the American Cancer Society.
"Kim amazes me by how she really cares for patients and their families," a cancer survivor and one of her nominators wrote. "She exhausts every option to ensure that her patients receive the best treatment possible. We all hear that some things fall through the cracks -- but there are no cracks on Kim’s watch."
"Time and again, Kim is given challenging cases of patients with no resources, little to no family support and no knowledge of what lies ahead of them but this doesn’t stop her," another nominator wrote.
A nurse for more than 38 years, Bielecki provides guidance to cancer patients to ensure they receive appropriate treatment and continued support in their homes. A breast cancer survivor herself, she is part of community outreach and survivorship initiatives. Recently, Bielecki joined the Connecticut Colorectal Cancer Roundtable planning committee and was appointed chair of the Stratford Visiting Nurses Association board.
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