Summer 2025
By Caitlin Henault
Photography by Sam Ogden
Nurses are integral to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s ability to provide unmatched cancer care and conduct world-leading research. Through nursing residency and fellowship programs, Dana-Farber trains talented, innovative, and compassionate nurses to join the field of oncology as clinical practitioners, researchers, and nurse-scientists. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States faces a worsening nursing shortage that could lead to a crisis for medical centers in the coming years, with one million nurses projected to retire by 2030. Also concerning is an insufficient pipeline of qualified nurses to take their place—especially those specifically trained in oncology.
During the pandemic, Dean and Monique Dakolias were incredibly inspired by the dedication of caregivers. As vice-chair of Columbia University’s Board of Trustees, Dean also observed the widespread stress and burnout affecting nurses at the university’s hospital. Recognizing the crucial role health care institutions have in serving the greater good, Dean and Monique set out to strategically leverage their resources to help address the emerging care gap.
Following an introduction to Dana-Farber through longtime friend and colleague Jonathan Lavine, an Institute Trustee, Dean and Monique recognized the growing demand for nurses trained in oncology. With a generous gift of $1 million, they established the Dakolias Family and Lavine Family Fund for Career Development in Nursing to support educational nursing initiatives in collaboration with Northeastern University. This current-use fund, designed to maximize impact and accelerate results, will establish a scholarship program for staff at Dana-Farber who are pursuing degrees in nursing, provide employment opportunities for students in Northeastern’s cooperative education program, and support the development of a dedicated oncology nursing curriculum.
“This gift from the Dakolias family empowers Dana-Farber and Northeastern University to improve access to careers in oncology nursing and build a more diverse workforce through education, employment, and mentorship opportunities,” said Anne Gross, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, senior vice president of patient care services, chief nursing officer, and the Ning Zhao Chair of Nursing at Dana-Farber. “These programs will ensure our team of dedicated nurses can continue to deliver exceptional care for years to come.”
While the Dakolias family did not have a personal connection to Dana-Farber, they encourage others to recognize the importance of dedicating resources to health care and educational institutions.
“Institutions that educate and train the next generation of medical professionals are critical to the health and well-being of people across the United States and the globe,” said Dean. “To ensure they thrive, we need to focus our energy and resources on finding innovative ways to support them—especially by facilitating powerful collaborations like this one between Dana-Farber and Northeastern.”