Robert Knoerl, PhD, RN
Robert Knoerl, PhD, RN, Instructor in Medicine and Nurse-Scientist at the Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been awarded the 2020 Oncology Nursing Society’s Victoria Mock New Investigator Award. This prestigious award is given annually to a single candidate. It recognizes the contributions of new investigators to building a scientific foundation for oncology nursing practice.
Dr. Knoerl was recognized for his research into the use of integrative therapies for the management of cancer treatment-related symptoms, specifically, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. He is currently leading three studies. The first focuses on evaluating the efficacy of a clinician decision support algorithm to improve the assessment and management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in practice. The second explores the use of yoga for chronic painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The third aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing a mindfulness-based music therapy intervention to improve anxiety and stress in adolescents and young adults receiving chemotherapy.
Dr. Knoerl joined Dana-Farber after completing his undergraduate and doctoral nursing education at the University of Michigan. He noted that he has received incredible mentorship, saying, “The amount of resources Dana-Farber has to promote cancer research is second to none.”
The award is named for Victoria Mock, MD, a nursing pioneer in the 1980s whose work focused on fatigue management interventions. She lost her own battle with cancer a few years ago. Dr. Knoerl is the third Dana-Farber Cantor Center nurse scientist to win the award. Meghan Underhill-Blazey, PhD, RN, AOCNS was the recipient in 2018, and Mary Cooley, PhD, RN, FAAN was the 2003 recipient.
