MS, FNP-C, AOCNP
Nurse Practitioner, City of Hope Phoenix
Susan Damico, Medical Oncology Nurse Practitioner at City of Hope Phoenix, knows how important teamwork is to patient care. “At City of Hope, the concept of team reaches a new level,” says Damico, “and that can only benefit the patient, making for a smoother and less stressful course of care.”
Damico began her nursing training at the Arnot Ogden School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse in 1988. She completed her Bachelor of Science at Syracuse University College of Nursing. She trained to become a nurse practitioner at Community General Hospital in Syracuse New York. She holds a Master of Science degree, with a minor in nursing education, from SUNY Upstate in Syracuse.
Damico has been providing nursing care in a range of settings. She began her career as a staff nurse at a large hospital in upstate New York, attending to more than 30 patients per week. She served as registered nurse in a large intensive care unit, developing and coordinating rehabilitation plans and managing the multitude of tasks related to patient care, including maintaining close contact with family members, counseling patients and mentoring residents and other staff.
She completed a 10-month nurse practitioner internship at a family care center while also working at a family planning clinic. She later served as Nurse Practitioner/Registered Nurse First Assistant with a neurosurgery practice, assisting in surgical procedures, obtaining medical histories, caring for more than 100 patients per week, and working closely with the physicians. In 2000, she transitioned to hematology/oncology in a community oncology clinic, providing chemotherapy services and other care for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Damico joined City of Hope in February 2016. “I wanted to be part of an integrative team that takes care of the complete person,” she says. She provides advanced practice nursing care for a wide range of cancer types and is also involved with clinical trials.
Outside of City of Hope, Damico enjoys spending time with her husband. She loves family time and the outdoors.