Lorinda Coombs Selected as 2025 Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year
Pittsburgh, PA, April 16, 2025 – The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC®) has named Lorinda Coombs, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, AOCNP® as the 2025 Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP®) of the Year. Coombs is Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
Coombs is being recognized for her achievements in advanced oncology nursing practice, nursing service, and promotion of certification.
Coombs is a renowned clinician-scientist excelling in clinical practice, research, and nursing service. She has achieved several career firsts, including being the first Nurse Practitioner (NP) on the credentialing committee at University of California San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital, the first hematology NP for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, and the expert NP for the first Hospital at Home Program in the U.S. Dr. Coombs continues her clinical practice at the UNC School of Medicine and is nationally recognized for her impactful research, with over 30 peer-reviewed articles and presentations at more than 35 national and international conferences. She co-directs an undergraduate oncology nursing fellowship that promotes diversity in oncology nursing and teaches graduate clinical courses. Coombs supports certification efforts through various committees and as a certification item writer, and actively volunteers with numerous professional organizations.
According to Coombs, “This award is significant because I have spent much of my career advocating for advanced practice nurses to be recognized for their excellent, compassionate care. All patients should have a certified Nurse Practitioner to support them on their treatment and survivorship journeys.”
Coombs was presented with her award during the ONCC Recognition Breakfast for Oncology Certified Nurses on April 11 in Denver, Colorado, during the ONS Congress.
ONCC provides the premier, nationally accredited certifications for registered nurses in oncology and related specialties. Certification promotes health and safety by validating competence and ensuring lifelong learning in these fields. More than 41,000 nurses are certified by ONCC in adult oncology, pediatric hematology oncology, breast care, or blood and marrow transplant nursing. Learn more at www.oncc.org.