Mission
The mission of the West Central Ohio Chapter of ONS is to promote excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care.

Vision
The vision of the West Central Ohio Chapter of ONS is to provide for the personal and professional development of nurses in order to promote quality cancer care.

• Increase our Vision and Visibility in the Dayton Community in 2003.
• Provide for the educational needs of oncology nurses and other interested nursing professionals in the Greater Dayton area.
• Provide a joint OCN review course with the Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter of ONS.
• Provide an evening event for members only.
• Participate in a community cancer event that will provide educational opportunities for patients with cancer and their caregivers.
• Initiate a Journal Club that will provide Bench to Bedside information. The forum will link research to clinical practice.
• Incorporate the Strategic Plan and Goals of our National ONS into our chapters plans and goals.
• Provide for the development of new leaders in the chapter through mentorship.
• Provide opportunities for the local chapter members to become advocates in action by increasing awareness of legislative activity.

The years of birth and beginning In 1980, 17 dedicated nurses discussed starting a chapter. In those quite beginnings of a simple classroom these nurses dream of uniting all of the oncology nurses in Dayton as the West Central Ohio Nurses Organization, a chapter of the Oncology Nurses Association. These nurses continued to meet, educate themselves and dream of something much bigger. Driven with passion for improved patient care they establish in February 1984, chapter with quarterly meetings focused on the need for education and peer support.    

The years of Struggle and Survival Small groups of dedicated board members continue to serve and devote themselves to the organization until they could no longer serve. In 1996, an emergency meeting was held asking any and all to support our organization. A handful responded and managed to maintain our chapter and continue education programs, meetings, oncology review courses and even develop the first Love your Chapter meeting. From this small group came the humble beginnings of our first cut and paste newsletter known today as “The Central Line.”  

The Years of Renewal and Recognition Additional members rose to the occasion and become active board members. They met the organizations needs to have quality programs, develop a needs assessment, become active in Outreach Ohio, and introduce scholarships, awards, and professional development courses, a web site, as well as a Journal Club. In 2004, the first strategic plan to “Drive quality and cancer care though education, research, leadership and advocacy” was developed to mirror the goals of ONS. During this time numerous members win recognition in national and local awards, become authors, editors, serve on ONS Boards and provide countless hours of community service. In 2004 our membership reaches 100! -we are awarded the Chapter of Excellence Award. The struggle has been worth it! 

Flight into the Future What will this bring! Only you can determine it. You the members of this organization will lead the directions and growth in our future. In upcoming months you will hear more about our past as an organization and real members who have dedicated themselves to the field of oncology. We the Board of West Central Ohio will be here to serve you and will be reaching out for your assistance to continue to make this a great organization.

Submitted by: Mary Murphy RN, MS, AOCN, ACHPN

Dayton, Ohio's Historic Carillon Park (click on photo to go to website)