Sage Bolte, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, Metastatic Breast Cancer Counselor
Sage came to Life with Cancer in June 2004, after completing two years of psychosocial oncology research and patient care at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Sage joined the staff to help develop a program that specifically addresses the needs of the women, men and families impacted by metastatic breast cancer. Sage provides individual and family counseling, facilitates metastatic breast cancer support groups, and partner support groups. Her other professional specialties lie in the areas of sexuality and the impact of a cancer diagnosis on sexuality, and teaching patients and families how to problem solve around common problems experienced by a cancer diagnosis. She received her master’s in social work from the University of Michigan and is working toward her Ph.D. of social work at Catholic University.  Originally from the West Coast, Sage resides in Fairfax County with her husband, Jeff and his vivacious son Jecen.

Drucilla Brethwaite, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, Oncology Counselor
Drucilla joined the Life with Cancer staff in October 1998 as an oncology counselor, providing psychosocial services to inpatients and outpatients and their families to promote adjustment to illness and improved quality of life. Areas of expertise include caregivers, transplant, end of life, palliative care, and grief/bereavement. Drucilla facilitates a number of support groups including the Leukemia Group, BMT/Stem Cell Group, Partners in Care Group, and Good Grief Bereavement Group, as well as provides individual and family counseling. She earned a master’s in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She is also an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University, teaching in the Social Work Department.

Paul Clark, PhD, LCSW, Oncology Counselor
Paul is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than two decades of practical experience in health and mental health. He joined the Life with Cancer staff as an oncology counselor in June of 2005. He holds a master’s in social work from Norfolk State University and a Ph.D. in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. At Life with Cancer, Paul facilitates or co-facilitates support groups for people living with lung cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma. In addition, he is an active member of the Life with Cancer Research Committee. Paul has research interests in health literacy, distress, and health disparities among people with cancer and their families. He resides in the City of Fairfax with his family.

Eric Cohen, RN, BSN, OCN, Patient/Family Education Program Manager
Eric came to Life with Cancer in January 2004 after working as an oncology and bone marrow transplant nurse on the inpatient unit of the Inova Fairfax Cancer Center. As Program Manager of Patient and Family Education, Eric meets with both inpatients and outpatients to discuss their diagnosis, treatment plan, management of side-effects and available resources.  Eric is also responsible for developing Life with Cancer’s Web site, social media outlets, and patient teaching materials that are currently used throughout Inova Health System. Additionally, he specializes in issues young adults with cancer face. Eric is an Oncology Certified Nurse Educator, and is an active member of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) where he is currently serving at the national level on the ONS Nominating Committee.

Deborah Cook, RN, Oncology Nurse Education Coordinator
Deborah joined Life with Cancer in the spring of 2004 as a 12-year Inova Health System veteran. After graduating from Georgetown University Nursing School, she spent the next 24 years in various critical care specialties as a clinician, educator and manager. A breast cancer diagnosis in 1995 and 1997 catalyzed a career move into oncology where she could teach and support others with breast cancer. She currently works to develop Life with Cancer Programs in the Loudoun and Fair Oaks areas. Her passion for cancer care and prevention has also led her to into public speaking related to her oncology nursing knowledge and her survivorship. Deborah is the Area Lay Pastor for Healing and Prayer at her church, leading monthly healing services and participating in Care Ministries. Deborah lives in Ashburn, Virginia with four great children and five cats.

Geronima Cortese-Jimenez, RN, OCN, MPH, Nurse Educator
Prior to joining Life with Cancer in January 2007, Geronima worked on a solid tumor/gynecological cancer unit at Georgetown University hospital.  She received her master’s in public health from the George Washington University in August 2000 and presented her thesis on how complementary and alternative modalities (CAM) help breast cancer patients’ quality of life.  A Reiki Master since April 2000, Geronima has a deep interest in integrative medicine.  She gives various presentations on CAM and cancer.  She is a registered nurse who is also oncology certified through the Oncology Nursing Society.  Geronima speaks to community groups and facilitates support groups for patients with gynecological, lung and breast cancers.  As an oncology nurse educator, Geronima meets with both in-and out-patients to discuss their diagnosis, treatment plan, management of side-effects and available resources in English and Spanish.

Jennifer Eckert, MSW, LCSW, Children’s Program Manager
Jenny Eckert began work at Life with Cancer in September 2001. She came from East Carolina University School of Medicine where she was a pediatric hematology/oncology social worker in the outpatient clinic. She also worked as a social worker in the emergency department for 13 years.  Jenny's employment history includes work with the Public Health Department as well as the Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic. She has a master’s in social work from East Carolina University. 

Sabine Gnesdiloff, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, Program Manager
Sabine is one of the initial Life with Cancer staff members, having been with the organization since February 1989. Prior to that, she was a social worker in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital. She earned her master’s in social work in 1987 from Catholic University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Oncology Social Worker. Sabine has developed and facilitated many of the groups and programs offered at Life with Cancer, and has a special interest in survivorship, complementary therapies, and bereavement. She is responsible for the clinical services and groups provided by the Life with Cancer staff, seeing the clinicians’ role as supporting and empowering patients in their care and choices. Originally from Germany, Sabine spent 20 years in California where she was a reference librarian at Stanford University and other San Francisco Bay area libraries, before moving to the East Coast in the 1980’s. She also holds master’s in library science and German literature, from the California State University System, as well as a bachelor’s degree in international relations. Sabine lives in the woods of Great Falls, Virginia, with her husband John and is the proud mother of two wonderful and well-travelled daughters (Sascha and Kira) and delighted grandmother of Maya.  

Marsha Komandt, RN, BSN, OCN, Oncology Education Coordinator
Before coming to work at Life with Cancer in 1990, Marsha worked as a nurse on the oncology unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital for eight years. She is currently one of the Oncology Education Coordinators at Life with Cancer and is an Oncology Certified Nurse. Marsha is a Buckeye, having graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in nursing. In her now part-time status, she oversees the Life with Cancer Family Center Library, two exercise programs and the Living with Breast Cancer program series of education and exercise. She also facilitates the Spirituality Quest Group and co-facilitates the Leukemia Group. Marsha is active in her church as the Health and Wellness Coordinator, having taken the certification course in Parish Nursing at Shenandoah University. She also participates in the community as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, Wolf Trap, and with the local chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society, of which she is a past-president.