Growing up, Mary Ellen Day was athletic and focused—dreaming that one day, she would become a "real" cheerleader. Throughout grade school and high school, Day devoted herself to intensive practice after school, on weekends, and during holidays. In 2007-2008, her hard work paid off when she was chosen to join the Eagles NFL cheerleading team. “It was a life-changing moment and an experience that taught me valuable lessons about teamwork, reaching for excellence, and dedication."

Today, Day helps individuals with their own life-changing issues. As a urologic oncology nurse at the Fox Chase Cancer Center outpatient urology clinic, Day sees 35 to 40 post-op patients in a day—individuals recovering from prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer procedures who now are “overwhelmed by the impact of surgery” and the changes that lie ahead.

“My patients need real-world strategies to move their lives forward,” says Day, “and it is a joy to provide them with the clinical and psychological tools to do it, ensuring that they know together, we can tackle any issues that arise,” says Day. “Working with Dr. Kutikov, Chair of the Department of Urology at Fox Chase, means we perform to the highest clinical standards every day, a clinical Super Bowl, where we are always super-focused on the needs of patients and their families.”

“When my dad had a recurrence of prostate cancer, I sent him to Dr. Kutikov, and at the time, although this second diagnosis was scary, I was grateful he was treated by one of the country’s most sought-after urologists.”

“This is the kind of nursing I was meant to do. I don’t leave until the last patient of the day leaves, and sometimes, I wave goodnight to them in the parking lot.”