'Somebody That Feels Like a Friend': Teddi Mellencamp Honors Oncology Nurses

Jill Winther, BSN, RN, OCN, NPD-BC, was named the recipient of the 2026 Extraordinary Healer® award for oncology nursing during a ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk. The event, hosted by CURE Media Group and Oncology Nursing News during the annual ONS Congress, featured melanoma survivor and television personality Teddi Mellencamp as the special guest keynote speaker.

Mellencamp, who sat down for an interview, used the platform to reflect on her cancer journey, specifically emphasizing the deep personal bonds she formed with her nursing team.

Mellencamp’s diagnosis followed a sudden health crisis while she was working at the Super Bowl. "I was falling down," she recalled. "I'm like, ‘I can't stand up. Something's wrong.’ ... My equilibrium was really off." Upon returning to Los Angeles, clinicians discovered "all the tumors in my lungs and my brain" and scheduled her for immediate surgery.

While physicians managed the clinical interventions, Mellencamp noted that the subsequent recovery was managed by the nursing staff. "And then the doctors kind of leave," she said. "So then it's up to the nurses to walk you through your steps."

During hospitalizations that lasted "for weeks at a time," Mellencamp explained that the presence of the nursing staff was the defining factor in her daily well-being. "Having an amazing nurse can make or break your day. because some of the days those are the only people talking to you," she said. The emotional connection was so significant that Mellencamp noted, "I would remember looking forward to certain days because I would remember that was when those nurses were coming in."

She shared a specific memory of a nurse named Connie, who helped her navigate the cognitive difficulties associated with her brain tumors. Connie would write the date on a whiteboard each morning so Mellencamp could correctly answer the doctors' daily check-in questions. Mellencamp valued "just having that little bit of time that she would do that with me," describing the relationship as "having somebody that feels like a friend."

Mellencamp also highlighted the importance of a nurse’s willingness to listen. She recalled a day when she felt she had "solved" a high-profile cold case and insisted on sharing the story with her caregivers. "And they just sat there and listened to me," she said. "Having that someone to listen to you when you feel so alone is really important."

Winther was selected from a field of three finalists, including Tammy Zinn, MSN, RN, OCN, CBCN, and Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN. Winther was recognized for her leadership in implementing ONS/ASCO guidelines and her dedication to holistic patient care. The 2026 event and award were supported by Johnson & Johnson.