Kristin Soper’s mother, Catherine, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer when Soper was 15 and the experience cemented her desire to be a nurse.

But not just any nurse.

A nurse who would work at Upstate Medical University, where her mother received years of inpatient and outpatient treatment and where Soper saw first-hand how attentive the nurses, doctors and staff were to her mom.

A nurse who would deal with her cancer patients and their families with the same honesty, compassion and grace that she and her mother experienced.

A nurse who would one day lead her own staff, guided by those same principals, to provide the best patient care possible by understanding staff member needs and challenges through open dialogue and by putting herself in their shoes once a month.

Now the associate director of nursing for the Upstate Cancer Center, Soper has been honored with the Nancy Page Nursing Leadership Award for all she does for Upstate’s oncology nursing staff and patients.

The Nancy Page Award, named for Upstate’s former chief nursing officer, recognizes a nurse who exhibits inspirational nursing leadership by encouraging others to achieve their highest potential, enhancing the enthusiasm and camaraderie of their teams, and embodying the spirit of nursing by improving the quality of care for patients and the well-being of staff.

When she received the award at the Nursing Excellence Celebration last month, Soper thought of her mother, who died just months before she graduated from nursing school.

“I always hope that she’s proud,” Soper said. “The award is kind of a validation that I’m doing the right thing, or I’m where I am supposed to be.”

Soper, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, NEA-BC, started at Upstate as a summer clinical assistant in oncology while still in nursing school at SUNY Brockport. She went on to earn her master of science in nursing and doctor of nursing practice degree, while working her way up in nursing leadership at Upstate. She became the assistant director of nursing for the cancer center in 2022, and in 2023, was promoted to associate director. She recently earned her Advanced Nurse Executive accreditation.

Now, she oversees a staff of about 250 in ten different departments at the downtown Cancer Center, the Cancer Center at Community and various satellite offices where they see and treat up to 500 patients daily.

Mary Kate Rudy, BSN, RN, nurse manager at the Community location, said Soper exemplifies outstanding leadership through her daily actions.

“She has mastered the ability to be fully present while empowering her staff to confidently make their own decisions,” Rudy said. “She is supportive, kind, and engaged, and she is genuinely concerned about the well-being of those around her. I am so proud to work for Kristin and strive each day to demonstrate the type of leadership she displays each day.”

Thomas Vandermeer, MD, FACS, interim director of the Upstate Cancer Center, echoed Rudy’s sentiments in his nomination letter. Vandermeer cites Soper’s open, supportive leadership style as not only inspiring nurses and nurse leaders throughout the cancer center sites, but for reducing vacancy and turnover rates that have plagued all of health care since the covid pandemic. He said these rates have approached zero under her leadership.

“Kristin has successfully innovated and implemented many changes that have improved operations and instilled positive culture change,” Vandermeer wrote. “Her responsiveness, respect for all, and management artistry have led to a remarkable improvement in the culture of trust among nurses, physicians and staff.”

While Soper seeks out leadership credentials and current information to help her staff stay, she has also never forgotten her roots as a clinical nurse practitioner. That’s why, once a month, she closes her office door and schedules herself to oversee the Upstate Cancer Center's infusion center, where she oversees more than 90 patients for the day, which can be a difficult and demanding day. She does this not only to keep her skills current, but to put herself in her staff’s shoes by being on the front line of patient care. She often chooses the busiest clinic day to give staff a break.

“I just asked management if I could do it,” Soper said. “I thought it would help me understand the flow and build relationships, and I wanted to get back to patient care. I don’t want to be in a place where I am advocating for something I don’t understand.”

Soper said while she appreciates the recognition of her leadership, her extraordinary staff makes a difficult job that much easier.

“I want people to feel seen and valued and to be able to inspire them to deliver the best patient care,” she said. “My staff makes it easy to want to advocate and support them. It is a big honor to work with them every day.

Caption: Kristin Soper, DNP, MS, RN, in the Upstate Cancer Center. Soper was named the winner of the Nancy Page Leadership Award.