Nursing

Short Biography

Monnie Abraham, PhD, MSN, FISQua, CPHQ is the Director of Global Nursing for GPM. In her role, she is responsible for directing the nursing program and all associated activities and initiatives.

Monnie has more than 20 years of experience in international health care management and leadership, pediatric nursing, nursing education and quality improvement. Her previous professional positions include Director of Pediatric Nursing Practice, Oregon Health and Science University, and different leadership positions in nursing at the Dubai Health Authority, Dubai. Her experience includes responsibilities as a health care administrator for inpatient hospital operations, hospital-based services and staffing. She is an expert in implementing and introducing evidence-based practice in organizations utilizing change management principles. 

Monnie is currently an International Nurse Consultant for the Joint Commission and has consulted in several countries in Europe, Asia, the Far East and the Middle East. She was a faculty member at various JCI International Practicums and also serves as faculty for the Healthcare Quality Management & Patient Safety Program by JCI.

She has a doctoral degree in Health Management and Policy, a master’s degree in nursing (Pediatrics) from the College of Nursing, CMCH, Vellore, India, and a bachelor's degree in Nursing from Delhi University. She also is a fellow of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare.

Short Biography

Lorena Segovia-Weber is a Program Coordinator, Global Nursing for the department of Global Pediatric Medicine. She will work with the St. Jude Global Nursing Program supporting the design and implementation of nursing initiatives to improve quality outcomes for children and adolescents with cancer in countries around the world.

Lorena is a Pediatric Oncology Nurse with 25 years’ experience at Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital in Santiago, Chile. In 2007, she began working as a contractor with St. Jude, directing the Latin American Center for Pediatric Oncology Nurses. A first of its kind in the world, the center’s objective is to promote excellence in pediatric oncology nursing education in Latin America (Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and South America) through training pediatric oncology nurse educators, a pioneer role in the region.

She worked to promote the standardization of high-risk processes in cancer nursing, such as the administration of chemotherapy. Thanks to the affiliation of the center and APHON course with St. Jude Global Nursing Program many nurses from Latin America have improved their knowledge and skills in this area.

Lorena has also advocated for the implementation of the baseline nursing standards recommended by SIOP for LMIC in several Latin American pediatric oncology institutions.

Short Biography

Winnie Wanjiru Leah Njuguna is a program coordinator for the Global Nursing Program in the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine. Born and raised in Kenya, she joined St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in January 2023.

Winnie is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who graduated cum laude with a master’s degree in child nursing, pediatric hematology-oncology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her experience in nursing spans more than 20 years and includes various nursing and leadership roles. The bulk of her extensive experience was in the vibrant and busy Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Winnie was a certified instructor for resuscitation courses such as Emergency Assessment and Treatment plus Admission Care (ETAT+), Pediatric Immediate Life Support (PILs), Newborn Life Support, and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). Her other roles included pediatric hematology-oncology, quality and patient safety, general pediatrics, trauma and emergency.

Her passion for improving clinical outcomes for children and adolescents with blood and blood disorders in low- or middle-income countries through nursing education, research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement motivated Winnie to join St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Aside from work, Winnie loves traveling to new places, watching movies, music, indoor games and discovering new restaurants.

Short Biography

Kenisha Brock has been with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since May 2019, beginning her career as an Administrative Specialist in the Division of Cancer Predisposition within the Department of Oncology. In this role, she provided vital administrative support to clinical and research teams, ensuring efficient operations and contributing to the department’s mission of advancing cancer prevention and care.

A Memphis native, Kenisha brings more than 17 years of experience in healthcare administration, with expertise in overseeing complex administrative functions, coordinating cross-departmental initiatives, and streamlining operational processes. She is deeply committed to mentoring and professional development, applying her coaching and leadership skills to foster growth and collaboration within her teams. In recognition of her dedication to professional excellence, Kenisha earned her Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credential in April 2024, along with a Project Management specialty certification from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).

Before joining St. Jude, Kenisha served as Charging Coordinator for the Radiology Department at Methodist South Hospital, part of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. There, she managed billing operations, optimized departmental workflows, and supported frontline staff in delivering high-quality patient care.

Today, Kenisha serves as Administrative Coordinator in the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, where she supports international collaborations, program development, and strategic initiatives. She is enthusiastic about contributing to the department’s mission and advancing St. Jude’s global efforts to improve survival rates and quality of life for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases worldwide.

Short Biography

Shenila brings over 13 years of experience in the hospital industry, with a strong background in pediatric oncology nursing. She has recently served as a Local Contractor for the St. Jude Global Nursing ICON project in Pakistan and has held various leadership roles, most recently as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatric Oncology at the Indus Hospital and Health Network. Shenila holds a Master of Science in Nursing from The Aga Khan University Hospital, along with a Diploma in Pediatric Oncology Nursing. Her extensive experience, coupled with her dedication to improving pediatric oncology standards, makes her a valuable asset to GPM.

Short Biography

Elianeth is a seasoned professional with over ten years of experience across both clinical and non-clinical settings, having held a variety of roles throughout her career. As an Oncology Nurse Specialist, she has provided comprehensive care to both inpatients and outpatients. Her extensive background encompasses nursing training, curriculum development, community health initiatives, research, grants management, project planning and evaluation, strategic planning, and business continuity.

In her clinical practice, Elianeth has exhibited strong leadership by spearheading quality improvement projects in pediatric oncology, including the Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS), palliative care, and outreach programs. Her community impact is equally significant, with successful planning and execution of childhood and adolescent cancer awareness projects across the Southern Highland, Central, and Lake Zones in Tanzania, in collaboration with the Tanzania National Nurses Association. These initiatives focused on enhancing early detection through nurse training, establishing mentorship networks, and raising community awareness. Additionally, she has been involved in outreach interventions addressing sexually transmitted diseases particularly HIV/AIDS among youths in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, through Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities.

Elianeth is an active member of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), where she serves on the Steering Committee of the Nursing Network and is the Co-Chair of the Sub-Saharan Africa Pediatric Oncology Nurses Network. She previously held the role of Co-Chair for the SIOP Global Health Education Working Group, which aimed to promote education and training for healthcare providers in resource-limited settings on the care of children with cancer.

Driven by a commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing healthcare practices, Elianeth is drawn to St. Jude due to its shared dedication to excellence in pediatric oncology and its groundbreaking work in the field. Her passion for teaching, strategic planning, research, and project management underscores her deep commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery and supporting the well-being of children with cancer and their families.

Short Biography

Sangeetha Samuel, M.Sc. (N) Critical Care Nursing, served in dual roles as the Deputy Nursing Superintendent at Christian Medical College & Hospital (CMC), Ludhiana, Punjab, India, and as an Assistant Professor at the College of Nursing. In these capacities, she managed the Critical Care Areas of the hospital while contributing to the academic development of future nursing professionals.

With extensive experience in critical care nursing, nursing education, and healthcare management, Sangeetha's professional journey began as a Staff Nurse in the Emergency Medicine Department at Christian Medical College, Vellore. She has progressed through various roles, including Ward In charge of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Assistant Nursing Superintendent overseeing the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Clinical Haematology, and Critical Care Areas, and finally as Deputy Nursing Superintendent, where she managed Critical Care Areas, Nursing In-service Education, and Quality at CMC, Ludhiana.

As a dedicated nurse leader and educator, Sangeetha is passionate about enhancing patient outcomes through the advancement of clinical skills among student nurses and registered nurses via effective technology integration. Her key initiatives include developing Interprofessional Practice modules in Cancer Care, implementing Nurse-Preceptorship programs, and conducting Continuing Nursing Education programs. She is also a CMCL FAIMER Faculty, actively engaged in health professional education, skill-based training, and simulation-based education. Additionally, she coordinates the Haematology Cancer Consortium (HCC) Nursing activities in India and is a member of the Asia Pacific BMT (APBMT) Nursing Core Committee.

Sangeetha leads the NIHR Global Surgery Nursing Collaborative network, focusing on improving patient outcomes in Low and Middle-Income Countries through collaborative nursing research and training. She is passionately committed to advancing nursing practice and education, with a continuous emphasis on fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in healthcare delivery.

Sangeetha finds the mission of St Jude inspiring as it uses research to improve cures and treatment of children with catastrophic diseases globally.