Lung Cancer Screening Staff

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  Christy Buffkin

  Lung Cancer Screening Staff

  Christy Buffkin is a Registered Nurse and serves as the Nurse Navigator for patients with Pulmonary (Lung) Nodules at McLeod Health. Christy works closely with our specialized pulmonologists and multidisciplinary team. She tracks and manages follow up care for patients with identified incidental lung nodules. She also works as a liaison between patients and clinical care providers to ensure patients receive optimal health care. Christy is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems Management and earned her Associates Degree in Nursing from Florence-Darlington Technical College. Upon graduating, Christy worked on the Oncology/Hematology floor at McLeod Regional Medical Center. She also has experience in home health, occupational health and in the operating room. Christy feels fortunate to be a nurse serving the Pee Dee Region for the past 10 years.

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  Jennifer Almers

  Lung Cancer Screening Staff

  Jennifer Almers is the Lung Screening Nurse Navigator for the McLeod Healthy Lungs Initiative in the Pee Dee. She assists patients receiving or needing a lung cancer screening in Florence, Cheraw, Manning or Dillon. Jennifer also manages the clinical/diagnostic work-up for patients and any lung cancer screening patient navigation needs. She has been employed with McLeod for 18 years and has been privileged to work as a staff nurse in various departments such as trauma intensive care, post anesthesia care, and outpatient services. Jennifer earned her Associates Degree in Nursing at Florence-Darlington Technical College, her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Francis Marion University, and her Master’s in Professional Counseling at Liberty University.

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  Brittany Wilson

  Lung Cancer Screening Staff

  Brittany Wilson serves as the Lung Screening Nurse Navigator, for the coastal region, which includes McLeod Health Loris, McLeod Health Seacoast and McLeod Health Carolina Forest. She assists patients receiving or needing lung cancer screenings or follow-up in Horry County. Brittany also manages the clinical/diagnostic work-up for patients and any general navigation needs. She has been employed with McLeod Health for five years, during which time she has also been privileged to work as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and with McLeod Occupational Health. Brittany earned her associate’s degree in nursing at Horry Georgetown Technical College.

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  Melissa Kirk

  Lung Cancer Screening Staff

  Melissa Kirk is a Nurse Practitioner for McLeod Pulmonary and Critical Care. Over the past nine years with McLeod, she has served as a staff nurse in various departments including inpatient oncology, urology, and the endoscopy lab. Melissa obtained her Associate’s Degree in Nursing at Florence-Darlington Technical College, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing, and her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from Francis Marion University. She is credentialed through Mayo Clinic as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. She works to ensure patients receive lung screening CT scans and proper work up for early lung cancer detection. Her passion is assisting patients with tobacco cessation.

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  Karen Snider

  Lung Cancer Screening Staff

  Karen Snider is the Program Coordinator for the McLeod Healthy Lungs Initiative. In this role, Karen manages lung cancer screening orders and eligibility for screening as well as community and industry outreach. Karen has been with McLeod Health for 13 years, ten of which have been in the oncology service line. Prior to working in HLI, she served as a patient care coordinator for the cancer team. Karen studied Elementary Education at Coker College.

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  Noah Kleckner

  Lung Cancer Screening Staff

  Noah Kleckner is the Project Manager for the McLeod Healthy Lungs Initiative. He has been with McLeod Health for more than nine years and has worked with the HLI program in different capacities since its inception in 2018. Much of his time is spent facilitating correspondence with patients and physicians involved in the HLI program; tracking and reporting program-related metrics; and presenting updates and general information to both internal stakeholders and the public. In addition to his main role, Noah is also the coordinator for the McLeod Institutional Review Board, a local committee charged with reviewing human subject research. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree at Minnesota State University – Moorhead, where he double-majored in English and Mass Communication.