Focus on Staff With Stephanie Tolhurst

Stephanie Tolhurst, clinical services coordinator within the UC Cancer Institute’s Lung Cancer Center, says most of her training came from previous work experience.

"In 2003, I took a job with Christ Hospital as a state tested nursing assistant while I attended Cincinnati State for pre-nursing,” she says. "I was accepted to Good Samaritan’s school of nursing but made a move to Florida to support my husband with his flight training, so had to put my nursing career on the back burner.”

In the past, Tolhurst has worked for an ophthalmic ocular plastic surgeon and gained surgical assisting skills, and when she moved back to the Cincinnati area in 2007, she accepted a position with UC Physicians at the UC Health Physicians Office–Clifton for the department of surgery.

"My skillset broadened even further, and I was able to learn from some of the greatest that UC Health has to offer,” she says.

What made you choose UC and UC Health?

"The main reason that I took the job was that I would be able to assist in minor surgeries. When I took my initial job with UC Physicians, I was told that the department of surgery was not a touchy-feely place to work and that if I wanted that, then I should not accept. I can say that I think my interviewer was wrong.  The surgeons that I had the privilege to work for at UC Physicians are amazing. They truly care for ‘employees’ like we are family. This made it so easy to come to work.” 

What is your official title? What are your regular job duties? 

"My official title is Clinical Services Coordinator. I work with Michelle Ottersbach, registered nurse on the Lung Cancer Screening Program, and I also coordinate the Win by Quitting Smoking Cessation Program. I help screen patients for the Lung Cancer Screening Program, schedule the scans, assist with database tracking and various other duties. For the Win by Quitting program I answer questions about the program, schedule patients and follow up with their treatment.” 

What made you choose to take on this role?

"As mentioned before, I have been with the thoracic surgery division for 6 years. When this position became available, I was made aware of the position and suggested that I apply for the position if I was interested. I was honored that the team thought highly enough of me to ask me to apply. I have also gained knowledge about lung cancer during my time at UC Physicians and enjoyed working for this division and their patients.” 

What do you like to do in your spare time? What is one thing people might not know about you?

"I have two children. My son, Chase, is 12-years-old, and my daughter, Emma, is five years old and will start kindergarten in the fall. These two keep me pretty busy. My husband, Charles, is an airline pilot for JetBlue Airlines and is gone a lot. We have two dogs, ‘Heinz 57 types,’ Charlie and Lily, and a farm cat that adopted us that we call Buttercup.

"I grew up and still live in a farming community in Indiana. We live in the same house that my grandparents raised their children. I have a lot of memories of that house from when I was a child and I find it really neat to play with my kids doing the same things that I did when I was a little girl. I am incredibly close with my mom who lives two miles away and watches my two little ones when I am at work. When we have free time we like to ride our bikes, go on walks, swim or just play Frisbee and toss a baseball around. I plan on going back to finish a degree, unknown major, once my daughter starts school.”