Tissue Navigator (Bornhorst Lab)

Job description

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

We are seeking a Tissue Navigator who can assist with the NF Postmortem Donation Program at Lurie Children's Hospital. This individual will assist with the coordination of postmortem donation cases, ensure that all samples are processed and stored appropriately, and perform downstream analysis as required. Individuals interested in this position should have strong communication skills and be experienced with general laboratory tasks.

The Tissue Navigator provides direct and indirect services to patient families of children with cancer to increase the number of tissue and biospecimens collected for basic science research at the time of diagnosis as well as recurrence or autopsy, if applicable. The core functions include: educating patients, families, and staff about the value of tissue donation; assisting patients and families with the logistics related to tissue donation; providing links to other services that may be helpful for patients and families; coordinate tissue donations from other local and regional centers without formal donation programs; design and execute educational program for other providers.

Essential Job Functions:

• Work closely with medical team to proactively identify patient families who may qualify for tissue donation and provide education to patients and families about the value of tissue donation.
• Help families navigate logistical issues related to tissue donation including at the time of autopsy.
• Proactively identify and address any barriers to tissue navigation.
• Consent patients for the tissue donation process throughout the continuum of care.
• Coordinate tissue donations with funeral homes, pathology, biorepository, local and regional hospitals that care for children with cancer and research staff to ensure tissue samples are handled and processed appropriately.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local and regional hospital, including visits when appropriate.
• Serve as a primary resource for patient families or providers with questions about tissue donation, serving as a liaison between patient families and physician and basic scientists.
• Coordinate service delivery with families and appropriate team members, through formal and informal means of transmitting information, across the continuum of care in order to provide optimal care of patients and families.
• Performs job functions adhering to service principles with customer service focus of innovation, service excellence and teamwork to provide the highest quality care and service to our patients, families, co-workers and others.
• Recognizes that response to the customer and the changing environment may involve going beyond the confines of the traditional job description. Maintains an environment that reflects pride and ownership and shows a willingness to care for the surroundings.
• Maintains and role models professional boundaries within the health care team.
• Documents in a thorough and timely manner in accordance with professional standards (see assessment/documentation policies). 
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s Degree Required.  Nursing or Social Work Degree Preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years work or internship experience in a health care, child welfare or research science setting preferred. Experience working with children and families.
• Ability to think proactively, creatively, and take initiative appropriately. Demonstrates excellent communication, critical-thinking, and interpersonal skills. Demonstrates ability to work as a part of multiple teams. Spanish language abilities and skills preferred.
• Stamina and energy to maintain direct patient contact on a regular basis with seriously ill patients, to coordinate multiple demands made on time, and to fulfill job requirements as assigned. 
• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to work in multiple projects simultaneously and under strict deadlines.

Education

Pay Range

At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

• Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability
• Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Tuition assistance
• Student loan servicing and support
• Adoption benefits
• Backup Childcare and Eldercare
• Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
• Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
• Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: [email protected]

AI Notice 

Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.

It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.

For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: [email protected]