Surgery Ready: Preparing for the Hospital Experience & What to Expect

Our guest speaker:

This lecture will cover the following topics:

• Prepare before surgery — what to expect from pre-surgical testing, optimizing nutrition, handling stress, and getting your home ready.

• Know what to expect on surgery day — from arrival and the operating room to the recovery room, what is a typical surgical day , what to expect of your hospital stay, and pain management concerns.

• Support your recovery — practical strategies to optimize healing, manage common concerns, and involve family and loved ones.

• Feel prepared when you go home — understand your post-surgical instructions, resources, and the support available to you throughout recovery.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Doreen Mather is a Surgical Nurse Navigator at Glen Cove Hospital whose career has been shaped by a deep commitment to compassionate patient centered care, With experience in surgery, medicine, oncology, and hospital administration Doreen brings a broad perspective and personal understanding of the cancer journey to her work with patients and their families.

As a breast cancer survivor herself, Doreen understands firsthand the emotional and personal challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis. This experience inspired her to establish the Blue Angels Program, a program dedicated to providing emotional support and guidance to patients and families navigating cancer with a particular focus on breast cancer.

Doreen’s dedication to nursing has been recognized throughout her career. She was honored as the recipient of the Northwell Eastern Region Nurse of the Year , Northwell Presidents Team Awad and the Nassau County Womans Bar Association . Doreen has been featured on CBS news, News 12 , and Newsday highlighting the impact of the Blue Angels Program on patients and their families.

Through the Blue Angels program Doreen continues to turn compassion into action reminding patients and their families that they do not have to face their cancer journey alone.