Cancer Center Names Sister Linda Constantin Courage and Compassion Award Winner

The purpose of the annual award is to recognize a Cancer Center team member who exemplifies Sister Linda Constantin’s deeply held values and beliefs

(Baton Rouge) – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has named Jamie Wilson, a member of the guest services department, as the 2016 Sister Linda Constantin Courage and Compassion Award winner. The annual award is named in honor of a longtime nurse and member of the senior administrative team at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center who passed away in 2005 after battling colon cancer. Each year the award is presented to a Cancer Center team member who exemplifies her deeply held values and beliefs. Wilson, a member of the Cancer Center team for more than 20 years, is often referred to as “the director of first impressions,” as she is often the initial team member warmly welcoming patients as they enter the facility. Linda Lee, Cancer Center administrator, says Wilson’s compassion and generosity reflect the same ideals and principles Constantin held dear. “Jamie is a friend to everyone and beloved by all,” said Lee. “What makes Jamie special is her empathy for patients and teammates. While some people may find working in a Cancer Center challenging, she sees it as an opportunity to live her life with purpose, serving others at a difficult time in their lives. Jamie has even opened her to home to co-workers who have been ill and needed care or found themselves without a place to live due to an emergency situation. She is truly a special person and we are fortunate to have her as a member of our team.” Sister Barbara Arceneaux, provincial, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, presented the award to Wilson in front of an audience of Mary Bird Perkins and Our Lady of the Lake team members gathered to pay homage to the award winner and Constantin. “Generosity of spirit and an appreciation for serving Christ were key to how Sister Linda approached life,” said Arceneaux. “It is difficult to describe her joyful spirit in words, but I can say that she was a unique and wonderful person who made an impact on so many people in our community.” Arceneaux added that throughout Constantin’s life, she was a model of strength and courage, standing up for those in the community needing a voice and believing everyone should always be treated with the same compassion they themselves would expect.    About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center As a regional destination for cancer care, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center offers the most advanced technology and services provided by a dedicated team of nationally-recognized oncology experts. The Cancer Center provides best-practice, comprehensive care at every stage of the cancer journey, including disease site-specific multidisciplinary care teams, a robust clinical research program and extensive supportive care services. As a nonprofit organization, donor generosity is essential to sustaining the mission of improving survivorship and lessening the burden of cancer for so many throughout Southeast Louisiana and beyond. For more information on the Cancer Center, and how you can become involved, please visit mbpolol.org.