Support Team

Tracey Hall, MSN, NP, OCN

Tracey Hall is a nurse practitioner in the St. John Health Breast Care Program.  She works as the clinic coordinator for The High Risk Breast Clinic. She also helps work on numerous system-wide breast program initiatives such as helping to create the St. John Health Breast Care Program website and creating a database for the breast program. Tracey is also part of Michigan Breast Specialists and works collaboratively with Dr. Jeffrey Falk and Dr. Cheryl Wesen.

Tracey received a bachelor's degree in Biology from Assumption College in Massachusetts. She then went on to receive her RN as well as Masters of Science in Nursing from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She is board certified in Adult Health as well as Women's Health.  She recently became a Oncology Certified Nurse in October 2007.  Tracey has been working as an advanced practice nurse in Breast Cancer for the past 4 years. Her last position in breast care was with The University of Massachusetts. While at UMass she was very involved in several research projects and published numerous articles.

Tracey recently moved from Massachusetts to Michigan with her husband and joined the breast program at St. John Health. She has a passion for all women's health issues but especially breast cancer care.

Mary Beth Karlik, BS

Mary Beth Karlik is a breast care coordinator with the St. John Health Breast Care Program. Her primary position is coordinating services at the Liggett Breast Center in the Van Elslander Cancer Center.  Mary Beth's primary role is to facilitate all patients with an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound to appropriate follow-up including biopsy in a timely fashion. Mary Beth works closely with all patients providing support while they undergo this intense process.

She comes to this position with professional as well as personal experiences.  Mary Beth has a Bachelors of Science from Western Michigan University.  She has been with St. John Health since 1997.   She was formerly the receptionist at The Van Elslander Cancer Center since 2001. While at St. John she has received numerous awards for her exemplary performance.  Due to her experience she is very familiar with the workings of the cancer center and this helps her facilitate patients needs. Her goal then and now has been to provide excellent customer service to patients undergo cancer care.

Mary Beth is also a breast cancer survivor herself. Her personal experience as a survivor allows her to empathize with each patient as they go through this difficult process.

Debra Akers, RN

Deb is a graduate of Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing and has worked in the nursing field for over 28 years.  Her experiences include: Occupational Health, Outpatient Health Services, New Family Health Education, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Intensive Care, and she is certified in chemotherapy through St. John Health. Deb is a member of the National Consortium of Breast Centers and the St. John Health System Breast Health Advisory Board.

Currently, Deb serves as the St. John Macomb Breast Health Coordinator and Nurse Navigator. She has a passion for providing holistic care to all breast patients through education, resources, coordination of medical services as well as providing emotional and spiritual support.

Mary Browne, RT, R(M)

Mary Browne is a Breast Care Coordinator with The St. John Health Breast Care Program. Her primary position is coordinating services at the Elliott Breast Center, located at Providence Park Hospital. Mary's primary role is to facilitate all patients with an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound to appropriate follow-up including biopsy in a timely fashion.

Mary has been involved in breast imaging for over 15 years.  Her experience in imaging helps her to educate and tactfully navigate patients through this very difficult process.  Mary received her ARRT registration from Mount Carmel Hospital in Detroit.  She then became board certified in mammography in 1993.  She has been employed with Providence Hospital since 1989.  She has worked in the Elliott Breast Center since 1993.

Along with her vast professional experiences, Mary herself has personal experience with the breast cancer experience.  Mary is a breast cancer survivor.  Her personal experience as a patient are what makes her compassionately facilitate each and every patient with an intimate level of understanding their needs.
 
Mary is a Michigan native, has 3 children and resides in Commerce with her husband.

La Juana Fuller, MAHCA, RT, R (M)

LaJuana Fuller is the Manager of the Breast Imaging Centers for St. John Hospital and Medical Center.  She has a Master of Arts in Health Care Administration and is a Registered Mammographer and Radiologic Technologist.  Her career began 22 years ago at Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, where her passion for Mammography and Breast Health spurred.  Having worked in various leadership roles within St. John Health, LaJuana is very happy to be a member of The Breast Care Program team.

She has worked with and trained many imaging professionals over the years and puts great value on continuing education.  She actively participates in and outside of the classroom, sharing significant experiences to inspire the next generation of imagers.

LaJuana recognizes, that though on an almost daily basis, news reports give information on improvements and new discoveries in health care, the one thing that does not change is the patient's expectation for care that is sincere, compassionate, and reflective of their individual needs.  Giving meaning to her mantra "To allow her work to make a valuable difference to all those impacted by it".

Jeannine Mercurio, RN, BSN 

Jeannine Mercurio is one of the Nurse Navigators in the St. John Health Breast Care Program. She works at St. John Hospital & Medical Center, working with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. She assists patient’s with appointment scheduling, follow through treatment, and any other needs that the patients may have. She is instrumental in coordinating and managing the weekly Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic at the VanElslander Cancer Center. In this setting, patients are set up to be seen by a Medical Oncologist, Radiation Oncologist, Breast Surgeon, Social Worker, Dietician, and a Reach to Recovery Volunteer from the American Cancer Society. Jeannine received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Oakland University. She has worked as a Cardiac Step-Down nurse for 10 years as acting preceptor and frequent charge nurse at St. John Hospital. She then moved on to Supervise the Internal Medicine Department at St. John Hospital. For 11 years, she managed the private faculty office, as well as, the residency clinic for Internal Medicine. Jeannine joined the Oncology team at the VanElslander Cancer Center in September 2007. Jeannine is a lifelong resident of the Detroit metropolitan area. She is married and has three children.

Jennifer Valenti, RT,  R(M)

Jennifer Valenti is the Manager of Breast Imaging for Providence Hospital and Medical Centers. Jennifer  graduated  from Providence Hospital's School of Radiologic Technology in 1993. She obtained advanced training in Mammography in 1996 and advanced registry in Mammography in 1997. She credits much of the success in her career to her dear friend, mentor and fellow Breast Center Manager, LaJuana Fuller who encouraged her to follow her heart and  obtain specialty training in Mammography. Jennifer is thrilled to be part of the Breast Care Program at St. John Health. She is excited about developing a program that treats the body, mind and soul of the patient.

 Jennifer is passionate about Breast Health and brings that enthusiasm wherever she goes. Jennifer volunteers her time for lectures and events to support the cause through out the year. In 2007 she helped coordinate the first "Pink Carnival" at Providence Park with Mary Browne, Breast Care Coordinator. She participates annually in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Walk and the Komen Race for the Cure. Jennifer lives in Northville with her husband and 2 sons. She enjoys traveling to Disney, gardening, spending time with her family and attending various "Pink" events around town.

 Vanessa Reyes, RN, BSN, OCN

Vanessa aspired to be a nurse at a very early age.  Her career started as a Licensed Practical Nurse at St Joseph's Hospital in Chicago Illinois in 1979.  Her very first patient was a 23 year old female diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.  From the relationship she developed with that patient she knew she wanted to be an oncology nurse. 

Vanessa and her husband relocated to Southfield Michigan.  Here she raised two children and went to school part-time to continue her education and finally fulfilled her life's dream of becoming an RN.   In 1991 Vanessa achieved her goal of being an oncology nurse.  Her first position as an RN was working at Providence Hospital on the oncology unit.  One of the medical oncologist asked her to come work in his office as a chemotherapy nurse.  For 10 years she administered chemotherapy to oncology patients.  In 1999 she went back to school to further her education; she graduated in 2001 from the University of Phoenix with her Bachelors Degree in Nursing

In 2001 she transferred to the Research Department  here at Providence and worked with oncology patients as a clinical trials nurse.  In 2004 Vanessa took the position as Nurse Coordinator for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.  This position is currently titled Nurse Navigator. 

Vanessa is Oncology Certified and certified as a Breast health Navigator.  Her passion is working with her breast patients and insuring they receive the best possible care.