Our Cancer Care Team

Emily Compton, MSN, RN, OCN
Breast and Hematological Oncology Nurse Navigator

Emily is a Master’s prepared nurse with almost 20 years of oncology nursing experience. Emily is originally from Michigan and pursued an early career in Marine Biology before obtaining a BSN in nursing from Barry University in Florida in 2005. Her first nursing job was as an oncology nurse, and she immediately loved the specialty. She spent a few years as a travel nurse and then came back to oncology where she stayed at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Florida from 2007-2019. She received her masters at University of South Florida in 2014 as a Clinical Nurse Leader and spent most of her years at Moffit as an inpatient surgical oncology nurse. She came to Charleston in 2019 to be closer to family and has been working as an outpatient breast cancer nurse navigator and inpatient nurse on a hematological floor. Her personal mission is to help educate, support, and advocate for oncology patients and assist with their coordination of care. Outside of work, she married and has twin 8-year-old boys and enjoys being outside and going to the beach.

April Hicks, BSN, RN-BC
Genitourinary, Head, Neck & Thyroid, and Neuro Oncology Clinical Nurse Navigator

April is a native of Charleston. She completed her nursing degree in 2009. Her background is in Neurosciences, where she has worked her entire career. She has a certification in Medical-Surgical Nursing.

She has served as a Charge Nurse, Clinical Coach, Nurse Preceptor and has been active in Shared Governance while working at the bedside on the Neuro-Spine Unit at St. Francis Hospital.

April started the inpatient navigation program for Neurosurgery where she collaborated with patients, physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and many other interdisciplinary members of the healthcare team.

She is excited to begin her new role as an Oncology Nurse Navigator and looks forward to spreading compassion as well as being a source of strength to those she comes in contact with every day.

Renee Litton, MS, BSN, RN
Bone/Connective Tissue/Sarcomas, Gynecologic, Esophageal, and Lung Oncology Clinical Nurse Navigator

Renee holds an advanced degree in palliative care and is credentialed in chemotherapy/biotherapy administration. She has extensive oncology nursing experience and has worked with patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Renee is sensitive to the impact a cancer diagnosis can have on the individual and entire family. Her goal is to be a source of information, support and compassion.

On her days off, Renee loves spending time with her family and dreaming of traveling.

She received her BSN from Marshall University and attended graduate school at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Barbara “BJ” Mack, LPN
Community Outreach Patient Navigator

Barbara Mack was born and raised in downtown Charleston, and earned her practical nursing degree from the Roper PN school. She has always been drawn to help others in her community to access information and resources for healthcare screenings and chronic disease.

She has worked for Roper St. Francis Healthcare for over 43 years. Since very early in her career, she has found fulfillment when providing support and education to patients diagnosed with cancer. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and scrapbooking, sewing and riding her bike.

Brooke Martin, BSN, RN
GI and Hepatobiliary Oncology Clinical Nurse Navigator

Brooke is a Bachelor’s prepared nurse who grew up in Columbia, SC. She relocated to Charleston, SC for college where she attended Charleston Southern University and graduated in 2019. She has a background in emergency medicine and outpatient oncology at the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center. She oriented new nurses into their role in Infusion- teaching proper handling and administration of Chemotherapy/Biotherapy per Oncology Nursing Society guidelines. Her personal mission is to educate and empower patients to be an active member of their care team. Outside of work, she loves thrifting and trying new outdoor activities such as rock climbing, surfing, and hiking.

Jennifer “Jenny” Budig-Rubbelke, BSN, RN, OCN
Breast, Melanoma and other cancer Oncology Clinical Nurse Navigator

Jenny is a native of Wisconsin – and yes, it does get cold there in the winter! Having been a nurse for 15 years; she started her nursing career in the Emergency Department and after 6 years moved over to work in the Medical Outpatient Oncology Department. In Oncology, as a jack of all trades, she worked as an Infusion Nurse, Nurse Navigator, Breast Care Coordinator and Oncology Clinic Nurse.

She moved to the Charleston area in October 2019 and in November began working as an Infusion Nurse at the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center. After 4 years in the infusion department, she is excited to work as an Oncology Clinical Nurse Navigator where she hopes to use her oncology knowledge and experience to make a cancer patient’s journey smoother by identifying and decreasing barriers to treatment, provide clinical resources and education and work as a liaison with the patient’s cancer care team.

She enjoys gardening, walking her dogs, spending time with family, and cheering for the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers!

She received a BA in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her BSN from University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.

Elizabeth Strojny, MSN, RN, OCN
Lung Screening Clinical Nurse Navigator

Elizabeth has over 20 years of oncology experience working inpatient, outpatient, research, infusion and multiple areas of patient navigation. She earned an advanced nursing degree in leadership and management and maintains her oncology nurse certification. Elizabeth has worked with patients throughout diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. In her current role, she leads and coordinates the Lung Cancer Screening program and is certified in Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy administration.

She received her MSN in Leadership in Management in 2009 from Walden University

Carolyn “Ann” Gentles, DNP, FNP-C
Cancer Survivorship Program Coordinator
843-720-8428

Ann has been a Certified Nurse Practitioner for over 20 years, practicing in multiple specialties including Hematology/Oncology, Pulmonary and Internal Medicine. She has been with Roper St Francis for over four years prior to joining the Survivorship program working in primary care on Johns Island. Prior to joining Roper St Francis Healthcare, she cared for stem cell transplant patients at Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC. It was there that she began to appreciate and value the importance of developing a strong support network for each patient's cancer treatment, recovery and survivorship journey. She is passionate about promoting self-care, wellness and resiliency across the lifespan.

Ann earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the Medical University of South Carolina with an emphasis on quality in health care delivery. She earned both Masters of Nursing and Bachelors of Nursing from Kennesaw State University in her home town of Marietta Georgia. Ann serves as the co-chair of the Advanced Practice Provider Steering Committee at RSFH. She is an active volunteer in her community on Johns Island.

Ann enjoys gardening, exercise, college football Saturday's and spending time with her pets, family and friends.

Rylee Lin, RD, LD
Dietitian Specialist at the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Cancer Center

Rylee is a Registered Dietitian (RD) who was born and raised in Texas. She became an RD in 2021 after completing her Dietetic Internship at Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) in Dallas, TX. She previously served as an Inpatient Oncology Dietitian in Dallas, TX. She has moved to Charleston, SC to continue her career as a Outpatient Oncology Dietitian.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and doing all things outdoors.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Texas Christian University and Dietetic Internship at Baylor University Medical Center.

Andrea Zalno, RDN, LDN
Dietitian Specialist at the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Cancer Center

Andrea is the outpatient dietitian at the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center. Andrea has been practicing nutrition in the clinical setting since graduating from Seton Hill University in 2010 where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics and a minor in psychology. Andrea started her career at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center before moving to Charleston in 2014 when she began working at Roper Hospital. A triple negative breast cancer survivor herself, Andrea has a love for nutrition and a passion for helping others meet their wellness goals to live a balanced life. She loves Jesus, reading, being outdoors and spending time in the kitchen with her family and friends.

Kelly Hauschild, CWS, RYT
Exercise Physiologist, Patient Navigator

Kelly has over 20 years of experience as an exercise physiologist. She specialized in cardiac rehab early in her career and then moved to cancer rehab. She has accumulated numerous certifications along the way, including therapeutic yoga teacher, herbalist, cancer wellness specialist, holistic health practitioner, as well as plant-based nutrition certificates. Kelly currently runs the cancer wellness exercise program at Roper Hospital, where she has the privilege of blending all these specialties into one amazing program.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Lander University.

Kristin Farris, LMSW, CCM

Kristin is the Oncology Social Worker at the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center. Kristin was born and raised in Michigan where she completed her Bachelor of Art in Behavioral Sciences at Grand Valley State University, in 2008. On a whim, she headed out west to Portland, Oregon where she worked in community psychiatry while later attending graduate school at Portland State University. Kristin earned her Master of Social Work in 2014 and hit the road to Charleston days after. Kristin has worked in Medical Social Work since earning her MSW, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and became a Certified Case Manager in 2021. In her spare time, Kristin loves to spend time with her husband, two young daughters (and two old dogs!) attending their school events and favorite activities, going to the pool and beach in summers, cooking, and going for long bike rides.

Bethany Wilson
Massage Therapist

Bethany is a massage therapist at the Healing Boutique in Roper St. Francis Cancer Center. She graduating from Southeastern College in Charlotte, NC for Neuromuscular Massage Therapy in 2009. She moved back to Charleston in 2011 and have practiced massage since then. She is passionate about providing massage therapy as an essential option for overall health and well-being. In her spare time, Bethany loves to read, listen to music, organize, and go to the beach and mountains.

Megan Baker, MD
Breast Cancer Specialist

Dr. Megan Baker is a breast cancer specialist with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners Breast Surgery who has dedicated her career to treating benign and malignant breast conditions. She earned her degree from Columbia University and her medical degree from Wright State University School of Medicine. Dr. Baker completed her surgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, with additional training in oncoplastic breast surgery at Case Western Reserve University. She is board certified in general surgery. Dr. Baker began practicing at Roper St Francis in 2015 after serving 10 years as the Medical Director of Comprehensive Breast Care at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Hollings Cancer Center. Since joining Roper St. Francis, Dr. Baker has served as the physician leader of the surgery and perioperative services. She is currently the medical director of the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center and the director of the system-wide cancer care program. Dr. Baker leads a multidisciplinary team of experienced advanced practice providers, nurses and support staff who are passionate about breast health and understand the concerns and sensitivities related to those with breast cancer. She treats the full range of breast cancers, with expertise in high-risk breast cancer, prophylactic mastectomy and familial breast-ovarian syndrome. Dr. Baker has been an active participant in breast cancer clinical trials throughout her career and continues to do so today.

Wendy Miller
Oncology Support Assistant

Wendy grew up in the Tricounty area and is a graduate of Summerville High School. She has 16 years of experience in oncology.

Wendy is the Referral Coordinator for the Lung Nodule Program. She is involved in handling day-to-day patient and staff needs and is the point of contact for the volunteers at the West Ashley Cancer Center.

Wendy connects to patients wherever they are in their cancer journey and provides them support, comfort, and kindness to lift their spirits.

In her spare time, Wendy enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and loves going to estate sales. She and her family dedicate their time to uplifting the spirit of the homeless in the community with meals and essential items.