ONCC Names Denise Gibson 2026 Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC®) has named Denise Gibson, DNP, RN, CRNI, TCTCN™, AOCNS® as the 2026 Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year. Gibson is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Denice is a highly accomplished oncology nurse leader and clinical expert with a strong commitment to advancing practice and policy.
For 25 years, she has taught certification review courses, mentored colleagues preparing for certification, and served as an ONCC Advocate. She has driven implementation of advanced care models for complex hematologic malignancies and transplant patients, including CAR-T, TILS, and TCR-T therapies. Her leadership includes, but is not limited to, chairing outpatient CAR-T administration and side-effect management programs and developing the Oncology Academy Practical Application course. She also co-chairs her health system’s hazardous drug management under USP-800. Denise was the Clinical Nurse Specialist lead for Arizona’s Full Practice Authority legislation granting prescriptive authority to CNSs and is currently the Vice President of the Arizona Nurses Association Political Action Committee and serves on its Public Policy Committee.
According to Gibson, “If you take care of nurses, they will take care of patients, and that will take care of your bottom line. Investing in nursing and getting the best out of them, while you have them, is key to managing patient outcomes.”
Gibson was presented with her award during the ONCC Recognition Breakfast for Oncology Certified Nurses on May 15 in San Antonio, Texas, during the ONS Congress.
ONCC provides the premier, nationally accredited certifications for registered nurses in oncology and related specialties. Certification promotes health and safety by validating competence and ensuring lifelong learning in these fields. More than 41,000 nurses are certified by ONCC in adult oncology, pediatric hematology oncology, breast care, or transplantation and cellular therapy nursing. Learn more at www.oncc.org.