Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers

• Katherine Albert, Nurse Practitioner
• Susan Ash-Lee, Manager of Psychosocial Support Services
• Linda Cooper, Psychosocial Support
• Lynne Evetts, Nurse Practitioner
• Carol Forsberg, Psychosocial Support
• Rose Gates, Nurse Practitioner
• Barbara Hamlington, Genetic Counselor
• Josie Kagey, Genetic Counselor
• Shonee Lesh, Genetic Counselor
• Kelly Mack, Nurse Practitioner
• Diane Mehan, Psychosocial Support
• Jill Mitchell, Psychosocial Support
• Courtney Stetor, Physican Assistant
• Darcey Sypolt, Psychosocial Support
• Lindsay Vogt, Pyschosocial Support
• Anne Zobec, Nurse Practitioner

Meet Katherine Albert, RN, MSN, OCN, NP-C

Katherine Albert, RN, MSN, joined RMCC in March 2004. She works in the medical oncology departments at RMCC's Sky Ridge, Rose and Midtown locations. Katherine's areas of emphasis include solid tumors such as breast, colorectal and lung cancers, as well as some hematologic malignancies.

Katherine's experience as a registered nurse in the areas of hematology and oncology was the foundation for her interest in pursuing the field as a nurse practitioner. She earned a Master's of Science in Nursing, as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio. Experience as a FNP offered her the essential skills and knowledge required to work as an advanced practice nurse in the area of oncology.

Katherine is certified as a nurse practitioner with the American Nursing Credentialing Center (NP-C) and as an oncology certified nurse (OCN) with the Oncology Nursing Society. She is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, Metro Denver Oncology Nursing Society, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Katherine has given several presentations for patients on various topics, including menopause, sexuality, fatigue and the management of symptoms related to lung cancer treatment. In addition, she has written manuscripts and presented topics for advanced practice nurses.

She thoroughly experiences what Colorado has to offer and enjoys biking, skiing, trail running, and hiking with her dog.

Meet Susan Ash-Lee, MSW, LCSW

Susan Ash-Lee is Manager of Psychosocial Support Services at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC). She also serves as an oncology social worker at RMCC Lone Tree-Sky Ridge.

Susan has been an oncology social worker for 12 years. She established and was chosen to head the department of Psychosocial Support Services at RMCC in 2009. She holds a Master's degree from the Jane Adams College of Social Work in Chicago and is a member of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. 

Meet Linda Cooper, LCSW

Linda Cooper is a licensed clinical social worker. She joined RMCC in the spring of 2008. Linda received her undergraduate degree in psychology and Spanish from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio and her social work degree from the University of Chicago's School of Service Administration. She also has a certificate in gerontology from the University of Illinois. Linda has worked as a social worker in oncology and psychiatry services, hospitals and clinics settings, hospice programs, hospital emergency rooms and geriatric settings. She is especially committed to working with older adults on their cancer journey.

Meet Lynne Evetts, RN, MSN, NP

Lynne Evetts, nurse practitioner, has practiced at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers in Pueblo since 2003.

A native of Colorado, Lynne graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in nursing from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She then worked in oncology, home health, hospice and occupational nursing for six years. Lynne earned her M.S. in nursing and a family nurse practitioner degree from the University of New Mexico.

Lynne is nationally certified and has worked in family practice and oncology since joining the Pueblo medical community in 1998. She joined RMCC to return to her love of caring for oncology patients and supporting them through treatment.

Lynne and her husband have a young son and daughter.

Meet Carol Forsberg, LCSW

Carol Forsberg is a licensed clinical social worker. Following a career including work in the fields of gerontology, oncology, mental health, and hospice, she joined Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers-Colorado Springs in 2004.

A member of American Psychosocial Oncology Society, Carol's passion is focused on defining healing, meaning, and purpose when faced with cancer-either as a patient or caregiver. Carol has been actively involved in the development of survivorship-focused support groups and advancing end of life care planning. 

Meet Rose Gates, NP, CNS, AOCN, PhD(c)

With more than thirty years of experience in oncology nursing, Rose A. Gates, nurse practitioner, AOCN, joined RMCC in Colorado Springs in June 2003. She is particularly interested in pain and symptom management and ways to promote personal healing.

Rose received her BS in nursing from the University of Maryland, Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing and her MS as an oncology clinical nurse specialist from the University of Texas Health Science Center. She received a post-master's certificate as an adult nurse practitioner from the Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences of the University of Colorado. She is currently working on her PhD in nursing.

Retired from the Army Nurse Corps in 1992, Rose has international nursing experience, including time spent in Germany and Belgium. She gained expertise in pain management as a pain clinical nurse specialist at University Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Her professional affiliations include the Oncology Nursing Society and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Rose and her husband, Dr. Robert Gates (Infectious Diseases), have two grown children. She enjoys hiking, skiing, oil painting, and training pet therapy dogs.

Meet Barbara Hamlington, MS

Barbara Hamlington is a Genetic Counselor. She received both her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Masters in Genetic Counseling degrees from the University of Michigan.

Prior to joining Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Barbara was a research assistant for the University of Michigan cancer genetics clinic, and she completed a research internship at the National Institutes of Health (National Human Genome Research Institute). Additionally, her passion for clinical research and patient care inspired Barbara to participate in a charity bike race in 2006 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation.

Barbara has always had a keen interest in cancer genetics, and she values the opportunity to be a patient advocate by translating complex medical information into language that helps to empower patients making important decisions. 

Meet Josie Kagey, MS

Josie Kagey is a Genetic Counselor. After her undergraduate work, she taught special education for five years at an inpatient facility for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. This experience brings a wealth of knowledge in areas of psychosocial and crisis management.

Josie spent two months of her graduate experience at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC) as a part of her clinical training. During that time, she connected with the values and initiatives of RMCC and is excited to return as an employee. Josie brings her love for education to every session with the patients here at RMCC and enjoys using knowledge of cancer genetics to allay anxiety that often comes with a new cancer diagnosis. She obtained her MS in genetic counseling from the University of Colorado at Denver program.

Meet Shonee Lesh, MS, CGC

Shonee Lesh has been a certified genetic counselor since 1999.  She received her undergraduate degree in molecular biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.  She then worked in research at the University of Michigan where she mapped a mouse gene before pursuing a master’s degree in genetic counseling from University of California, Berkeley.  She began working at RMCC in January of 2005 and covers our Aurora, Midtown, Boulder, Longmont, Thornton and Lakewood offices.

Shonee has been a genetic counselor in many different fields including pediatric, adult, and prenatal genetics but has been drawn to cancer genetic counseling from the start.  She feels that if individuals are more aware of the risks associated with hereditary types of cancer, they and their families will have more opportunity to obtain better screening and prevention options. 

Meet Kelly Mack, RN, MSN, NP

Kelly Mack, a medical oncology nurse practitioner, has been with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers since January 1992. She rotates between RMCC's Midtown, Rose and Sky Ridge locations.

In 1981, Kelly received her bachelor of science in nursing at Loretto Heights College in Denver. She has worked in oncology since her first job as a registered nurse at Penrose Cancer Hospital in Colorado Springs. Kelly earned a master of science nursing degree in medical surgical oncology nursing from Yale University in 1986. She worked as an advanced practice nurse/oncology clinical nurse specialist at Porter Hospital for more than 7 years before joining RMCC in 1992. Kelly completed her post master's certificate as an adult nurse practitioner at the University of Colorado in 2000.

Kelly is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau (nursing honor society), and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She holds certification as an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) from the Oncology Nursing Society and as an Adult Nurse Practitioner (NP-C) from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Kelly enjoys teaching. She has developed an ongoing continuing education program at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers for the nursing staff. She has lectured extensively on a wide variety of oncology related topics and on bioterrorism. She has been asked to speak for the national Oncology Nursing Society annual convention on 2 separate occasions. She sits on the Peer Review Committees for RMCC and US Oncology.

On a personal note, she enjoys playing piano, golfing, gardening and playing with her two adorable Siamese kittens.

Meet Diane Mehan, LCSW, ACSW

Diane Mehan is a licensed clinical social worker who has had a psychosocial practice since 1985. Her practice emphasis has included grief counseling, chronic illness, caregiver burnout, adjustment to life limiting illness or trauma related impairments, bereavement and end of life issues. She obtained her Masters of Clinical Social Work at Michigan State University in 1985. Her education continued with post-graduate training in family systems therapy. She has provided individual and family counseling in a variety of settings including oncology, neuro-rehabilitation, hospice and palliative care. She has been a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Academy of Certified Social Workers for twenty-five years.

Meet Jill Mitchell, PhD, MA, MSW

Dr. Jill Mitchell is the oncology social worker at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers-Boulder. She is also the Coordinator and Trainer for the Seven Levels of Healing Program throughout the RMCC network. Before turning her focus to clinical work, Dr. Mitchell completed a B.A. at Princeton University, an M.A. from the University of Minnesota, an M.S.W. from Cal State-Long Beach, and a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology & Psychocultural Studies at UCLA. For the past 15 years, Dr. Mitchell's work has focused on the intersection of the body, mind, and culture in the experience of people living with illness, in particular, cancer. In addition to her role at RMCC, Dr. Mitchell also serves on the Board of MyLifeLine.org, a non-profit social networking/support coordination site for people living with cancer.

Meet Courtney Stetor, PA-C

Courtney is a Certified Physician Assistant at RMCC Longmont. She completed her undergraduate work in neurobiology and physiology from the University of Maryland Honors College in College Park, Maryland. She then received a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Daemen College in Buffalo, New York.

Courtney is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

“I love my job and coming to work,” says Courtney. “I have had numerous family members affected by cancer, and my hope is that I can use my experiences working in oncology along with my personal family experiences to help provide the best care for each and every patient I see.” 

Meet Darcey Sypolt, LCSW

Darcey Sypolt is a licensed clinical social worker. She joined RMCC in December 2010 and serves at the Lakewood and Thornton clinics.

She came to RMCC from the University of Colorado Hospital inpatient oncology unit where she worked for two and a half years. She graduated from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work in June 2008, where she also was awarded the John A. Hartford Geriatric Scholar PROGRESS award in conjunction with the New York Academy of Medicine.

While at the University of Colorado Hospital she presented at the Palliative Care Conference and also completed a workshop on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for cancer patients at City of Hope in Duarte, California. She is passionate about her work and believes in treating the whole person (medical, emotional, spiritual, and financial) with the help of the multidisciplinary team at RMCC.

She became a social worker because she wishes to provide the full spectrum of psychosocial services to patients, from counseling services and advance care planning to resource management. She moved to Colorado from Ohio in 2006 and in her free time thoroughly enjoys reading, spending time with her family, road and mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and backpacking.

Meet Lindsay Vogt, MSW

Lindsay is the social worker at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers locations in Littleton and Aurora. During her undergraduate and graduate experiences, she was given the opportunity to work in a variety of settings including education, medical social work, and treatment facilities for children. Lindsay has also provided in-home counseling to families involved in the foster care system and had the privilege of working with adolescents and adults with physical and emotional disabilities. She obtained her MSW at Colorado State University and continues to further her education by attending trainings and seminars focusing on the psychological and social aspects to medical oncology. 

Meet Anne Zobec, RN, MS, AOCNP

Anne Zobec earned her nursing diploma at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha. She completed her BSN at the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo. She graduated from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center with an MSN in 1988 and completed an adult nurse practitioner program in 1996. She worked in Colorado Springs hospitals as a staff nurse, head nurse, hospital supervisor, on the IV team, in oncology outpatient clinics, and as a med-surg and oncology clinical nurse specialist. She worked as a women’s health nurse practitioner until she became a full-time oncology nurse practitioner in 2001.

Anne has authored chapters in textbooks on Tumor Lysis Syndrome & Lymphedema. She has been the editor for Cancer Nursing Care Plans for several editions, and wrote a handbook for nurses on Safe Handling of Chemotherapy Drugs. She is a member of the Colorado Nurses Association, the Oncology Nursing Society, the Southern Colorado Advanced Practice Nurses, and Sigma Theta Tau. She has presented lectures about cancer, chemotherapy, pain management, sexuality, & IV therapy to professional & lay audiences.

Anne is married and has three children and one granddaughter.