MARLENE CATAYLO CHANCE,
GN, BSN, MSN, PhD, EJD, RN, FNP-BC
2013 Julita V. Sotejo Medallion of Honor Awardee
by Nelson Borrero
For her unrelenting effort in advocating the role of Nurse Practitioners in the many facets of the medical profession.
“’Leadership’ is defined as the capacity to make things happen that would otherwise not happen” Thomas E. Cronin, 1940 --). This year’s Julita V. Sotejo Medallion of Honor awardee, Dr. Marlene Cataylo Chance, is a leader with that capacity. Early in her career, she envisioned an important role for Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the delivery of numerous aspects of health care. As a Family Nurse Practitioner what was formerly a “physician only” practice in the 1990’s, Marlene Chance, oftentimes, had to confront difficult challenges in pursuing, promoting, and espousing the concept and significance of an NP in medical practice setting. It is not an easy walk where the path is impeded by thickets of hesitation and resistance, perhaps by the influence of age-old tradition and status quo where once such role was unknown and uncommon. But as the Persian saying goes: “Step by step, ascends the stairs” Marlene diligently persevered and, in the process, displayed the requisite skills and high level of competence that proved her point. She has a firm belief in the ability of NP to play a vital role in the dispensation of many aspects of health care including wellness programs and other preventive care. She cooperated, collaborated, and shared ideas with doctors she worked with resulting in enhanced quality care. She gained not only recognition but also the respect of patients, clients, physicians, colleagues and the community. Her unrelenting effort and her dogged advocacy helped change the landscape of the medical field---truly a meaningful contribution to the nursing profession and a great achievement of a U.P. nurse.
Marlene Cataylo Chance started her distinguished career from the University of the Philippines where she earned her GN degree with honors at the UP-PGHSN in 1975. Thereafter, she worked at the GSIS General Hospital, Quezon City. Moving to the United States the following year she had a stint as charge nurse at Redmond Park Hospital, Georgia before going to Florida. In 1978 and years following, she worked at several medical institutions while pursuing her BSN degree at Florida International University where she graduated Summa cum Laude in 1990. In 1992, she completed the requirements for her Master of Science in Nursing degree, Barry University, Miami Shores, and was recipient of Outstanding Research Award. Very much involved in advocating the role of NPs in medical practice, she co-founded the South Florida Advanced Practice Nurses with a mission to unite nurses engaged in advance practice nursing, to foster educational advancement and professional excellence, to promote its viability and visibility, and with the ultimate goal of providing accessible and affordable quality health care.
Marlene continued to pursue higher education. In 1999, she received her PhD in Health Administration from Kennedy Western University, Cheyenne, Wyoming; and in 2005, her Executive Juris Doctor degree from Concord University Law School-Kaplan University, Los Angeles, California, where she graduated with highest honors and received the Awards of Academic Excellence and Outstanding Legal Writing.
In addition to her academic pursuits, clinical experience and professional practice, Dr. Chance did a number of research projects and received research grants like the Eli Lilly Research Grant on “Non-Hormonal Alternatives for the Control of Hot Flashes in Post Menopausal Women on Raloxifene Therapy,” and the Nova Southeastern University Kenyon Research Grant on “Pharmacologic Intervention of Depression in Cancer Patients in Primary Care,” to name a few.
Despite her hectic schedule and her numerous activities, Dr. Marlene Chance found time to join and is a member of local, national, and international professional organizations. Among them are: Florida Nurses Association, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, UPNAAI, PNA, National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth (NANAY), and honor societies such as the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, Phi Kappa Honor Society, and the Nursing Honor Society of Florida International University.
Dr. Chance volunteered for various charitable causes and joined disaster and relief operations like the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter at Fort Lauderdale; Hurricane Andrew Rescue and Relief Operations, Miami; The Cagayan De Oro-Iligan Flood; Typhoon Sendong in 2011. She also went back to her beloved alma mater in 2012 as guest speaker, part of the Balik Turo program, on a topic close to her heart: “The Family Nurse Practitioner and Health Care in the U.S.”
During the span of her illustrious career, Dr. Marlene Chance received awards and recognition for her contribution to her profession and volunteer service, notable of which are: ARNP of the Year Award from Florida Nurses Association, the Florence Nightingale Award, PNA and the International Nurses Association; Most Outstanding Volunteer (NANAY) and the Award for Outstanding Nursing Service and Dedication, Florida Power and Light Hurricane Andrew Rescue and Relief Operations. Recently, she was nominated as a Fellow for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP).
For her advocacy of the role of Nurse Practitioners in the many facets of the medical field---- a milestone she brought to the nursing profession--- and for her many volunteer efforts and other charitable endeavors, the UPNAAI Board of Directors on recommendation by the Awards and Citation Committee chaired by Lyvia M. Villegas, BSN, MA, RN, FNP, unanimously voted Dr. Marlene Cataylo Chance, GN, BSN, MSN, PhD, EJD, RN, FNP-BC as the 2013 Julita V. Sotejo Medallion of Honor Awardee for her service to her community, country, and humanity---Medallium honoris servitum patriae et humanitate. Congratulations!
Success is as much a matter of luck as of ability, But perhaps, even more, of persistence in “sticking it” until luck turns.”
B.H. LIDDLE HART (1895 – 1970)
