The Center for Breast Care at Calvert Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce that Mary Lingebach has joined its multidisciplinary team as the full time breast care navigator. To ensure a seamless transition, Linda Walton, who has filled that role for the past three years, will continue to be involved in a part time capacity and will work alongside her to ensure that patients have all that they need.
Located in the Calvert Medical Arts Center on the main hospital campus in Prince Frederick, the breast center offers comprehensive and coordinated care – from outreach and screening to diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, all under one roof.
“We’re excited to bring Mary on as part of our breast center team,” said Dr. Steven Nagel, medical director of breast surgery at CMH. “She will be an excellent resource for our patients in all aspects of their breast care.”
Lingebach is a certified breast care navigator with over 30 years nursing experience, most recently in breast and women’s health and earlier in her career in direct patient care, surgical services and emergency medicine. She is also a certified oncology nurse and breast self-exam instructor with advanced training in breast imaging and cancer care. Lingebach has a strong background in teaching patients and preparing them for what to expect during treatment but is most noted by her patients for her compassion.
“We believe Mary is a great fit for our breast center team,” said Kasia Sweeney, administrative chair for the breast center at CMH. “She is a dedicated patient advocate and we’re confident that our patients will feel comfortable coming to her for any help they need.”
The breast care navigator’s office is located in the diagnostic imaging center next to the dedicated women’s suite. When there is an abnormal finding of any kind, Lingebach is immediately connected with the woman. This contact early in the process is key. She can help lessen the anxiety, by providing reassurance, explaining results and answering questions about her diagnosis and treatment options.
“Breast cancer is not a one size fits all diagnosis,” said Lingebach. “There are many different treatment options and a lot of decisions to make.”
“The most important thing I do is empower each patient,” she said, “by giving them the tools they need to make the decision that is right for them.” As navigator, she serves as a continuous point of contact for patients and their families through the entire process. This can involve scheduling appointments, advocating for them, coordinating care and putting them in touch with services that will make the process a little easier, such as support groups, nutrition counseling and pain management.
