Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing

For Sadie Rau, Ph.D., her decision to lead UT MD Anderson’s Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing reflects decades of dedication to oncology nursing and research, and personal resilience as both a caregiver and a patient.

A calling born from her mother’s advice

When Rau was six years old, her mother, Joy, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She saw her mother get chemotherapy, radiation therapy, a radical mastectomy, and eventually, end-of-life care.

Joy passed away at their family home in Wisconsin a few weeks after her 40^th birthday. Before she died, she gave her daughter this advice: “Pursue your education. It’s one of the few things in life that can never be taken away.”

A self-described “extreme empath,” Rau was deeply moved by the compassionate and skillful nurses who cared for her mother throughout her treatment. She set out to become a nurse, driven by the desire to offer the same comfort and expertise that brought her mother solace.

Passion for nursing research

“When I was a nursing student, I had an amazing professor and mentor who recognized my interest in research. She said she would write me a letter of recommendation for graduate school if I promised to apply for a Ph.D. program,” Rau recalls. “At that time, there wasn’t much talk about evidence-based practice, and there was a disconnect between research and the bedside care of patients.”

Rau earned both her master’s degree and Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, where she began to explore the psychosocial impact of living with chronic illness, particularly in underserved populations. For over two decades, she lived and worked in Appalachia, researching hereditary cancer syndromes, advanced care planning among persons with HIV, and patient care dynamics.

“I love working with families with a high genetic risk of cancer — not just the patient, but the whole family. Everyone is affected,” she explains.

Before arriving at UT MD Anderson, Rau led a cancer genetics program for 15 years in Eastern Kentucky and developed nurse-led research initiatives, including multiple psychosocial and behavioral projects as a staff scientist with the Clinical Genetics Branch of the National Cancer Institute. She also spent 12 years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in multiple positions, including executive associate dean of Academic Affairs.

Becoming a breast cancer patient at UT MD Anderson

Rau was diagnosed with the same type of breast cancer as her mother in 2023. UT MD Anderson was her first call.

“There was no question in my mind – I was coming to UT MD Anderson,” she says. She relocated from Tennessee to Houston for seven months to complete treatment, which included chemotherapy, radiation, a double mastectomy and reconstruction. She speaks highly of her breast cancer surgeon, Abigail Caudle, M.D., and the many nurses and medical and support staff who cared for her.

“Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, the interactions I have with patients and families have only deepened,” Rau says. “I’ve become a better human being, a better nurse clinician and a better scientist.” 

Elevating the future of nursing

For Rau, all roads have led to UT MD Anderson.  Now, she’s paving the way for countless others through the Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing, made possible through a generous donation from Howard Meyers and additional philanthropic gifts. She’s working with teams to elevate leadership training, foster discovery and invest in nurses’ professional and personal fulfillment. Together, these efforts strengthen UT MD Anderson’s nursing community—supporting nurses as they advance practice, improve patient care and lead meaningful change locally and globally.

“What excites me the most is opening doors for nurses at all levels to grow, whether that’s clinically or through scholarship or leadership opportunities,” she says. “Nursing is so much more than bedside care. The Meyers Institute can show nurses the many paths they can take and how they can influence change.”

Rau wants UT MD Anderson to be the ultimate destination for oncology nurses. “This is where leaders emerge, nurse-led innovations flourish and nursing science sets the global standard,” she says.

Learn about the Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing.

HOUSTON ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced a $9 million gift from the F. W. Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler Foundation to establish the F. W. Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy.

The Wheeler Foundation’s gift supports MD Anderson’s innovative efforts to cultivate the next generation of oncology nurse leaders as part of the Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing. The Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy will focus on providing the coaching and mentoring infrastructure to ensure nurses are equipped with the unique skills to position them as successful leaders.

“Nurses play a vital role in MD Anderson’s ability to deliver exceptional patient care. The Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy is a powerful endorsement of our commitment to support and empower the 5,000+ incredible nurses who provide best-in-class cancer care to our patients every day,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “We are deeply grateful for the Wheeler Foundation’s generous gift and the many contributions to the nursing profession that will stem from this gift for years to come.”

Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy
The Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy will help nurses align their passion for clinical excellence with their desire for lifelong learning, social impact and work-life balance. The academy will solidify educational and leadership development opportunities for nurses at MD Anderson at every level of their career, empowering them to reach their personal and professional goals.

“Nurse leaders should be prominently represented across the institution, from the front line to the executive offices, to incorporate their unique perspectives,” said Kim Slusser, chief nursing officer ad interim and associate chief nursing officer at MD Anderson. “The Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy will provide opportunities for our nurses to learn, develop and enhance their leadership skills, enabling them to reimagine their positions — and themselves — in new ways.”

The Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy will work closely with MD Anderson’s Leadership Institute to create curriculum focused on the needs of oncology nurses throughout their nursing careers. The program will adopt a dynamic mix of learning approaches, including in-person sessions and virtual learning, complemented by self-directed study and mentorship opportunities.

With a strong emphasis on longitudinal learning, the curriculum will be structured to provide ongoing, progressive learning opportunities. The program also will bring external experts and specialists from various fields to provide fresh insights, innovative practices and an enriched learning environment.

Transforming the future of nursing
The Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy is the latest addition to the Meyers Institute, which launched in 2023. The Meyers Institute represents a $50 million joint commitment by MD Anderson and the institute’s namesake, Howard Meyers, to advance the field of oncology nursing through a first-of-its-kind institute focused on educational, professional and wellness-based resources tailored to oncology nurses and nurse scientists.

Both the Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy and the Meyers Institute build upon MD Anderson’s existing reputation as a premier institution for nursing. Since 2001, MD Anderson has earned five consecutive Magnet Recognition Program^® designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which recognizes health care organizations for superior patient outcomes, teamwork and innovations in professional nursing practice.

This designation contributes to MD Anderson’s consistent ranking among the nation’s top hospitals for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey. With more than 5,000 registered nurses and the largest active cancer clinical trials program in the country, MD Anderson offers a unique, collaborative environment for nurses to lead in the administration of research and management of cancer care.

“MD Anderson is uniquely positioned to transform oncology nursing by driving industry change and improving the health care system at large,” said Rosanna Morris, senior vice president and chief operating officer at MD Anderson. “The Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy is the next step in setting the nursing gold standard for cancer centers around the world.”

An enduring legacy of impact
“Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler believed in the power of education and the critical role that nurses play in health care,” said Donald A. Adam, president and chairman of the F. W. Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler Foundation. “This gifting opportunity is a meaningful tribute to their legacy, as they experienced firsthand the compassionate care of dedicated nurses later in life. The skilled professionals who cared for them enhanced their well-being and extended their lives. In keeping with their values, we are committed to stewarding the foundation funds in a way that honors the wishes of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and their enduring impact.”