Stella Turrubiate earned her Associates Degree in Science at Galveston College in 1997, her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at UTMB in 2005, and became an Oncology Certified Nurse in 2010.
She shares an account of a patient who once said to her “You know what it’s like to have cancer.” She carefully stated, “No, I don’t know what it’s like to have cancer. But, I know what it’s
like to care for someone with cancer.” The patient smiled in agreement.
Stella counts herself fortunate to have been entrusted with the ability to care for others. She says being an oncology nurse has had a tremendous impact on her life: It has taught her how the human spirit can laugh through adversity,
fight during pain, and persevere with grace and dignity. She believes oncology nursing is not a career, but a way of living.
As a team member of the Breast Health and Imaging Center, she helps patients optimize and streamline their care by coordinating therapies among the various specialists. She helps patients understand the information they are given,
and serves as a guide through the complex world of modern medicine. She empowers patients with knowledge and helps them as they face the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.