Case Studies
Below you’ll find a list of stories from ELO clients
Check out the successes they’re getting to see what’s possible for you and your own oncology pharmacy career!
From Retail Pharmacy to BCOP
Case Study Summary
Name: Betsy McMichael
Oncology Setting: Community Ambulatory Oncology
Challenge: Transitioned from retail pharmacy into oncology with no prior oncology experience while balancing a full-time job and raising five children
Outcome: Built confidence as a trusted member of the oncology care team, strengthened clinical decision-making skills, and successfully passed the BCOP exam 🎉
Turned Setbacks Into Success
Case Study Summary
Name: Isabel Caratenuto
Oncology Setting: Academic Inpatient and Ambulatory Oncology
Challenge: Entered oncology after 10 years in retail pharmacy and spent years trying to build confidence in a highly complex specialty. Despite more than a decade of oncology experience, failed the BCOP exam three times and struggled to find a study approach and community that helped her truly connect concepts and identify knowledge gaps.
Outcome: Found the community and collaborative learning environment she had been missing, which helped her identify knowledge gaps, strengthen clinical reasoning, and ultimately pass the BCOP exam.
From Observation to Intervention
Case Study Summary
Name: Manuel (Manny) De Leon
Oncology Setting: Community Oncology Infusion Center and Clinical Research
Challenge: Entered oncology after a PGY1 residency with limited formal onboarding and learned primarily by observing experienced colleagues. While comfortable with infusion therapies, he felt less confident managing oral oncology treatments and wanted a deeper understanding of the full patient journey, prompting him to pursue BCOP certification.
Outcome: Leveraged the ELO Collaborative's structured curriculum, BCOP study resources, and supportive community to build knowledge and confidence in oncology practice. Earned BCOP certification, strengthened his understanding of oral oncology therapies and supportive care, and now makes more proactive clinical interventions while approaching patient care with a broader, more holistic perspective.
Passed BCOP and Built Confidence
Case Study Summary
Name: Cynthia (Cindy) Nygren
Oncology Setting: Specialty Pharmacy
Challenge: Failed BCOP exam; motivated to take better care of patients at the same high level of her peers
Outcome: Shifted from memorization to applied learning, improved day-to-day patient care, and passed the BCOP exam 🎉
From Second-Guessing to Speaking Up
Case Study Summary
Name: Manal Saad
Oncology Setting: Academic Ambulatory Oncology
Challenge: Failed BCOP exam; lacked confidence in applying oncology knowledge independently, especially around toxicity management and patient counseling
Outcome: Built confidence and clinical judgment, allowing her to contribute more independently and speak up with recommendations in practice, and passed the BCOP exam 🎉
Rebuilt Confidence in New Role
Case Study Summary
Name: Angie Maynard
Oncology Setting: Academia
Challenge: Transitioned from inpatient oncology into academia and needed to regain confidence while adapting to a new role and expectations
Outcome: Implemented a structured, group-focused study plan to overcome content overwhelm, stay up to date, and successfully pass the BCOP exam 🎉
Progress Through Persistence
Case Study Summary
Name: Dola Folowosele
Oncology Setting: Community Ambulatory Oncology
Challenge: Tried to learn oncology largely in isolation, making it difficult to validate understanding or stay motivated
Outcome: Adopted a more structured and collaborative learning approach with peers in the program, built confidence applying her oncology knowledge in practice, and successfully passed the BCOP exam 🎉
Moved Beyond Memorization
Case Study Summary
Name: Sheila Pierre
Oncology Setting: Academic Ambulatory Oncology
Challenge: Relied on memorization and solo studying, with limited opportunity to pressure-test clinical reasoning with mentors or peers
Outcome: Shifted to a structured, case-based and community-driven learning approach, strengthened clinical reasoning, and successfully passed the BCOP exam 🎉
Created Order in Community Oncology
Case Study Summary
Name: Donna Peters
Oncology Setting: Community Ambulatory Oncology
Challenge: Spent significant time studying after stepping into a solo oncology role but struggled to retain information and translate it into practice
Outcome: Adopted a more focused learning approach that improved information retention, clinical reasoning, and application in real patient care scenarios