08/18/2026
We recently lost a deeply valued member of our RI&SE-M community, Idalina Colburn, who passed away last week after bravely and courageously battling metastatic breast cancer.
Idalina had many accomplishments throughout both her personal life and her career. She was not only a cherished colleague to many of us, but also a devoted friend. As an oncology nurse, she was deeply committed to providing compassionate, excellent care to those affected by cancer.
Idalina loved our chapter and was passionate about excellence in cancer care. Just as importantly, she cared deeply for her fellow nurses and colleagues, always recognizing the importance of supporting and uplifting one another.
She nurtured the RI&SE-M Chapter and helped shape it into the thriving organization it is today. Through her dedication, leadership, and passion, Idalina influenced and inspired a generation of oncology nurses. Her impact on our chapter, our profession, and the people who had the privilege of knowing her will not be forgotten.
To honor Idalina’s legacy and her extraordinary commitment to our chapter, we have decided to name our annual scholarship to ONS Congress in her honor. This scholarship will serve as a lasting tribute to Idalina and the values she embodied throughout her career: compassion, excellence, mentorship, and dedication to oncology nursing.
The Idalina Colburn RI&SE-M Chapter Scholarship to ONS Congress will allow her legacy to continue by supporting oncology nurses in their own professional growth and commitment to exceptional cancer care.
