For gynecologic oncology clinician Nissenbaum, resilience has been a defining theme since childhood. At age 10, she lost her hearing and underwent cochlear implant surgery at UCLA Health. Reflecting on her early experience, Nissenbaum said, “When I was a toddler, my mom noticed that whenever she spoke to me, I would look at her mouth instead of her eyes. It became clear early on that I was already relying on lipreading, though the cause of my hearing difficulties wasn’t yet understood.”
Nissenbaum explained how these challenges shaped her approach as a clinician: “Losing my hearing and receiving cochlear implants at a young age forced me to attune to people very differently. I have to give someone my full attention when listening. I have to read their lips. I have to pick up on facial expressions and body language and all the subtleties that communicate meaning.” She added, “What began as a necessity to communicate has become one of my greatest strengths as a clinician and a listener. The hidden blessing of losing my hearing revealed that the very practices I rely on to hear are what make people feel so deeply heard and seen.
“And so, I have come to understand that listening is really the deepest form of care that we can give to others.”
In September 2024, Nissenbaum joined the Simms/Mann Center as an intern during her graduate studies at USC. She described her initial reaction: “From the very start of my internship interview, I was deeply drawn to the work of the Center and its patients. All I could think was what an honor and privilege it was … to be entrusted with this role and to witness patients’ stories and experiences.”
Since becoming a full-time team member in June 2025, Nissenbaum has supported women facing ovarian, uterine, endometrial, vulvar, and vaginal cancers by providing both practical assistance—such as coordinating care teams and connecting families with resources—and emotional support throughout their treatment.
Nissenbaum noted the importance of being present for patients: “To be present in the clinic means that I can meet patients in real time and meet them exactly where they are, providing support that is both immediate and fully integrated in their medical care.” She encourages patients to reflect on questions about identity during their cancer journey: “Who do I want to be if I survive this cancer diagnosis? And who am I right now if I don’t?”
She also addressed the complex emotional aspects faced by gynecologic cancer patients: “In gynecological oncology, the emotional impact of it is often tied to questions of grief, loss, shame, identity and selfhood,” explains Nissenbaum. “Supporting women through these very specific cancers means not only acknowledging the medical challenges but also acknowledging the deeply personal and social dimensions of this experience — women deserve that so much, and that part of their treatment really deserves to be understood.
“The intersection of women’s health and oncology is really important work, and these experiences are so layered emotionally, socially and culturally — extending far beyond the medical facts of the diagnosis,” she says.
Her perspective is also informed by global health experiences from undergraduate studies at Chapman University’s Semester at Sea program. This included working with psychiatric patients in Morocco—where she learned about culturally responsive healthcare—and living with families in Ghana while studying women’s health issues.
Nissenbaum emphasized cultural sensitivity in patient care: “At the heart of where a cancer diagnosis can be so incredibly challenging is that it attacks the things that are most important to us,” she says. “And when we think about that in a cultural context, it looks vastly different for every patient.”
She highlighted advocacy for women’s needs in healthcare settings: “In the end, it’s truly women helping women. That’s what it comes down to,” she says. “And I think that’s so beautiful — it is really empowering.”
Nissenbaum encourages use of Simms/Mann Center resources available free-of-cost for those affected by cancer diagnoses: “Any patients who are impacted by a cancer diagnosis automatically have access to the services that the Simms/Mann Center provides free of cost, making these resources more accessible,” she explains. “That is why it is so important to have clinicians embedded in the clinics especially within gynecological oncology.”
One resource available through UCLA Health is its Gynecologic Oncology Survivorship Registry for treated gynecologic cancer patients currently receiving care there. The registry supports research into survivorship care with an emphasis on improving quality-of-life outcomes.
Participating patients provide information via surveys regarding ongoing symptoms or unmet needs; they also receive updates about survivorship events or additional resources. Data collected helps guide research into better understanding patient concerns.
“With patients we talk so much about finding controllable within uncontrollable,” said Nissenbaum regarding participation in research registries such as UCLA’s program for survivors.“This field…has been historically under-researched underfunded…That is why this survivorship registry is so important — because it puts a magnifying glass on research and knowledge that…has not garnered enough attention.”
Reflecting personally on resilience learned through both professional work and life experience,Nissenbaum stated,“Resilience is day-to-day,it’s moment-by-moment.It’s constantly trying derive meaning from experiences…and medical uncertainties…” She continued,“This work for me is about having place where patients can express everything…whether it’s exploring their identity reflecting on past experiences…or being able express fears…
“Especially as young clinical social worker,a lot my patients have lived so much life,and it such privilege witness these people’s experiences.It huge responsibility—one don’t take lightly—and I’m humbled do this work.I really don’t take granted.”
