NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Nurse Linda Bulone Receives Prestigious 2025 Alliance CRP RISE Award for Advancing Cancer Research
Bulone has increased clinical trial participation at the Queens Cancer Center from roughly 1% to 16%, expanded early screening efforts, and supported reductions in late stage diagnoses
Nov 17, 2025
Linda Bulone, RN, OCN, CCRC, Research Nurse Manager at the Queens Cancer Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, has received the 2025 Alliance Clinical Research Professionals Research Integrity Service Excellence (CRP RISE) Award from the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. Bulone joined NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens in 2004 and has become a singular force for cancer prevention, education, and trial enrollment across southeast Queens. Over two decades she has led hundreds of community events attended by thousands of residents, repeatedly invited back for her expertise, compassion, and ability to connect. Her efforts helped increase clinical trial participation at the Queens Cancer Center from roughly 1% to 16%, expanded early screening efforts, and supported reductions in late-stage diagnoses. Thanks to Bulone’s efforts, more than 1,500 cancer patients at Queens Hospital have enrolled in clinical trials over the past two decades. Bulone is widely known for taking time with patients to explain informed consent in plain language and for addressing community concerns directly — including historical reasons for mistrust in medical research, particularly in Black and other marginalized communities — building trust through transparency, respect, and consistent follow up.
Bulone was recognized on November 7 at the Alliance Fall Group Meeting held at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. The honor recognizes clinical research professionals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, research integrity, patient advocacy, and service that expands access to clinical trials. As part of the recognition, Bulone presented her outreach and enrollment strategies during the Alliance CRP Education Session.
Bulone frequently partners with Aiden, the hospital’s therapy dog, who often shadows her at outreach events and in the Cancer Center to provide comfort to patients. The duo is a familiar and deeply appreciated presence across the community; Aiden recently recovered from his own cancer battle and continues to serve as a beloved companion alongside Bulone.
“Linda’s tireless outreach and patient advocacy are a powerful example of why our Cancer Center is trusted by this community,” said Neil Moore, MBA, MPA, MPH, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Her leadership in bringing clinical trials and prevention education into neighborhoods has had real, measurable impact on care and outcomes. At Queens we are committed to providing the best equipment, the best personnel, and the best expertise so residents battling cancer can access top quality care right here in their borough.”
“Clinical Research Professionals are the backbone of clinical trials as they work day in and day out with cancer patients and their families to explain trial details, ensure protocol compliance, monitor side effects, collect data, enter data and ensure that trials run smoothly,” said Jennifer Dill, Chair of the Alliance Clinical Research Professionals Committee and the Research Administrator, Oncology Clinical Trials at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. “Linda really stood out to us for her commitment to clinical trials and her dedication to expanding access to novel treatments to patients of all walks of life. We are delighted to bestow this honor upon her.”
“Receiving the CRP RISE Award is an incredible honor,” said Nurse Linda Bulone. “My work has always been about meeting people where they are, answering questions honestly, and making sure they understand their options. It is essential that clinical trials include people from all backgrounds so future treatments work for everyone — and that requires addressing mistrust with respect, transparency, and follow through.”
“Linda’s commitment has strengthened our clinical research program and expanded access to care for our patients,” said Dr. Ellen Hagopian, Director, Queens Cancer Center, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Her community ties and practical approach to enrollment and education set a standard for others to follow.”
“Linda exemplifies nursing excellence and compassionate advocacy,” said Dr. Abbi-Gail Baboolal, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP, Chief Nursing Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Her work reflects the skill and heart of our nursing team, which continues to achieve notable professional milestones and recognitions across the system.”
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is a national cooperative group that designs, funds, and conducts cancer clinical trials across academic and community sites to advance evidence-based cancer care. The Alliance works to ensure trials are scientifically rigorous, ethically conducted, and broadly accessible—particularly through partnerships that bring trials to community hospitals and diverse patient populations. The CRP RISE Award highlights individuals whose work strengthens trial quality and participation, promotes ethical conduct, and shares best practices with the wider research community.
The Queens Cancer Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is an award winning, comprehensive center of excellence that brings advanced oncology services to southeast Queens. The center combines up-to-date technology with multidisciplinary clinical expertise so patients can receive world class care close to home. That commitment includes recent investments in state-of-the-art equipment — including a new linear accelerator made possible through generous support from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards — ensuring patients have access to tomorrow’s technology today.
Clinical trials are central to the Cancer Center’s mission to deliver equitable care. Trials provide access to new therapies and help ensure that research findings apply to the diverse communities the center serves. NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens emphasizes enrolling patients who reflect the borough’s racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity so that treatments are tested across populations and benefit everyone. That commitment aligns with the system’s mission to serve all New Yorkers — no exceptions.
Bulone’s honors include the American Cancer Society’s Lane Adams Quality of Life Award and multiple recognitions for community engagement and compassionate care. The Alliance announcement and recognition underscore the importance of on the ground clinical research professionals who expand trial access and share lessons that improve care nationwide.
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Media Contact: Cleon Edwards, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, (646) 772-5725
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
A member of NYC Health and Hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is a major health care provider in the borough of Queens. Its foremost mission is to provide quality, comprehensive care to all members of the public regardless of their ability to pay. In 2025, Queens Hospital marked its 90th anniversary of serving the communities of central and southeastern Queens, having first opened its doors as Queens General Hospital in 1935. Encompassing 360,000 square feet, it comprises 253 licensed beds, spacious ambulatory care suites featuring both primary and specialty services, and cutting-edge equipment. It also houses four Centers of Excellence: Cancer Care, Diabetes Management, Women’s Health, and Behavioral Health. The hospital has recently added a fully expanded Emergency Room, a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence accredited by the American College of Radiology, and a Total Hip and Knee Replacement Center, with plans underway to build the health system’s first Dialysis Center to train patients to perform their own at-home dialysis. To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/queens.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
