Clinical administrative specialists help patients manage many logistical needs that can arise during cancer treatment, from coordinating outside lab work and imaging to assisting with documentation and referrals. In Dana-Farber’s Gynecologic Oncology Program, Matthew Poolor works closely with oncology nurse navigators, providers, and clinical research teams to help patients access the care and support they need.
How do you help patients navigate their care at Dana-Farber?
I am a clinical administrative specialist with the Gynecologic Oncology Program. I work closely with our oncology nurse navigators to support patients who cannot travel to our main campus by scheduling and monitoring external lab work, intake and queuing imaging, and coordinating referrals to hospice and home health services.
If a patient visits or is admitted through an emergency department, I follow up to ensure the team can access and review their clinical notes. I also assist patients with completing medical leave requests and other documentation requests.
As a point of contact for our patients, I help monitor, triage, and coordinate communications among providers, nurses, clinical research teams, and patients enrolled in clinical trials.
How does collaboration help you support patients?
Teamwork and collaboration are the foundation of our work, and it’s been incredible to work with such a close-knit group in Gynecologic Oncology. We often meet in person or virtually, and one of my teams even meets every day for lunch. I frequently sit next to the oncology nurse navigators in the nursing station or with the oncologists in clinic to ensure support in real time.
Although our duties on paper outline our main tasks, there are times when my team members and I bring our own knowledge and experience to needs that fall outside those margins. We connect patients and families to community resources, housing support, and other critical resources for social support. That may include helping a patient find a new primary care physician or providing a list of recommended nutritional resources.
What are you most proud of?
My role is new and I started on the first day it was launched, so I am truly humbled to be a part of its growth. When I joined in 2025, there were just five clinical administrative specialists across Dana-Farber, including myself. Now, there are 30 clinical administrative specialists across multiple disease centers.
Being a pillar of critical support for our patients, while growing and evolving in this role to meet their needs, is something I am very proud of. Having the opportunity to help our patients makes each day an exciting challenge. It’s essential for all of us at Dana-Farber to advocate for and guide our patients’ care in any way possible.
What do you do in your free time?
I love connecting with people through music, whether I am playing records, dancing, or adding to my collection. I’ve been collecting records since high school. Communication goes beyond words, and music is one of them. I love playing music for people and connecting with others over what music speaks to them. When I’m not in clinic, I travel to record stores in New England to the next rare groove.