Giving feels good: Ilene Fox-Comeras

Advocating for universal screenings and driving cancer research — that’s just a day’s work for Ilene Fox-Comeras, BSN, RN, OCN, CCRC. A clinical research specialist with the Department of Internal Medicine’s Division of Human Genetics, she began her career as a nursing student at Ohio State in 1969 and has spent over 30 years here since, currently as a coordinator of the Ohio State Genomic Health research program.

For Ilene, the work is deeply personal. In 1995 , her family members were among the first patients to participate in genetic research at Ohio State. Testing identified a gene mutation, Lynch Syndrome, which led to cancer discoveries among her relatives, including her niece, JoAnn.

Across her adult life, JoAnn has struggled with several cancers, but they have been managed with the help of a team of specialists at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. As a high-risk patient, JoAnn has benefitted from genetic screening, receiving personalized assessments, guidelines and preventative surgeries that have allowed her to thrive.

Though she has given to areas throughout the university since she became an employee, it’s no surprise that Ilene’s primary passion is Pelotonia. She shares, “I know 100% where that money goes, and every day I get to either talk to or see a patient who's benefited from the litany of research and efforts. The experience of seeing families, together, surviving and raising money is just immeasurable to be part of.”

Ilene hopes her Ohio State contributions — and those of others — continue to advance research, expand universal screening, and help patients live longer, healthier lives that include milestones like becoming a grandparent. She shares, “When JoAnn first sent me pictures of her holding her grandbaby, I thought, ‘This is it.’ This is what the work and the gifts are all about.”

She adds, “Because of this Ohio State team and the opportunities they've provided me and my family, I can't pay forward enough.”