Joscelyn “Jos” VanDuren, ANP – Providence Cancer Center Radiation Oncology
For some people, nursing is a career. For others, it is a calling. For our featured team member, Joscelyn “Jos” VanDuren, that calling began long before she ever stepped into a hospital.
“I was the little kid on the playground carrying Band-Aids for anyone who got hurt,” she recalls. “I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse.”
More than two decades later, Jos’ childhood passion has grown into a remarkable 21-year nursing career dedicated to caring for others. She began her journey in 2005 as a floor nurse at Alaska Regional Hospital, where she gained experience in a variety of clinical settings. In 2012, she earned her Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage and continued expanding her expertise through nephrology and pain management before ultimately finding her home in radiation oncology.
Her path to oncology wasn’t one she had necessarily planned. After meeting with colleagues Dr. Halligan and Dr. Blom to learn more about the specialty, she discovered a field that aligned perfectly with her values and approach to patient care. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” Jos says. “It turned out better than I could have imagined.”
Today, she approaches every patient interaction with a commitment to seeing the whole person, not just a diagnosis or treatment plan. She believes that excellent care begins with understanding each patient’s unique needs, circumstances, and goals. “I look at my patients as a whole, not just the problem they are seeing me for,” Jos explains. “I try to tailor their care to their individual needs.”
One of the things she values most about working at Providence Cancer Center is the team around her. “I truly enjoy my co-workers,” she says. “We don’t just work together—we are friends. I know if I need help, I can ask, and I always try to reciprocate.”
That culture of collaboration and support extends to patient care, creating an environment where both staff and patients feel cared for and valued.
Outside of work, her roots run deep in Alaska. Born and raised in the state, she is part of a four-generation Alaskan family that includes her grandmother, mother, siblings, children, and extended family. When she’s not caring for patients, she enjoys spending time with her children, watching them grow into their own unique personalities. She also loves glamping, four-wheeling, gardening in her greenhouse, and attending as many of her kids’ activities as possible. At home, life is made even more lively by three beloved dogs—Mocha, Mia, and Milo.
“There are so many people and patients that have touched my life,” she reflects. “I hope I have made as much of a difference to them as they have for me.”
It is that spirit of service, compassion, and connection that makes her such a valued member of the AIOF team—and a reminder that exceptional care starts with caring deeply about people. Jos, thank you for being a ray of light and hope in patients darkest days.
