Jacquelyn Rollins has long been driven by one goal — to make a difference.
“Ever since I was a kid, I had this idea in my head that I wanted to change the world,” says Rollins.
Now, as the project manager for the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, Rollins has turned that dream into a reality, dedicating herself to improving the lives of those affected by cancer through her innovative work and compassionate care.
From overseeing the development of patient care programs, to spearheading the implementation of new technology systems, Rollins plays a vital role in advancing the Simms/Mann Center’s mission and enhancing the patient care experience.
“When I’m interacting with a patient who is at what could be the lowest point in their life and I’m helping them navigate a really scary process and making it as easy as possible for them – that is what drives me and why I do the work that I do,” Rollins says.
A career in cancer care
“Prior to joining the Center, I had 10 years of experience working in the realm of breast cancer surgery as the patient navigator and surgical coordinator,” says Rollins, who pursued a career in cancer care following her grandmother’s breast cancer diagnosis.
After seven years at a private breast surgery practice, Rollins joined the UCLA Health team and worked alongside Jennifer Baker, MD, in the UCLA Health Breast Surgery program.
Through these roles, Rollins gained valuable insight into therapeutic support and case management in the cancer field, equipping her to join the Simms/Mann Center as the inaugural program coordinator in February 2022, before she was named project manager.
“I gained experience in coordinating the logistics of surgery and supporting patients who were frustrated when navigating the medical system,” says Rollins. “Even if what patients needed wasn't necessarily within the scope of my job, I would do it for them. And so, this experience has been crucial in my current role at the Center and the care that we provide to patients.”
Rollins supports the Simms/Mann Center's internal and external programming, drawing on her expertise to implement long-term projects and improve patient care experiences.
“My direct experience in patient interaction, particularly breast cancer patient populations, has helped inform a lot of the programming that we do and enabled me to look at it from different perspectives,” she says. “One of my strengths is being able to problem solve, working as a liaison to ensure that patients, clinicians, and staff understand one another clearly.
Technological growth
Over the past 2 1/2 years, Rollins has overseen numerous projects geared toward improving patients’ quality of life and optimizing workflow.
“One of the first projects I worked on with Simms/Mann was piloting a new referral process that utilized CareConnect (UCLA Health’s electronic health record program) and now we are fully embedded into the EMR,” says Rollins.
This has been an ongoing project that Rollins continues to evaluate and improve upon, and recently she created an automatic message that notifies patients when their doctor places a referral to the Simms/Mann Center.
“The message acts like a bridge from when a provider places a referral to our program and to when we contact the patient,” says Rollins.
“I also helped familiarize the staff with MyChart messaging,” she says. “The MyChart function has increased our contact with patients, where they can respond to messages online and help us coordinate and establish care. This has resulted in a better success rate from getting a referral to scheduling an appointment.”
Plans to expand services
There are many developments on the horizon for the Simms/Mann Center, and Rollins will play a key role in making them a reality.
“A lot of the work that we do is needs-based, supporting patients who are affected by food and housing insecurities and disabilities,” says Rollins. “We are continuing resource navigation for our patients, in addition to supporting their mental and emotional well-being and figuring out how we can serve a much larger population.”
For example, the Simms/Mann Center is working to broaden its educational programs, Rollins says.
“We’re actively reformatting our existing programming, which include workshops on sleep, communication, finance, insurance navigation, and continue working on new programming,” she says.
Rollins is also involved in a project to expand the accessibility of the Simms/Mann Center's psychiatric services.
“I am currently working on a work group with our psychiatry team because our psychiatry services are delivered a bit differently than the rest of our services, and we’re evaluating how we can bridge gaps in our psychiatry services,” says Rollins.
Rollins has discovered that the Simms/Mann Center is the perfect place to make a difference in patient care.
“The Center is a very, very safe place to be vulnerable, not just for the patients, but also in the way that the staff looks out for one another. It's unique as a place of work that treats their employees the same way in which they advocate for their patients,” says Rollins.
And their work — along with Rollins’ impact — continues to expand.
“Jackie brings an impressive amount of warmth and knowledge to her role,” says Shannon La Cava, PsyD, director of the Simms/Mann Center. “She has an incredible capacity for welcoming patients and assisting them with accessing our services, while also providing behind-the-scenes insight to improve the experience of our patients and providers."
