Naples Cancer Advisors adds Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement

Naples Cancer Advisors, a community-based, non-profit organization providing free consultative oncology services to cancer patients and their families across Southwest Florida, today announced Nikki Audia as its Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement.

In this newly created position, Audia will tap her experience in advocacy, biomarker testing awareness and empowering patients to help build partnerships, donor engagement and community awareness to further expand access to the organization’s, expert-level cancer consultations and support services.

A lifelong Naples resident, Audia began her career as a bedside respiratory therapist, earning both her Associate of Science in Respiratory Care and Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Sciences from Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers. She went on to earn her Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist credential and worked in the NICU at both NCH and Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Driven by a deep passion for education, access and advocacy, Audia later shifted into lung cancer navigation and community outreach as a freelance cancer advocate. That passion is personal, with six of her close family members having faced cancer, ensuring no one walks through their journey alone.

“Nikki brings the perfect background in the medical field combined with local community connections to be our new Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement,” said Lana Uhrig, Executive Director of Naples Cancer Advisors. “Her role will be key to ensuring that we can fulfill our mission and further expand our life-saving services for cancer patients and their families in Southwest Florida.”

Dr. William Barrett, founder of The Cincinnati Cancer Foundation, Inc., which is the non-profit organization powering both the Cincinnati Cancer Advisors and Naples Cancer Advisors, added, “We are highly excited to have Nikki in this role. Her longstanding commitment to the community and her passion for outstanding care for patients with cancer will be extremely helpful to the region.”

With generous funding from its community partners, Naples Cancer Advisors provides no-cost consultative oncology services by appointment. These services include second opinions, care coordination, referrals, clinical trial navigation, financial navigation, and precision oncology services, including genetic testing and counseling for cancer patients throughout the Southwest Florida region.