When someone hears the words “you have breast cancer,” their world shifts in an instant. Fear, confusion and uncertainty flood in. At Waverly Health Center, many patients find a lifeline in Emily Schut, the Breast Care Navigator who stands beside them through every step of their journey.
Emily isn’t just a navigator of care. She’s a calm voice in the storm. From the moment a concerning mammogram appears, Emily is there. She schedules biopsies, walks patients through what to expect and helps them prepare mentally and emotionally for what lies ahead. Her door is always open and her phone never far away. For many patients, she becomes more than a navigator, she feels like family.
What truly sets Emily apart is her heart. She doesn’t just check boxes or follow protocols. She listens. She educates. She empowers. Whether a diagnosis is benign or malignant, Emily takes the time to provide tailored resources and personalized support. She explains imaging results, connects patients with surgeons and oncologists and ensures that every piece of the care puzzle fits together smoothly.
“She made me feel like I wasn’t facing this alone,” one patient shared. “She delivered the news in a gentle, reassuring, yet truthful manner that made me feel very well-cared for and that, along with my faith, caused me to have hope!”
Behind the scenes, Emily coordinates with a multidisciplinary team, making sure that radiologists, pathologists, oncologists and surgeons have the information they need when they need it. She’s the thread that ties the whole system together, making what could be an overwhelming process feel manageable.
But this year, something changed.
Emily received the news that she’s helped so many others face. She was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
While navigating her own diagnosis and treatment, Emily never stepped away from the work she loves. With extraordinary strength and grace, she continued to support her patients, offering the same care, compassion and unwavering presence as always.
“She didn’t stop being our rock,” another patient said. “Even when she was fighting her own battle, she kept showing up — for all of us.”
Emily recently took the initiative to start a Breast Cancer Support Group at Waverly Health Center, providing a safe and welcoming space for patients, caregivers and survivors to share their experiences, find support and connect with others navigating similar journeys.
Emily’s journey is one of resilience, courage and deep empathy. She understands, now more than ever, what it feels like to sit in that waiting room, to face that fear, to walk that uncertain path. And she uses that experience not as a burden, but as fuel to make her support even more meaningful.
Her dedication has changed lives. Her compassion has brought comfort. And her strength continues to inspire every patient and every co-worker who is lucky enough to know her.