Dina Costanza O’Connor
Board Certifications: Family Nurse Practitioner
Languages: English
Locations: Hackensack, NJ
Call Hackensack, NJ: (551) 996-5900
Cancer treatment can be physically and emotionally difficult. At Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), patients and families get support from healthcare providers who understand their struggle. Dina Costanza O’Connor is a nurse practitioner at RCCA’s Hackensack, NJ, location. She is committed to guiding patients with compassion, helping them understand their diagnoses, and making them feel heard. Contact RCCA today to start your treatment with an oncology team that is here for you.
Clinical Interests and expertise
Dina Costanza O’Connor’s area of expertise is gastrointestinal malignancies. This is a broad category of cancer types affecting the gastrointestinal or digestive system. It includes:
- Esophageal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Liver cancer
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Certain neuroendocrine cancers
For these conditions, Dina provides comprehensive outpatient care. Her clinical services include managing patients’ treatment, coordinating care with other members of the multidisciplinary team at RCCA, and providing support for treating symptoms and managing side effects. She also educates patients about their diagnoses, helping them understand their condition and treatment options.
Professional Background and Academic Achievements
Over her years of service, Dina has been routinely recognized by her patients as an outstanding nurse. She is dedicated to patient-centered care, a commitment that has been noticed and acknowledged by many of the individuals and families that she serves.
Education & Training
- Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Northeastern University, 2013
- Postgraduate: Master of Science in Nursing, Simmons University
- Other training: Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Center
- Board certifications: Family Nurse Practitioner
About Dina Costanza O’Connor
Dina’s connection to the oncology field is a personal one. “My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29,” she says, “and was later found to carry a BRCA2 gene mutation.” Dina was tested at 18 and found to carry the same mutation. This means that she is predisposed to several types of cancer. She requires close screening for the rest of her life. “Since then,” says Dina, “I have felt a strong calling to help others navigate cancer screening, prevention, and treatment.”
When patients work with Dina, they receive care from a provider who earnestly understands what they are going through. The same is true of the whole RCCA team. In her words, “Many of us have personal connections to cancer through family or friends, so we genuinely relate to what you and your loved ones are experiencing… we lead with empathy.”
This empathetic focus makes Dina approachable for emotional support, questions, and concerns. Dina works closely with physicians to translate complex information into language that patients and families can understand. Clear communication helps them feel less confused or overwhelmed.
To Dina, supporting patients is the most rewarding aspect of working in oncology. When she guides patients and helps them feel understood, Dina knows that she has made a positive impact on their lives. “There is always time to be thoughtful,” she adds, “and thoughtfulness, no matter how big or small, is always appreciated.”
Locations
Hospital Affiliations
Dina Costanza O’Connor treats patients at John Theurer Cancer Center (JTCC) at Hackensack University, located at 92 Second Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. JTCC has been named by U.S. News & World Report as a Top 50 hospital. It is the largest cancer center in New Jersey, serving more patients in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area than any other hospital.
We are here for you
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.
Regional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.