Remembering the deep friendship between professor Judith Johnson and the nursing team of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital

Since 2008, Professor Judith Johnson has nurtured a profound friendship with the nursing team of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital (TMUCIH). Over the years, she visited our hospital four times, delivering impactful training sessions and lectures on cancer patient health education, survivorship care, and scientific article writing. Her contributions significantly elevated the quality and standards of our cancer nursing. Professor Johnson's warm demeanor, sharp intellect, and selfless dedication to nursing have left a lasting impression on us all. We were deeply saddened to learn of Professor Johnson's passing, and we offer this tribute to honor her memory and the profound friendship she shared with our nursing team.

• •2008: first visit, beginning of friendship

In April 2008, Professor Johnson visited our hospital for the first time. She engaged in in-depth discussions with the vice president and the directors of nursing department about the development of our oncology nursing team and the future direction of our nursing discipline, providing invaluable guidance and suggestions. During this visit, Professor Johnson toured several clinical nursing units and held extensive discussions with our oncology nursing staff on cancer patient care and health education. Her arrival was like a breath of fresh air, bringing new ideas and approaches to our nursing work. From then on, our friendship with Professor Johnson began.

First visit to TMUCIH (photo with the vice president and the directors of nursing department), April 2008	Discussion forum with nurses, April 2008
Visit inpatient wards, April 2008	Visit inpatient wards, April 2008
Photo with head nurse Qi Wang, April 2008

• •2012: advancing together, introducing new knowledge

In April 2012, after 4 years of her first visit, we were privileged to invite Professor Judith Johnson to our hospital for a six-week cancer patient education training program. Professor Johnson introduced the “I Can Cope” cancer patient education program to China for the first time and trained our hospital's first batch of cancer patient education nurses. During this period, she also provided invaluable advice and guidance on inpatient nursing of our hospital. Additionally, Professor Johnson joined our nurses in celebrating a memorable Mother's Day and International Nurses Day on 12th May, spent an unforgettable time together.

Patient education program Kickoff Meeting, April 2012	Welcome meeting in TMUCIH, April 2012
Patient education program lecture, April 2012	Patient education program lecture, April 2012
Patient education program lecture, April 2012	Patient education program, April 2012
Patient education program lecture certification, April 2012	Share I Can Cope materials, April 2012
Preview the lectures with nurses for interpretation, April 2012	Visit and talk with cancer patients, April 2012
Discuss about patient care with nurses, April 2012	Discuss about patient care with nurses, April 2012
Photo in nurse uniform, April 2012	Work in the nursing department, April 2012
Photo with Director Wanmin Qiang, April 2012	Tour at the TMUCIH history museum, April 2012
Celebrating Mother's Day, May 2012	Fun Sports Meeting celebrating international nurses' day, May 2012
Photo with Director Yongqin Jiang and Director Wanmin Qiang, May 2012	Photo on Haihe Reiver with Tianjin Ferris wheel, May 2012

• •2015: Renewed Collaboration, Planning for the future

In April 2015, Professor Johnson and her husband, Professor Randy Johnson, visited us again. During this one-week visit, she delivered two inspiring training lectures, “Cancer Patient Education” and “Cancer Survivorship Care”, which deepened our nurses' understanding of patient education. Professor Randy Johnson also held two English salons for our nurses, fostering lively interactions that not only enhanced understanding and friendship but also improved the nurses' English communication skills. The Johnsons toured our breast rehabilitation room, the integrative oncology department, the pain management department, and the psychological counseling clinic, giving high praise to our rehabilitation, palliative, and psychological nursing services.

Photo with nurses in the nursing department, April 2015	Photo with Director Wanmin Qiang, April 2015
Photo with Director Yongqin Jiang and head nurse Qi Wang, April 2015	Cancer Survivorship Care seminar, April 2015

• •2017: another visit, sharing knowledge

On September 18, 2017, Professor Johnson visited our hospital once more for academic exchanges and tours. She conducted specialized lectures on “Cancer Survivorship” and “Publishing,” imparting valuable knowledge on cancer survivorship management and international high-level nursing journal submission techniques, which were warmly welcomed by our nurses. Professor Johnson also visited several departments, such as the Phase I clinical trial ward, integrative oncology department, pain management department, and so on, showing great interest and admiration for our innovative developments.

Cancer Survivorship Lecture, September 2017	Cancer Survivorship Lecture, September 2017
Cancer Survivorship Lecture, September 2017	Photo with young nurse Aomei Shen, September 2017

Professor Johnson's warm demeanor, selfless dedication and help to the nursing team of our hospital will forever be etched in our hearts. She was not only a pioneer in the academic field but also a mentor and friend to us. With this tribute, we express our deep remembrance and endless respect for her.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Aomei Shen: Conceptualization, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Tingting Ma: Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing. Wanmin Qiang: Conceptualization, Resources, Supervision, Writing – review & editing. All authors had full access to all the data in the study, and the corresponding author had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication. The corresponding author attests that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no others meeting the criteria have been omitted.