Esther L. Kannapel, APRN

Esther L. Kannapel, A.P.R.N.
Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine

Esther L. Kannapel is currently a nurse practitioner in the Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Prior to this, she held positions as an advanced practice nurse in bone marrow transplant (adult and pediatric), internal medicine, and at an oncology and hematology practice in the community. Her main areas of interest include breast cancer and gynecologic malignancies (cancers of the ovary, uterus, cervix, and vagina).

Esther earned her Master of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Utah in 2001, through the Family Practice Nurse Practitioner program. She is board certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). During her master's program, she was inducted into the Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau. Her master’s thesis focused on increasing awareness of and assisting family practice providers with the diagnosis of and appropriate referral for treatment of patients with post mastectomy lymphedema. The topic was presented in a poster session at the 2000 Annual Snowbird Conference in for physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners, funded by a grant from the Utah Nurse Practitioner Association. It was also accepted for publication by The Journal of Nurse Practitioners. She has participated on the speaker’s bureau for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and lectured for nursing and provider meetings on topics including supportive care, multiple myeloma, and breast cancer. Esther and a colleague also facilitated a system of patient referral for genetic counseling and testing for cancer patients during her community based oncology practice. Preceding her advanced degree, she practiced as a registered nurse in the medical/ surgical, home health, oncology, and bone marrow transplant settings. She also served as a preceptor for nursing students and also as a nursing staff educator.

Esther currently practices with Dr. Theresa Werner at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, with a focus on gynecologic and breast malignancies. She also sees patients at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer in the Family Cancer Assessment Clinic. Esther is a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and active in clinical research. Dr. Werner serves as the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials in breast and gynecologic cancers and subsequently their clinic is very actively involved in phase one and GOG clinical trials.