Celina Barrera is an advanced practice nurse providing medication and non-medication management of pain and other symptoms associated with cancer or its treatment.

Celina comes to OHSU and Portland from Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked as a nurse practitioner in palliative medicine at Mayo Clinic Hospital. There she rotated between inpatient and outpatient settings, serving an array of patient populations, from heart failure to oncology to neurodegenerative. In addition to clinical responsibilities, Celina enjoyed participating in the education of medical students and residents in the role of palliative care, communication techniques and symptom management basics. As part of the three-faceted approach of practice, education and research at Mayo Clinic, she engaged in research exploring early palliative care in glioblastoma patients.

Celina’s approach is to help patients (and their loved ones) preserve the best quality of life while managing advanced or serious illness. She enjoys listening to and learning from her patients, specifically what their preferences are for their treatment and care, as well as what is most important to them in optimizing their sense of well-being despite their illness.

When not at work, Celina is either running around with her two young children on a hike or at a park, or golfing with her husband.