After experiencing the profound loss of her two children, Diana Lenis, a registered nurse and clinical instructor at Accredo, made a promise to ensure other families had the support and understanding she once needed.

Some of the most difficult moments of her life, including the tragic loss of her son and daughter to the same rare genetic condition, ultimately inspired a career and a calling rooted in advocacy, empathy, and service to others.

This year, The Cigna Group named Lenis its 2026 Volunteer of the Year, recognizing her extraordinary commitment to serving a community she has come to know well.

Read on to learn more about Lenis’s inspiring story, and the broader culture and impact of volunteerism at The Cigna Group.

Turning grief into purpose, support, and advocacy

In 2000, Lenis’s son, Anthony, was born with significant medical complexities caused by a rare genetic condition called Emanuel syndrome. She spent 30 days at his side in the NICU, learning firsthand what it meant to advocate for a medically fragile child at a time when answers about this complex disorder were limited. When Anthony passed away at just three months old, she committed herself to becoming a nurse, determined to turn her grief into purpose. 

While working as a patient care advocate at Express Scripts, Lenis put herself through nursing school, later completing clinical training with a focus on infants and children. Years later, when she became pregnant again, she proactively raised concerns with her care team. Her daughter, Angelica, was born with the same condition and lived for seven months. Though medically complex, Angelica’s life was filled with joy and impact – she was featured in local news, and her care was incorporated into pediatric hospice training materials. Lenis describes Angelica as a trailblazer whose legacy continues to shape care for other children and families. 

“Losing Anthony and Angelica changed the course of my life. I couldn't change what happened to my children, but I could use those experiences to help other families feel less alone,” Lenis said. “Every role I've had as a nurse, advocate, and volunteer has been rooted in that promise to show up for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives, and to let them know they don't have to face those moments by themselves.”

After Angelica’s passing, Lenis relocated to Florida and worked at CuraScript SD, and later Accredo, as a telephonic nurse, combining her clinical training with patient advocacy. Now, more than a decade later, she trains nurses, clerks, and leaders – often serving as one of the first people new employees meet. Her work is shaped by lived experience, with a deep understanding of what patients and families need most during vulnerable moments. 

Bringing empathy and clinical care to the CHARGE syndrome community

That promise Lenis made years ago has become a defining part of her life through volunteerism with the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation. What began as volunteering with babies at biannual conferences soon grew into her role as camp nurse, a position she has held for nearly a decade. During conferences, Lenis cares for children with complex medical needs while parents attend educational sessions that help them navigate CHARGE syndrome, offering not just clinical expertise but peace of mind. She extends her nursing licensure across states to ensure families managing CHARGE syndrome feel safe, supported, and understood. 

Pictured above: Diana Lenis volunteers as a camp nurse at a CHARGE Syndrome Foundation conference.

The work requires clinical judgment, preparation, and trust. Lenis helps care for children with a wide range of medical needs, and she understands that safety sits alongside something equally important: giving children opportunities to participate in life in ways that work for them. Through years of hands-on care, quiet reassurance, and compassion, she has earned the trust of families navigating constant uncertainty. 

“Diana brings families a rare combination of clinical expertise, calm presence, and personal experience and empathy,” said Lisa Cunningham, executive director of The CHARGE Syndrome Foundation. “Parents are able to step into conference sessions knowing their children are cared for by someone who sees the whole child, not only the diagnosis. Diana has become part of this community because she shows up with consistency, compassion, and deep respect for every family’s experience.” 

Employee volunteerism strengthens community impact

The Cigna Group’s Volunteer of the Year program honors employees who make a significant investment in serving their communities. Employees who volunteer more than 50 hours with a single nonprofit during the prior year can apply. The selected employee’s nonprofit receives a $10,000 grant from The Cigna Group Foundation, and the employee receives a $2,500 personal award.

“I’m so proud to be named Volunteer of the Year because it helps shine a light on the foundation, the condition, and the kids,” Lenis said. “For me, the recognition means more if it helps families learn about CHARGE syndrome and better understand what these children and parents navigate every day.”

Lenis’s story also reflects a broader culture of service across The Cigna Group. In 2025, employees logged nearly 114,000 volunteer hours – an increase of about 30% from the previous year, equating to approximately $7.1 million in economic value.

The company supports employees who want to serve their communities – whether it’s through in-person and virtual opportunities led by the company, or resources to help employees find nonprofits in their local area that need their support. Through the volunteer rewards program, employees receive $25 for each volunteer hour they log, up to $1,250 annually, to direct to an eligible nonprofit. Employees can also use up to eight hours of paid volunteer time each year.

“Volunteerism at The Cigna Group is grounded in the belief that our colleagues have skills, experiences, and relationships that can strengthen the communities around them,” said Sara Quist, Director of Enterprise Community Programs at The Cigna Group. “Diana’s service is a powerful example of that culture because she brings her nursing expertise from Accredo and her personal understanding to families who need both practical support and human connection. When our employees volunteer with causes that matter to them, they extend our mission in ways that are personal, local, and deeply meaningful.”

Asked about advice she would give people interested in volunteering, Lenis said to start with what they know, what they care about, and where their time could make a difference. Everyone can find ways to use their interests, skills, and experiences to help others in their local community, she said.