Editorial Team
Editor-in-Chief
Amy Colver, MSSA, MA, LISW
Editor
Katherine Easton, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
AOSW Communications Director
Brittany Hahn, LCSW
Managing Editor
Patricia Sullivan
Contribute Today!
To submit a story or information for inclusion in a future issue of AOSW Newsletter, contact Amy Colver or Katherine Easton on the list above.
2025 Themes
February: Workplace & Culture
May: Therapeutic Techniques
August: Palliative Care
November: Caregivers
AOSW Connections, our newsletter, helps AOSW members stay informed and connected. In addition to information about upcoming AOSW conferences and initiatives, AOSW Connections includes insights and practical information from practitioners and the AOSW leadership. If you’re a member of AOSW, watch for new issues in your inbox.
February 2025
Volume 5 | Issue 1
President's Message
President's Message
Dear AOSW Members!
As your new president, let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Linda Mathew. I have been an oncology social worker for 24 years. My full-time job is that of a manager at a large cancer center on the East Coast.
Education
AOSW March Webinar
AOSW will present Healing Through Writing: The Therapeutic Benefits of Writing for Oncology Patients, a webinar, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Education Committee Updates
As we kick off 2025, the Education Committee has a few updates to share with you!
- Webinar proposals sought
- Annual Conference News
SIG Updates
The Vital Role of Sexual Health in Oncology Social Work
Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of well-being, yet it remains one of the most overlooked components of cancer care. A cancer diagnosis and its treatments often bring profound changes that affect intimacy, body image, sexual function, and relationships. Research indicates that up to 87% of individuals living with cancer experience sexual health concerns, though these issues are rarely addressed in clinical settings (Reese et al., 2021).
Editor's Message
Editor's Message
Welcome to the first issue of AOSW Connections in 2025! Our team thought we’d kick off this year with an issue that gives us an opportunity for reflection – on our workspaces, our workplaces and our Association. You may already engage in reflection at the beginning of each new year – taking time to think about the prior year as you enter a new one.
General
State Representatives Update
2024 was a busy year for the AOSW State Representatives. We had seven new state representatives—from Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Virginia—start in their roles.
Workspace & Culture
Putting Mindfulness into Practice in the Workspace
Mindfulness. A term I encounter so frequently it became almost devoid of meaning. How often have I encouraged my patients to be fully present with their illness experience, to acknowledge and process their feelings before those feelings overwhelm them? Yet, I found myself falling short of this ideal.
Strength in the Dark: Navigating Challenges with Resilience in Oncology Social Work
In recent years, oncology social workers (OSWs) have faced extraordinary challenges, as the world has been reshaped by a series of interconnected crises—ranging from a global pandemic and political unrest to natural disasters, wars, and environmental catastrophes.
Learning to Work-From-Home
In December 2020, I left a busy oncology clinic for a remote project-based work environment. Gone were the team members’ coffee updates and birthday cakes. I no longer bumped into patients in the hallway or met caregivers in the lobby. Initially, the change soothed my pandemic-weathered soul.
The Challenges and Rewards of Oncology Social Work
Working in a cancer center presents a unique and deeply rewarding experience. As a social worker in this setting, my workspace is not just a physical office, it is a safe space where patients, families, and staff can express their emotions openly.
The Best of Both Worlds: The Hybrid Work Setting
In March 2020, I was the program director at Gilda’s Club Quad Cities (now CSC Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club). I had a short, eight-minute commute to our beautiful, cozy clubhouse that overlooked the Mississippi River. We all know what happened next, the pandemic forced many of us to work from home.
One of Us: Unpacking the Trauma of Coworker Suicide
The experience of colleague suicide is unique, and the individuals involved are touched in a variety of ways. Colleague suicide brings private bereavement into the professional realm. Suicide rates and suicidal ideation among healthcare workers are shown to be greater than the general population.