I’d like to introduce myself to the membership as the new Research Director for AOSW, and to begin a dialogue with you on the role of research in oncology social work.

Before I begin, I want to recognize the amazing work that previous Research Director, Brad Zebrack, PhD, accomplished in this position. It was his leadership that contributed to a major advancement in the research activities of AOSW, including the development of a special issue of the JPO: Screening for Psychosocial Distress: A National Survey of Oncology Social Workers on distress screening, a membership survey on distress screening activities of AOSW members, and the development and funding of the Project to Assure Quality Cancer Care (APAQCC). This is a hard act to follow and I hope I can continue the momentum to build the AOSW research program.

My own research story began at the University of Michigan, where I obtained an MSW in social work as a community organizer. In my two field placements I kept asking questions that had no answers. “Which technique works best in this situation?” “What are the needs of the community?” “What are other communities doing about this problem?” I found myself spending my time doing surveys, library research, exploring needs and interviewing community leaders and residents instead of doing active practice. I decided that the field needed more research, and that I was a better fit for research than practice. I simply wanted to answer many questions BEFORE carrying out actions. I greatly admired the practitioners in the field who operate in the face of uncertainty, but realized that my own bent was toward trying to answer the questions.

I entered the PhD program in Social Work and Sociology at U of Michigan, and spent the next eight years (1966-1974) learning statistics, research methods and sociological theory. After graduating, I held a series of teaching positions and began to do my own research. First, this was in the field of aging, specifically evaluating programs to keep frail elderly patients out of nursing homes. Later, I developed a “Health Specialization” at the University of Maryland, and began a study of breast cancer that resulted in a book, published in 1991. This study introduced me to qualitative research, which has been my focus ever since. It also moved the focus of my research from health in general to oncology.

It was in my capacity as a researcher that I first encountered AOSW. I spoke to the first organizing conference on research methods way back in 1984! Since then, I have participated in as many of the AOSW conferences as I could, often giving papers, posters and workshops. I became a part of the Research Committee when Brad was the Research Director and participated in many of the recent activities concerning distress screening.
    
As I start my position as AOSW Research Director, I’d like to ask the membership a few questions that will help me respond to your needs concerning research:

• Do you do research in your position?  
• Do you do research in your practice?  
• Do you participate in research in your practice? If not, why not?
• What could AOSW do to make it easier for you to participate in research or to use it in your practice?  
  • Would it be helpful if AOSW were to include descriptions of major studies and review articles relevant to social work practice on the website?  
  • How about a virtual “journal club”?

I’d like to hear your ideas. Please email me with your thoughts at joktay@ssw.umaryland.edu