Dear AOSW Members,
Congratulations on making our 2025 AOSW Conference such a tremendous success! We were thrilled to welcome 412 oncology social workers, including 116 first-time attendees and 101 non-members. I hope that our non-member attendees felt a genuine sense of connection and belonging. I also hope they saw firsthand the value of being part of AOSW, as well as the passion and dedication of this group of professionals.
It was inspiring to witness the enthusiasm, the depth of knowledge being shared, and experience the collective energy of our incredible community.
Before the conference, the Board of Directors convened for a full-day strategic planning session. This process, undertaken every few years, allows us to thoughtfully evaluate and reaffirm our mission, vision, and organizational goals. It ensures continued alignment with our core responsibilities as oncology social workers and supports the ongoing growth and development of our profession and organization. We’re proud to share that we accomplished a great deal, including the creation of a new mission and vision to guide AOSW into the future.
Our new mission:
AOSW is a community of oncology social work professionals that elevates the growth and development of our members to advance the field of psychosocial oncology.
Our new vision:
Everyone impacted by cancer has equitable access to oncology social work professionals to improve outcomes and enhance quality of life.
Our goal for members is to foster a space where oncology social workers can find support, build meaningful connections, and work together to elevate our profession.
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to reflect on the theme of this issue: Palliative Care. This is a vital component of our work as oncology social workers, and it is central to the compassionate care we provide.
Just days after our conference, the Palliative Social Work Summit took place in Boston, led by Dr. Barbara Jones. We’re proud to share that AOSW had a seat at that important table. A special thank you goes to Julia Magas, LMSW, APHSW-C, Supportive Care Oncology Social Worker at Karmanos Cancer Institute, who served as our liaison and is the co-leader of the Pain, Palliative Care, and End-of-Life Special Interest Group (SIG), for her dedication and representation.
Many members of this working group are also part of AOSW, embodying our mission and vision in meaningful ways. Their contributions are a powerful example of what it means to elevate the growth and development of our profession.
We look forward to seeing you next year in Portland, Oregon, at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront. Mark your calendars for June 10-12, 2026, with our pre-conference session on June 9, 2026.
