An interview with Dr. Jen Currin-McCulloch and Adrianna Adams, LCSW, by Amy Corveleyn, MSW, LICSW – AOSW Research Director.
Dr. Jen Currin-McCulloch is an associate professor and the PhD Program Director at Colorado State University School of Social Work.
Adrianna Adams, LCSW, is a social work PhD student at Simmons University and a clinical social worker in the Hematology/Oncology department at Brooke Army Medical Center.
The emergence of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) oncology in the late 1990s exposed a critical health disparity: a population underserved by traditional care models and overlooked by clinical research. However, the evolution of the field has proven that survival data is only half the story. Through the lens of oncology social work, we now recognize that AYA care requires a developmentally informed approach. From military-specific survivorship to meaning-centered art interventions, modern research is closing the gap by addressing the specific psychosocial milestones—career, identity, and autonomy—that define the young adult experience. Dr. Jen Currin-McCulloch and Adrianna Adams are members of the AOSW Research Committee. I asked them about their connection to AYA research.
What is your research focus with the AYA population?
Dr. Jen Currin-McCulloch: I work with young adults with any type of cancer and have partnered with two other researchers, Danielle Pederson and Yixuan Wang, to offer a meaning-centered group intervention that includes photo narratives.
Adrianna Adams, LCSW: My research interests within the AYA population center on the unique experiences, outcomes, survivorship trajectories, and care needs of active-duty service members and veterans with cancer.
What drew you to this population?
JCM: When I was working in the palliative care clinic at my cancer center, I met many YAs who lost connection to parts of their identities that brought joy and meaning to their life. I wanted to see if there could be a way to use photos/art in a group setting to tap into creativity and a sense of wonder about what brings them joy.
AA: The intersection of my personal and professional experiences drew me to this population. As a clinician in a military treatment facility, a lot of my patients are young, physically fit, active-duty members, and a cancer diagnosis and treatment carry unique occupational and family implications. This is at the heart of psychosocial oncology research in AYA populations, that tension between the developmental tasks of young adulthood and the demands of cancer treatment. Personally, my younger brother was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 27, and that brought these issues into sharp relief for me and for my family.
What has surprised you about this population?
JCM: I would say the power of photo narratives shared in a group setting is far more powerful in being able to provide voice to experiences that words can’t always express.
AA: What has both surprised and inspired me about the AYA population is the way that these individuals make meaning of their lived experiences and, in some cases, reorient their lives in survivorship. Without minimizing the very real distress and disruption that cancer causes, I’ve seen patients channel their experiences into new or renewed directions – pursuing careers in healthcare, getting married in their hospital rooms, or recommitting to their physical health with the goal of returning to duty. While these trajectories aren’t universal, they reflect the diverse ways that AYAs move forward during and after cancer and make sense of its impact on their lives.
What are your tips for others interested in research?
JCM: Try it! I partnered with nurses at my hospital who had research experience, and they helped me build my confidence and insatiable love of qualitative research. Also, it’s never too late to get your PhD.
AA: My biggest advice is to get as immersed in the literature as possible, but don’t stop there. If you come across work that genuinely interests or excites you, reach out to the authors. In my experience, many researchers are very open to connecting, whether to talk about their work, share perspectives on where the field is headed, or simply exchange ideas. Especially early in your career, these kinds of direct, self-initiated connections can be incredibly valuable and can help you feel more connected to the broader research community. I would also encourage getting involved in professional organizations, joining research-focused committees or initiatives, and attending conferences where research is being actively discussed. These spaces not only deepen your understanding of the field but also create natural opportunities to build relationships, find mentorship, and engage in ongoing conversations that can shape your own research trajectory.
What are the gaps in research or trends you see in research with the AYA population?
JCM: There are so many. I think research around their experiences at end of life seem to be something that isn’t being addressed as readily in the research.
AA: A few areas stand out to me. Improving clinical trial enrollment among AYAs remains an ongoing priority. There also seems to be increasing attention to survivorship as long-term survival rates continue to improve, particularly supporting psychological well-being in the context of ongoing surveillance and uncertainty. I also get the sense that the field is moving toward more developmentally informed work and a greater emphasis on long-term trajectories, understanding how a cancer experience in young adulthood shapes education, career, relationships, and overall quality of life beyond active disease and throughout the lifespan. There is also growing recognition that health disparities persist meaningfully within the AYA population, in who gets diagnosed at what stage, time to treatment initiation, access to specialized care, and ultimately, outcomes. As a field, I think there is still significant work to do there.
