Registration Now Open: AOSW's 2026 Annual Conference:
Threads of Support: Nurturing Resilience and Breaking Barriers
The AOSW 2026 Annual Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront from June 10-12, 2026. This is an in-person meeting only. There is no virtual option.
Why Should You Attend?
- Access a comprehensive array of diverse offerings crafted to enhance your knowledge and skills.
- Create cherished memories while strengthening your professional expertise.
- Earn up to 18.5 continuing education credits.
- Learn valuable strategies and techniques.
Who Should Attend?
- Oncology Social Work Professionals
- Patient Navigators
- Students who practice in hospitals, cancer centers, home care agencies, hospice, community-based oncology practices, community programs, patient advocacy organizations, educational institutions and other settings
Presentation Agenda
Tuesday, June 9
1:00pm – 5:00pm
Pre-Conferences (pre-registration required)
*more detailed information can be found below
- Advanced Clinical Case Conceptualization to Deliver Psychotherapies to Individuals Impacted by Cancer
- Oncology Social Work Foundations: Learning to Manage Complex Needs and Foster Connections
- Bringing Art Into Practice: Integrating Photovoice as a Tool for Enhancing Survivors’ Existential Quality of Life
- Helping Patients Deal with Changes in Memory, Thinking, and Focus Due to Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment (aka “Chemo Brain”)
Wednesday, June 10
11:00am – 12:00pm
- From Concept to Practice: Cultivating Vicarious Resilience and Professional Sustainment Through Mentorship and Supervision in Oncology and PELC
- Lowering the Threshold, Raising the Reach: Virtual Strategies to Strengthen Behavioral Health in Oncology Settings
- Strengthening Psychosocial Care Pathways in Oncology: Collaborative Models for Comprehensive Patient Support
- Healing Through Compassion: The Journey of Building a Self-Compassion Program for the Cancer Experience
1:15pm – 2:15pm
- Among the Trees: Integrating Therapeutic Nature-Based Interventions in Cancer Care
- Expanding Supportive Care for Family Caregivers: Adapting the Healthy Communication Practice to Target Caregivers’ Distinct Needs and Reduce Distress
- At the Heart of Care Alignment: Oncology Social Work as Listener, Guide, and Advocate
- The Paradox of Being “Cured”: Disenfranchised Anticipatory Grief and Mortality Contemplation in Curable Cancer Care
2:15pm – 3:15pm
- From Then to Now: Social Work’s Enduring Legacy in Times of Upheaval (PART 1)
- Fostering Resilience in Cancer with DBT-Based Skills (PART 1)
- Confronting Racism in Healthcare: Building an Anti-Racist Clinical Practice Through Self-Reflection, Education, and Healing
- Facing the In-Between: A Survivor-Social Worker Conversation on Grief and Healing
3:45pm – 4:45pm
- From Then to Now: Social Work’s Enduring Legacy in Times of Upheaval (PART 2)
- Fostering Resilience in Cancer with DBT-Based Skills (PART 2)
- Yes You Can! Addressing Sexual Wellness in Short-Tern Oncology Counseling/Support
- Addressing Financial Toxicity Beyond Financial Assistance: Practical Strategies for Oncology Social Workers
Thursday, June 11
8:00am – 9:00am
- Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness in Oncology Social Work: Preparation & Integration for Life-Changing Diagnoses
- Nourishing Body & Mind—Integrating Self-Compassion, Nutrition, and Psychosocial Support in a Virtual Group Setting
- Making Space in the Bedroom: Inclusive Analytic Processing Groups for Sexual Recovery Among LGBTQ+ and Relationally Diverse Survivors
- One Less Lonely Group: Improving Program Attendance through Innovative Delivery Methods, Changing Group Structure, and Thinking Outside the Box
9:00am – 10:00am
- Aligning Prognostic Understanding: A Couple’s Based Approach for Oncology Social Work
- Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? Documentation As a Tool for Storytelling in The Age of A.I. and Open Notes
- Creating Psychosocial Support for Spouses and Partners of Young Adult Cancer Patients (PANEL)
- Principal Illness Navigation in Action: Strengthening Social Work’s Role in Oncology
10:30am – 11:30am
- Solidarity in the Shadows: Resilience and the Role of Affinity Groups for Latinx Oncology Social Workers Navigating Immigration-Related Patient Distress
- Increasing Palliative Care Referrals Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Machine Learning: Findings from a Three-Month Pilot
- Restoring Purpose: The Role of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recovery (PANEL)
- An Existential Toolkit: What Cancer Care Teaches Clinicians About Living
12:45pm – 1:45pm
- Walking Together: How Relationship and Mutual Learning Guided Psychosocial Program Adaptation with Navajo Communities at the House of Hope
- The Goals-of-Care Loop: Why Teams Get Stuck and How Oncology Social Workers Restore Alignment
- Creating Engaging and Psychologically Safe Virtual Experiences for the Person Behind the Pixel
- Bridging Cultures: Empowering oncological care
1:45pm – 2:45pm
- Awestruck: The Transformative Power of Wonder in Psychosocial Oncology (PART 1)
- Optimizing Sexual Recovery of Prostate Cancer Patients and their Partners: Implementing the International Guidelines for Sexual Health Care after Prostate Cancer Treatment in Oncology Social Work Practice (PART 1)
- Positioning Social Work at the Core of Supportive Oncology Collaborative Care
- Cultivating Resilience and Connection in Remote Oncology Social Work Teams
3:15pm – 4:15pm
- Awestruck: The Transformative Power of Wonder in Psychosocial Oncology (PART 2)
- Optimizing Sexual Recovery of Prostate Cancer Patients and their Partners: Implementing the International Guidelines for Sexual Health Care after Prostate Cancer Treatment in Oncology Social Work Practice (PART 2)
- Trauma, the Body, and Healing in Cancer Care
- Emerging Adults and Advance Care Planning: How social workers can support what matters most
Friday, June 12
8:30am – 9:30am
- Goodbye Dr. Google, Hello AI: Oncology Social Workers as Leaders in Supporting Patients Navigating AI
- I Have a Secret: The role of social work in serious illness
- Lights, Camera, Action! Implementing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Practices
- Beyond the Clinic: An Innovative Partnership to expand access to oncology counseling services (PANEL)
9:30am – 10:30am
- The Art of Close Listening: Honoring Stories of Illness Through the Practice of Narrative Medicine
- Addressing Systemic Barriers and Unmet Needs in Marginalized Cancer Patients
- Body Image After Cancer: Body Positive Interventions for the Oncology Setting
- The Pay Isn’t Great, but the Existential Dread Is Free: Reflections on Trauma, Purpose, and Oncology Social Work
11:00am – 12:00pm
- The Journey of Care for Rural Esophageal Cancer Patients
- Leaving a lasting legacy: Connecting the past, present and future with social work interventions during end-of-life care
- Building Psychological Resilience through stress management skills
Pre-Conference Courses
All pre-conference courses will occur on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. These are optional offerings and require additional advance registration.
Advanced Clinical Case Conceptualization to Deliver Psychotherapies to Individuals Impacted by Cancer
Speakers:
Anao Zhang, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, OSW-C, ACBT
Description:
Clinical case conceptualization is a cornerstone of effective psychotherapy, providing the framework to link assessment, intervention, and outcomes. In oncology social work, case conceptualization carries unique importance as clients face layered psychological, relational, and existential challenges intertwined with medical realities. This workshop will demonstrate how a core cognitive formulation can anchor treatment while allowing the flexible integration of diverse psychotherapeutic techniques to address the complex needs of individuals impacted by cancer.
The session will begin with an overview of case conceptualization and its application in oncology, with emphasis on common clinical targets such as fear of cancer recurrence, health-related anxiety, psychological distress, and meaning-making. Building on a cognitive framework, participants will explore how evidence-based approaches—including solution-focused brief therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness-based practices, and acceptance and commitment therapy—can be delivered in a conceptually coherent but clinically flexible manner.
Clinical case examples will illustrate how eclectic interventions can be tailored without fragmentation, helping practitioners respond to the lived realities of those navigating cancer. Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen their own case conceptualization skills and integrate multiple therapeutic approaches in a unified, patient-centered way that enhances alliance, clarifies goals, and improves outcomes in oncology settings.
Oncology Social Work Foundations: Learning to Manage Complex Needs and Foster Connections
Speakers:
Heather Goltz, PhD, LCSW-S, MEd, MPH
Diana Sioutis, MSW, LCSW
Description:
This four-hour interactive workshop provides a foundational orientation to psychosocial oncology for newer oncology social workers (OSWs) and those seeking expanded skills. Participants will explore practical approaches to managing complex patient needs, including strategies for addressing mental health concerns, suicidality, substance use, and care for undocumented patients. In collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, participants will learn about advancing patient-centered care and applying practical skills like biopsychosocial assessments and advanced care planning. The session highlights emerging trends in hybrid care models, with guidance on maintaining rapport and navigating ethical considerations in both in-person and telehealth settings. Additionally, participants will discuss social determinants of health (SDOH) and strategies to reduce care barriers, equipping OSWs to advocate effectively for diverse and underserved populations (Weiner et al., 2020). To support professional resilience, the workshop emphasizes supervision and mentorship as essential tools for managing compassion fatigue, grief, and burnout. Evidence-based strategies will guide participants in sustaining a healthy and impactful career. Through case discussions, small group exercises, and peer networking, this session offers a supportive environment for learning, reflection, and connection. Participants will leave with insights and resources to build confidence, strengthen their practice, and foster a community of continued professional support.
Bringing Art Into Practice: Integrating Photovoice as a Tool for Enhancing Survivors' Existential Quality of Life
Speakers:
Jen Currin-McCulloch, PhD
Yixuan Wang, MSW
Annie Levy, BFA, LMSW
Description:
Photovoice, a group-based participatory action research framework for understanding the beliefs and behaviors of socially marginalized communities, has been utilized as an empowering tool to promote belonging, hope, and agency among cancer survivors. Participants’ visual narratives, shared in a group-based setting, foster openings for increased insight into how they perceive their life challenges and their impact on their quality of life. The group members are seen as experts who share a prominent role in exchanging ideas and resources to help one another explore cancer’s impact on their physical, psychosocial, and existential quality of life.
In this training, attendees will first gain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical roots of photovoice, exploring its ethical application when working with vulnerable populations. Attendees will be exposed to the breadth of its application and how the method is well-suited to empower social workers as group facilitators. They will draw from an evidence-based meaning-centered photovoice group intervention with young adult cancer survivors (Currin-McCulloch et al., 2024) to learn how to support group members in representing their experiences through photography and narrative. They will garner practical skills to foster members’ engagement and sense of agency; navigate photovoice group dynamics in a virtual setting; and partner with group members to lead a community-based photo exhibit to raise awareness of their needs and the injustices they encounter. Lastly, attendees will be invited to participate in an interactive photovoice activity to gather insights into the method and envision how to integrate the method into their practice.
Helping Patients Deal with Changes in Memory, Thinking, and Focus Due to Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment (aka "Chemo Brain")
Speakers:
Linda Hutkin-Slade, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
Cheryl Whittington-Fogel, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
Description:
A common side effect of cancer treatment is cognitive impairment – confusion, memory problems, difficulty with focus and concentration, and inability to multitask or word-find. This collection of symptoms is commonly referred to as “chemo brain,” although radiation, anesthesia, treatment side effects, and even the cancer disease itself can cause cognitive issues.
Cognitive changes add additional concerns and worry for the cancer patient and family, already focused on treatment choices and survival. These lead to increased anxiety, stress, and sadness. Patients do not know what’s wrong or how to fix it. They often feel alone and isolated. Additionally, when patients complain about symptoms, the health care team often tells them they are experiencing “chemo brain” and unfortunately, it’s a side-effect they may need to live with but hopefully it will resolve soon.
Because cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) cause serious disruption and emotional distress in the lives of patients and their loved ones, it is important to provide practical, evidence-based strategies to mitigate the consequences. Helping patients to identify cognitive deficits early, teaching them new skills to manage impairments, and helping them build upon the cognitive strengths they still possess empowers them as they grapple with the many challenges of cancer treatment and survivorship.
This pre-conference will provide participants with a richer understanding of CRCI, delve into scalable, evidence-based interventions, and feel confident in utilizing techniques to assist patients and their families.
Registration
Registration now open! Click here to view the rates.
Scholarships
For more information on AOSW Awards and Scholarships, click here.
Questions?
Please direct any questions about this conference to our staff at info@aosw.org or by calling 847-686-2233.