Thank you for checking out this issue of AOSW Connections! I’m so proud of the two issues that were published already this year, and I’m also excited to share this one with all of you!
We begin with a President’s Message from Linda Mathew, DSW, MSW, LCSW-R, reflecting on recent happenings within AOSW, including the new vision and mission statements. Kelly Hendershot, LGSW, LMSW, AOSW’s Education Director, also writes a reflective article on the many highlights from the annual conference that was held in June in Atlanta.
In more AOSW News, we’ve collaborated with the state representatives to welcome the members who started in this role within their state over the last few months. Additionally, thanks to the Membership Committee’s much-appreciated collaboration, we’re recognizing members in two additional ways. The first is an article that lists new members to the association since the beginning of this year. Of note, we’ve only included members who have agreed to be listed in the AOSW Member Directory. If you don’t see your name in this article and would like to be listed, please log in to your AOSW profile and update your privacy settings. The second is a Membership Spotlight that shines a light on the book, “Navigating Serious Illness: A Pathway for Exploring Life, Love, & Legacy,” written by two longtime AOSW members, Kerry Irish, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, and Debra Mattison, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW. Last, but not least, there’s information about the upcoming webinar in September.
Next, we move to articles written on Palliative Care, which is the theme of this issue. There are five articles from members who share perspectives and experiences on this important aspect of oncology care. First up are Jennifer Bires, LCSW, OSW-C, CST, and Kristine Naputo, LMSW, AOSW’s DEI Director, who write about palliative care through a DEI lens. Jennifer and Kristine outline the disparities that currently exist in accessing palliative care and offer evidence-based interventions to address them. Next, Brittany Hahn, LCSW, AOSW’s Communications Director, reflects on how her role evolved to include more palliative care services as well as how she empowered herself in this area of practice. Katherine Easton, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, member and Connections Editor, writes about trauma-informed palliative care and offers guidance on compassionate patient care. Member Moriah Thibodeau, LCSW, LICSW, OSW-C, APHSW-C, shares the importance of self-care and provides strategies to consider implementing in your practice. Finally, member Alicia Wlodynski, LCSW, APHSW-C, encourages us to consider caregivers when patients are receiving palliative care and gives us ways to support them.
Katherine and I hope you enjoy reading the articles in this issue as much as we did! We also hope that you enjoy these last weeks of summer. We look forward to connecting with you again in November for our final issue of 2025.
As always, I encourage you to connect with someone who is a part of this issue. We’re fortunate to have the community that we do – it’s full of people who are incredibly skilled, knowledgeable, and passionate about the work we do. Take a few minutes to email someone, even just to say “hello” and acknowledge that you read their article. I know your gesture will be appreciated. I also welcome you to connect with me anytime at amy.colver04@gmail.com.
