Welcome to the final issue of AOSW Connections in 2025! It has been an incredible year for this publication, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the Connections team and the many amazing AOSW members, including the Board of Directors, who have given their time to contribute articles and support this publication. Thank you all, I’m truly grateful to be a part of it. Interacting with the people who make each issue happen and building those connections is something I hold dear, especially as we work to develop the publication and make it informative and meaningful to the organization.  

The theme of this issue is Caregivers. November is National Family Caregivers Month, which is not a coincidence. We want to acknowledge all of you as professional caregivers and, for some, as personal caregivers as well. As many of the authors have noted, cancer caregivers have an essential role and a heavy load of responsibility for the people they take care of, while managing many other aspects of their lives. One analysis found that there are as many as 6 million U.S. adults providing care to a loved one with cancer, with nearly 60% of them being female. The same analysis found that, on average, caregiving responsibilities consume about 33 hours per week. Understandably, mental health symptoms are prevalent in caregivers, and the strain is overwhelming. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to publish an issue focused on caregiving and the importance of oncology social work — you won’t want to miss a single article!  

We start off this issue with Linda Mathew, DSW, MSW, LCSW-R, who writes her final message as AOSW President. She reflects on the incredible work being done within AOSW and the dedicated work all of you do every day as professional caregivers. You’re essential to ensuring patients’ caregivers are seen, heard, and supported — an invaluable part of cancer care. Linda also welcomes the incoming president, Meredith Cammarata, LCSW-R, who will lead the organization in 2026. Please join me in thanking Linda for her leadership and welcoming Meredith into the role. I’d also like to acknowledge the Board Members whose terms are ending in 2025 and thank you, as well as to the committees, for your service to AOSW. Welcome to the incoming Board Members, too!  

Brittany Hahn, LCSW, our current Communications Director, shares an update from our committee in the AOSW Board Corner. Education Director, Kelly Hendershot, LGSW, LMSW, has graciously written two articles for this issue alongside two of her colleagues. First, on behalf of the Education Committee, Kelly and the incoming Education Director, Sophia Tsesmelis Piccolino, DSW, LCSW, OSW-C, share an exciting overview of the planning that’s underway for the 2026 annual conference. Welcome, Sophia, and thank you to the Education Committee for all of your ongoing hard work supporting our organization! Second, Kelly and Erica Fortune, PhD, share data from their organization’s Cancer Experience Registry, highlighting the challenges and needs of cancer caregivers.  

Also, on the theme of caregivers, Casey Auer, MSSW, CAPSW, writes about the ways she navigated through a complex case and supported a cancer caregiver who faced many challenges in the wake of his wife’s illness. Alexandra Berkovits, LCSW, OSW-C, shares how her role as a caregiver to loved ones has shaped her perspective, career, and passion for her work. Karen Ridley, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, writes a personal reflection on her role as a caregiver, offering a unique metaphor: caregiving is like a kaleidoscope. Nicole Normandin Rueda, LMSW, shares a personal reflection on the care she provided to a loved one, highlighting the impact of caregiving and the role of oncology social workers in advocating for and supporting caregivers. Laura Tanner, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, writes a thoughtful, informative article on caregiver burnout and suggests several helpful strategies to manage it.  

I hope you enjoy this issue. And, as I always say, if you found a colleague’s article interesting or if they touched on something that resonated with you, I encourage you to foster connections and reach out to them via email. You can find each author’s email at the bottom of their article. 

Please also feel free to reach out to me anytime with feedback, ideas, or questions about Connections. Thank you again for supporting Connections this year and in years past. We’re looking forward to all that’s in store for 2026! As a preview, the Kudos Column is returning to the newsletter! Stay tuned!