AOSW Members, 

As many of us read this latest issue of Connections, we find ourselves relishing these final days of summer. As we wind down our vacations and prepare to return to the routines of work and school, we hope many of you have enjoyed time with friends and family in your favorite places or had the chance to discover and experience new lands near and far. Soon we will welcome autumn and the natural wonder of seasonal change.   

We hope that you are all still feeling “connected” to each other following our Annual Conference in Portland this year. AOSW Education Director Sophia Tsesmelis Piccolino, DSW, LCSW, OSW-C, offers a nice review of all that we gained and took home in June, including dynamic speakers, a Weaving Wall, the initiation of new AOSW Fellows, and our award winners. Take note: planning for next year’s 2027 Annual Conference, which will be held virtually, has already begun! 

AOSW’s President Meredith Cammarata, LCSW-R, offers a reflection on the energy we get after attending conference and ways to stay involved, including a scheduled upcoming AOSW Mini-Conference in November that will highlight four presentations from the meeting in June and an upcoming AOSW Board Town Hall scheduled for December.  Be sure to read the Presidents message for all the details. Alicia Wlodynski, LCSW, APHSW-C, recognizes the many amazing achievements among some of our AOSW colleagues in the Kudos column.

Welcome to Issue 3 of AOSW Connections! Amy and I are pleased to present you with exceptional information from authors exploring the realm of integrative oncology. Integrative oncology refers to the use of a combination of complementary therapies in conjunction with conventional cancer treatments. The goal of integrative oncology has traditionally been designed to optimize the well-being and quality of life for cancer patients both during and after treatment and to empower patients to engage in their care. Therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, herbs and supplements, massage, and mindfulness-based practices are just a few of the practices that are believed to have the potential to benefit patients during their cancer treatment. Integrative therapies should be evidence-based in nature and be provided alongside cancer treatment and not serve as an alternative to any cancer treatment. The focus of “integrating” these practices into cancer treatment allows a holistic approach by healing mind and body and promotes a multi-disciplinary practice to cancer care.   

In this issue, we examine a multitude of integrative approaches and models. Michelle Ferretti, LCSW, OSW-C, and Erin Price, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C (AOSW Integrative Oncology SIG Leaders), start us off by providing a framework for understanding integrative oncology, its benefits, and the unique role social work plays in helping guide patients in decisions around integrating complementary therapy into their oncology care. Yixuan Wang, MSW, helps us explore an integrative approach to helping young cancer patients deepen conversations with their families and care teams using a novel therapy called Photovoice. Lisa Caparella, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, shares important lessons from the first year of an integrative oncology program at her institution and the impact the program has had in supporting patients.  Psychologist Lindsey Lerner, PsyD, outlines the utilization of psychedelic-assisted therapy alongside conventional palliative and psycho-oncology care as an approach to holistic healing and the role oncology social work plays in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field.  Melody Griffith, MSW, LMSW, OSW-C, offers insight into the unique relationship between AYAs and complementary therapy and the role of social work in developing rapport and relationship. Finally, our own Connections Editor-in-Chief Amy Colver, MSSW, MA, LISW, OSW-C, shares information on the importance of addressing misinformation in the complementary therapy space by helping us understand terminology and truth. Amy also shares a helpful resource from Susan G. Komen that helps patients navigate the vast amount of misinformation in the oncology landscape and shows how oncology social workers can help patients make informed decisions about integrative medicine.

We hope you will enjoy this next issue of Connections and find ways to enrich your practice and the community of patients that you serve. 

Katherine Easton, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
Portland, Oregon 
Oregon Health and Science University