Welcome to the first issue of AOSW Connections in 2025! Our team thought we’d kick off this year with an issue that gives us an opportunity for reflection – on our workspaces, our workplaces and our Association. You may already engage in reflection at the beginning of each new year – taking time to think about the prior year as you enter a new one. You may even set goals for yourself related to where you want to be personally or professionally as you look towards the future.

Whether you have done these things this year or not, we hope this issue gives you a moment of pause in your busy days, not only to reflect on how things are going in your life, but to find something in the authors’ words that you can take with you as you continue on in your work. We also hope you find connection to the authors that have shared their experiences.

To focus on our Association first, a new year welcomes new board members! Linda Mathew, DSW, MSW, LCSW-R writes her first President’s message from a place of gratitude. While recognizing our organizational committees and the many things we can be thankful for within AOSW, she shares a bit about herself and some of the board’s objectives for this year. Amy DePaolo, MS, LCSW, OSW-C, the established Director-at-Large for the State Representatives gives us an overview of this role and encourages members to get involved and consider filling an opening, if there’s one in your state. Amy also looks forward to 2025 by sharing her hopes for this year. SIG leaders, Jennifer Bires, LCSW, OSW-C, CST and Christina Austin-Valere PhD, LCSW give us an overview of the Sexual Health SIG and outline some of the things they’re planning for this year. They also welcome you to join this supportive and informative community anytime!

To explore our workspaces and workplaces, Education Director Kelly Hendershot, LGSW, LMSW, writes about the ways she’s adapted to change, not only in her professional roles, but in her workspaces.  Lisa Capparella, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, reflects on some of the challenges that health care providers, including oncology social workers, have faced as a result of the pandemic and shares some of her institution’s response. Debbie Carey, CSW, OSW-C, talks about her transition to full-time remote work by giving us an honest picture of what this experience has been like for her. Our very own Katherine Easton, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, writes a heartfelt piece about workplace mental health as she processes the pain and trauma of a co-worker’s suicide. Catherine Lili Kiang, LMSW, gives us a perspective on mindfulness in the workplace and how she’s implemented this practice in her workspace. Lisa Petgrave-Nelson, LMSW, OSW-C, walks us through some of the challenges and rewards of oncology social work while giving us a sense of how she’s built resiliency.

There are so many wonderful offerings in this issue. We’re honored to share it with you. And, to the contributors, thank you for taking the time to write these articles and share some of yourselves and your work with our community.

If something resonates with you in this issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the author to let them know. Email addresses can be found easily at the bottom of each article. Sending a kind note to someone can go a long way – it may give them encouragement or help them feel supported. It may also become something they reflect on and carry with them as they continue the hard, yet meaningful work we all do.

On a personal note, I have small mementos from patients and notes from colleagues in my home office. These things have been very helpful to me as I transitioned from in-person clinical work to remote work in health information and education. I reflect on the stories, the experiences, and the words others have shared with me. They ground me in my current work and keep me going when I have times that I doubt or question myself. I also hope you have things that give you meaning and help you keep going on both the joy-filled and tough days. Please take good care of yourselves in this new year and we look forward to connecting with you again in the spring.