AOSW Connections
Kudos! Achievements of AOSW Members
One of my favorite aspects of being part of AOSW is the endless supply of inspiration that comes from our members. The work we do is challenging and uplifting and creative and painful and deep. As an avid SWON reader, I love reading about the challenges we face and the successes we have as a result of the support and encouragement from our colleagues. I see the Kudos column as an extension of our SWON community. It is a way for us to share our hard work and, I hope, to remember to acknowledge the depth of knowledge and skills that is circulating among our members.
Kudos is a modern day digest of who has been shaking up the world of oncology social work. Reading it gives me an overwhelming sense of awe and inspiration to press forward in research, publishing, presenting and fine tuning my practice in order to be the best oncology social worker I can possibly be! Join me in congratulating and being inspired by the news from these members.
Awards and Honors
- Kimberly Lawson, MSW, LCSW, doctoral student, (Orlando, Florida) received an American Cancer Society Doctoral Training Grant in Oncology Social Work for her dissertation, "When Cancer Hits Home: A Qualitative, Exploratory Study of Oncology Social Workers' Self-Disclosure of Personal Cancer Coping Experience in Helping Relationships." Kim anticipates completing her research and graduating with her Doctorate in Clinical Social Work (DSW) from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017.
- Lisa Capparella, MSS, LCSW, OSW-C, (Reading, PA) will received the American Cancer Society Lane Adam's Quality of Life Award in Atlanta in January, 2017. This award promotes improved quality of life for all persons and their families through public recognition of exemplary individuals who practice compassionate, skilled cancer care and who extend the warm hand of service. Lisa was nominated for a grant she runs for patients who struggle with financial barriers while undergoing treatment and for her work in the NYU leadership Fellowship in palliative and end-of-life care for her work with life review videos for patients facing advanced cancer
- Nancy Boyle, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, (West Linn, Oregon) received the John J. Kenny Award that was established in 1980 to honor the late John J. Kenny, MD, the first chairman of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Patient Services Committee. This award recognizes a member of the medical community, a social worker or a caregiver who has provided outstanding support, counsel or guidance to patients with a blood cancer, their families, a medical institution and/or LLS’s patient services program.
Credentials
- Michelle Abraham, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, (New York, New York) obtained her OSW-C.
- Arewa Banjoko, MSW, LCSW, (Houston, Texas) received a Certificate of Achievement from the Department of the Army for the exceptional work she provided to the Behavioral Health Department while supporting the U.S. Army Medical Department in Japan this summer.
- Michelle Byers, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, (Bel Air, MD) recently passed her clinical social work exam and is now licensed as a LCSW-C in the State of Maryland.
- Kim Evans-Whitney, MSW, LCSW, (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) passed her LCSW exam in July 2016
- Kristin Francis, OSW-C, (Carterville, Illinois) has been quite busy as the first social worker at the SIH Cancer Institute. She obtained her OSW-C, was named the Distress Screening Coordinator to two of the hospital’s ethics committees and is the social work liaison for their Medical Legal Partnership. She has also co-developed an education and support oncology group with a nurse navigator at the institute.
- Nicole Levitan, LCSW, OSW-C, (New York, New York) obtained her OSW-C.
- Angela Ruppel, MSW, LCSW, (St. Louis, Missouri) earned her LCSW and was chosen as a Feature Alumna in her alma mater's online newsletter (UMSL Daily at the University of Missouri St. Louis).
- Diana Sharp, OSW-C, (Dayton, Ohio) received her OSW-C.
- Leena Nehru, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, (Marietta, Georgia) received her OSW-C.
Presentations
- Jeanice Hansen, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, (Denver, Colorado) presented “Dealing With Down Days: Managing Difficult Emotions and Recharging Your Caregiving Batteries” at the GRACE (Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education) Patient/Caregiver Forum at the University of Colorado Cancer Center in August, 2016.
Publications
- Shirley Otis-Green, LCSW, ACSW, OSW-C, (Sacramento, California) was a member of the NASW committee that revised the recently published “NASW Standards for Social Work Practice in Health Care Settings,” now available online through NASW Press.
- Alison Snow, PhD, LCSW-R, OSW-C, (New York, New York) co-published Group-Based Psychosocial Services: Assessing Outpatient Oncology Need” in The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, 14(6), June 2016.
Other
- Tracy Borgmeyer, LCSW, (Joplin, MO) completed the MA program at Loyola University Chicago, Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics.
- Karlynn BrintzenhofSzoc, PhD, MSW, (Cincinnati, Ohio) started a new position in the University of Cincinnati’s School of Social Work as a social researcher in the Precision Cancer Initiative.
Congratulations to everyone for their hard work and dedication to our profession as oncology social workers!
Forward your career news to me to be included in the next Kudos column!
About the Author
Kate McFadien, MSW, LSW, OSW-C
Social WorkerNemours Children Hospital
Kate McFadien, MSW, LSW, OSW-C
Social WorkerNemours Children Hospital
Articles
Achievements of AOSW MembersAchievements of AOSW Members
Kudos: Achievements of AOSW Members
Kudos! Achievements of AOSW Members
Kudos! Achievements of AOSW Members
Kudos! Achievements of AOSW Members