Where do you currently work?
I am the sole oncology social worker at the Montana Cancer Center at Providence St. Patrick Hospital. The center is an outpatient department of the hospital and our clinic sees around 800 new radiation and medical oncology patients a year. I am fortunate enough to cover both departments.

Due to the rural nature of Montana, we treat patients from not only Western Montana but also parts of Idaho. It is common for a portion of our patients to travel between 2-3 hours each way to see us. The way I describe my role to patients is that it is my job to make sure that there are no obstacles in the way of them getting to treatment, be it practical things such as transportation and lodging or psychosocial reasons.

This is my first position working exclusively with cancer patients. Prior to accepting this position I was doing hospital discharge back East.
 
Where did you earn your degree?
I earned my MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and my MPH from Johns Hopkins University (I did a dual degree program).
 
How long have you been a member of AOSW?
I joined in 2013, not long after taking my first oncology social work position.
 
In your role as an oncology social worker/clinician, what is one of your favorite resources to share with clients?
I am very fortunate the hospital foundation has a program called Team Up Montana. This program provides financial assistance to any Western Montana resident who is in active treatment. These funds can—rent, mortgage, electric bills, medical bills, gas. Each year Team Up Montana celebrates survivors and their family members with a survivorship parade at one of the University of Montana football games. The parade goes through the tailgate parties and ends at Team Up Montana’s tailgate.
 
In your experience with survivors, would you share a memorable story with us?
Just after I started as a social worker at the Cancer Clinic, I had the opportunity to spend considerable time with a patient and his spouse. The patient ultimately passed and about a month afterward, I received a phone call from his wife. The patient had left a letter to be read to me after his passing. It was one of those letters that reminds you why you do the job and why it matters.
 
What is one thing you might share with us about you personally, one that is outside of your work life?
Missoula has a great adult hockey league, including a women’s only league. In an effort to ward off becoming a hermit in the winter, I joined that league. Nothing like learning how to skate and play hockey for the first time at age 33!

Jamie Bussiere
Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Missoula, Montana USA
Jamie.Bussiere@providence.org