How long have you been an oncology social worker?

I have worked as an oncology social worker at Providence Cancer Institute in Portland, Oregon, for 21 years. Currently I have two distinct roles. I work as a clinical oncology social worker with the Transplant and CAR-T team, and coordinate a program for kids who have a significant adult in their life with cancer and participate in research. I also work half-time for my health system in the Department of Compassion as a program manager, creating curriculum and programing to help create a compassionate and resilient workforce. This includes group interventions and individual skill building in areas of self-compassion, gratitude, compassion and mindfulness with the goal of connection. Providence has allowed me to grow and expand my career in a variety of ways, and for that I am grateful.

How long have you been a member of AOSW and what have been your volunteer roles?

My first AOSW conference was in La Jolla in 1997, where my mentor and Portland State professor was president of AOSW. Thanks, Susan Hedlund! I am always reminded how important those early relationships within AOSW helped launch me into roles I love. I am forever grateful to Tammy Weitzman, Les Gallo Silver, Vicki Kennedy, Carolyn Messner, Jim Zabora and Susan Hedlund who encouraged me early in my career to step up and volunteer in roles within AOSW. First, I was on a conference committee and that role and involvement opened my eyes to other opportunities to represent oncology social work and the work we do. I was fortunate to serve AOSW as Director of Membership, President and, most recently, Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Every day at a program level I call upon my friends and colleagues personally for insight and information on best practices. I feel my connection with AOSW helps me be a better social worker!

Have you attended AOSW conferences? 

I have missed only a few AOSW conferences over the years. I try to present or volunteer in order to be able to go. AOSW has been a lifeline for me, and provided me with more opportunities and friends than I ever imagined possible!  

Other professional affiliations?

I have belonged to many other oncology and social work groups over the years, and currently represent AOSW and oncology social work as a profession on the national boards of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), which is a part of the American College of Surgeons. The opportunity to speak about our work to multidisciplinary boards and support those with cancer has been a career highlight! Also, for years I have facilitated an online support group for the Young Survival Collation and sit on its advisory committee.

Would you share a memorable story with us? 

This past year, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Jill Biden in Portland, and shared a story with her about a basic intervention to help a patient get a new hotplate. This was something that any of us would have done in the course of a day, not an over-the-top intervention by any means. The point I was trying to articulate was that sometimes the answer for someone healing from cancer isn’t obvious to the care team, and that social workers assess the big picture. The reason the patient was losing weight wasn’t due to physical issues, but a practical one. Dr. Biden ended up sharing my story to a national audience and it was certainly a thrill to hear her call out oncology social work on a national stage. The best part was I received several emails from people around the country with the #hotplate in the subject line!

In that “little something more” section, what is one thing you might share with us about you personally, one that is outside your work life?

This March I am headed to Haiti for the 10th time as a part of a medical mission team. Our team goes to the same village each year to support a Haitian-run medical clinic and we hold a medical conference. The clinic actually has a social worker now who works with the HIV clinic and they have their own office. My role there varies from holding babies, consulting with the social work staff, counting meds in the pharmacy, assisting with procedures and helping with the clinic debrief in the evenings. We even hold a “Schwartz Rounds” on the last evening. Last year I found a colleague in Haiti who was able to teach mindfulness at the conference and lead the 220 participants in a guided meditation. It was amazing! I am so grateful for the opportunity to know and love the people in Haiti, and encourage any of you who are thinking of volunteering internationally to go for it!

Anything more you’d like to tell us?

I love riding my bike to work. It feels almost meditative as I imagine the wind blowing off the stress of the day on my way home! I also am a big MLS soccer fan (Go, Timbers!), so much so that my APOS friends saw my team after their conference at the airport and sent me selfies with them!