AOSW Connections

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.   

Together Beyond Conference
There is something special about being together as an oncology social work community. I’m still riding a bit of a conference high. I’m feeling inspired by what I learned, energized by the conversations I had, and honored to be part of such a dedicated and compassionate community.

Thank you to everyone who attended AOSW’s 42nd Annual Conference, Threads of Support, Nurturing Resilience and Breaking Barriers, in Portland, Oregon, in June, and to all those who are part of our community throughout the year. Your presence, your energy, and the palpable connection and community made this conference the success it was! 

Erin Berggren, CAE, assumed the role of executive director of AOSW in July. Erin has more than 25 years of experience serving professional and trade associations in both stand-alone and AMC environments.

Any AOSW member can submit a colleague for Kudos! Remember, nominators and nominees must be AOSW members. Access the Submission Form.

Check out these two recent articles featuring AOSW members…

Cancer treatments are intended to improve medical outcomes yet often come with numerous side effects that negatively influence sleep, energy levels, pain, mood, and overall well-being. Across oncology settings, patients are increasingly turning to integrative modalities to manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and feel a greater sense of control during and after treatment (Romeiser et al., 2026).  

Children and adolescents with cancer face far more than the physical challenges of treatment. They are also trying to make sense of frightening procedures, disrupted routines, changing relationships, and an uncertain future while continuing to grow and develop. Yet young patients are often left out of conversations about their own care. Many are viewed as “too young to understand,” while others hesitate to ask questions or voice their concerns because they worry about upsetting their caregivers or healthcare providers, or because conversations about illness feel difficult or off limits. Without opportunities to share their perspectives, many young people are left carrying uncertainty, helplessness, and emotional distress on their own.  

Patients with cancer are increasingly seeking ways to improve their quality of life during and after treatment. In response to these needs, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital launched an Integrative Oncology Program in October 2025. While patients often come looking for guidance on nutrition, lifestyle changes, or symptom management, we quickly learned that many are searching for something deeper: support in navigating the unexpected physical, emotional, and social effects of cancer and its treatment. 

As oncology social workers, you already understand something medicine is only beginning to quantify: a cancer diagnosis doesn’t just impact the body. It can fracture identity, dissolve a sense of the future, and leave patients grappling with questions no medication has ever truly answered. “What does my life mean now? How do I face what’s coming?” For decades we’ve held space for those questions with presence and skill, often with the quiet frustration that our tools could only go so far, but that may be changing. 

As oncology social workers, we know the impact of a cancer diagnosis more than most. We live it each day alongside our patients and their loved ones. Lives are changed. Fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and overwhelm set in. Life-altering decisions need to be made, often quickly. Information, support, and resources become essential. 

We are living in a time when nearly 6,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer every day (American Cancer Society, 2026). We are also often in a state of information overload amid an era of growing health misinformation.

“I’m totally fine if I have a gummy after dinner.” 

One of my Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients tells me this almost every time we meet for counseling. “It just takes the edge off. I feel better. I can relax and fall asleep.” 

Until six years ago, it was illegal to use marijuana without a prescription in my state (Arizona). Some providers were fine with cannabis use in edible form and others highly discouraged any use, but either way our healthcare institution didn’t provide the necessary prescriptions.