AOSW Connections

Welcome to AOSW Connections and our final issue of 2022! We are thrilled to introduce this issue and its theme, “From Bench to Bedside: Applying Research to Psychosocial Oncology Practice.” This issue illustrates some of the joys and challenges of applying psychosocial oncology research to practice. You might be someone who uses research to inform: 

The Unwinding of the Miracle: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything That Comes After
​Review by Amy Colver
When I read the title of this book, I started thinking about the word “miracle” and ways that it has been a part of my life. I realized that I have heard the word primarily from patients and their loved ones throughout my career as an oncology social worker. My work has allowed me to hear different meanings of the word, in a variety of contexts, through individual lenses, but all within the common experience of facing a cancer diagnosis.

I am fortunate to attend a variety of professional conferences as a part of my job. When I present, it’s generally on our programs, projects and survey results. After 18 years at my organization, I keep up reasonably well at even the highest-level scientific presentations. But when I look at the definitions of “researcher” and “scientist,” I find that while I may meet the basic qualifications of both, I certainly do not consider myself either.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had critical consequences on cancer care delivery, including altered treatment protocols and delayed services that can affect quality of life and long-term survival. The last two years have also had significant effects on our field: we faced the pressure to develop innovative approaches to psychosocial care delivery, while also coping with increasing demands, burnout and isolation. All in a landscape where the relationship with knowledge and evidence has changed, and at a time when we strive to document and disseminate our experiences and the contributions we brought to changed practices.  

Advocacy takes on many forms within the social work practice. The micro, mezzo and macro levels of advocacy are used all the time.  We’ve advocated for ourselves in the profession and advocated for our patients within the workplace at some point in our careers. We might advocate for our patient multiple times a day. This would make sense as we never stop helping the patients we serve.

The 2023 AOSW Conference Call for Abstracts is now open; submissions are due by December 1, 2022. To submit an abstract, click on Abstracts in the top menu and select New Abstract.  You must have or create an account in our system to enter abstracts.

As the AOSW Board of Directors met in early October to engage in a strategic planning process, we heard from one another about the ways that AOSW has shaped our paths and provided a professional home to us. We heard about transformational experiences at the AOSW conference, friendships and networks that have sustained us over years, a shared commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the value of having a platform for collaboration and learning that continues to evolve to changing needs.