This year I had the privilege along with two of my colleagues to present at the AOSW Annual Conference in New Orleans. My own curiosity about conference attendees led me to look around on the Whova app. I came across a group chat by Hispanic members expressing a desire to form a Special Interest Group …
The Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) offers Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to its members. Yet some members might not know what a SIG entails and so might not join. This can mean a lost opportunity to network, learn and have fun! I am new to SIGs and have already found great value in being …
The clue: “They are niche communities that welcome all with the opportunities to learn, share and lead in an area of interest that can have a great impact on our patients and with us in contemporary social work practice” (Sandy Blackburn, Co-Leader, Spirituality SIG). The answer: “What are Special Interest Groups?”
Oncology social workers move up and down the dial of intensity from crisis counseling to the mundane taxi voucher. While we may be rushed, we want to be especially attentive to our patients’ deeper, emotional needs and their strong desire to cope.
Recent changes in cancer care standards have led to increased distress screening in oncology social work. This has had many positive outcomes; screening itself, however, without effective follow-up services is not enough.
Children’s Mercy is one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the Midwest. Located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, it is a thriving hospital that is constantly changing and growing to meet the unique needs of the continuously expanding population of Kansas City and the surrounding area. Patients come to Children’s Mercy not only for the …
Hello, AOSW! Allow me to introduce myself. I am a clinical social worker writing to you from Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. I serve as the social worker for the outpatient Neuro-Oncology and Immunotherapy Clinics. Recently, I have taken over as the chair of the Brain Tumor SIG and cannot wait to get …
Approximately 72,000 adolescents and young adults (AYA), defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2017) as ages 15-39, are diagnosed with cancer each year. A cancer diagnosis during this life stage generates unique medical and psychosocial needs as developmental milestones are simultaneously impacted (Institute of Medicine, 2013).
As oncology social workers we navigate our patients through both calm seas and stormy waters along their cancer journey. For patients with a prayer practice, their belief system also sustains and guides them. When a patient’s spiritual-based request, such as asking us to pray with them, intersects (or clashes) with our personal ethics and professional …
Spirituality SIG: “Will You Pray with Me?” A Simple Question—a Nuanced Response Read More »
Many thanks to the social workers who attended the Blood Cancer and Bone Marrow Transplant SIG meeting in Atlanta. Your energy and enthusiasm for collaborating and learning were amazing.