A new Special Interest Group (SIG) for AOSW members who are interested in research has formed. The SIG, to be known as SWORG (Social Work Oncology Research Group), will be chaired by Elizabeth A. Rohan, who works at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and is a member of the current Research Committee. …
Special Interest Group Announcement: New Research SIG (SWORG) Formed Read More »
Our Spirituality SIG members enjoyed meaningful time of connection at the 2016 AOSW Annual Conference. We shared a mutual perception that the space for and acceptance of the role of spirituality in health care practice has seemed to grow significantly in the past few years. This was evident within our own group, with an upward …
Spirituality SIG: The Evolving Integration of Spirituality in Social Work Practice Read More »
Everyone’s experience with a brain tumor is different, but there are many common themes and issues that are similar for patients and their caregivers. Caregiving needs are often complicated by neurocognitive, behavior and personality changes. Some patients experience memory loss, visual impairments, attention deficits and may have difficulty processing information. For example, a patient with …
Brain Tumor SIG: Brain Tumor Support Group to Reduce Caregiver Burden Read More »
We are thrilled to announce the addition of a new SIG Co-coordinator, Meghan Fitzgibbons, MSW, LGSW. Meghan works for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Mayland, as a Patient Navigator for young adult active duty and military dependents facing cancer.
“Spring is in the air!” This is a phrase or even a cliché that we often hear, especially in the north—but do we really think about what it means and how it is applicable in our lives? Most of us can agree that seasons are a vital transition and a part of our planet’s evolution. But …
Director’s Report: Spring Has Sprung and It’s Time for Self-Care Read More »
Advancements in technology have allowed the delivery of cancer care to be flexible, portable and away from the hospital. Procedures and treatments that were once done only on an inpatient basis have drastically increased the use of ambulatory care. The role of oncology social workers in these ambulatory settings is to navigate patients throughout their …
Ambulatory Care/Fee-for-Service SIG: Emergence of Ambulatory Care in Oncology Settings Read More »
“I have lost my breasts and my ovaries. Am I still a woman? Everyone around me says that I should be grateful to be alive. But I feel like I lost everything that is important to me." – A 38-year-old metastatic breast cancer patient “My erections are not firm after my surgery. I do not want …
Sexuality SIG: Cancer Treatments and Sexual Losses Read More »
Oncology social work has always been interesting, challenging and rewarding, which is why so many of us were drawn to this field. Being an oncology social worker was never on my bucket list but as many of you have, I found it to be a profession where I felt at home. I remember attending my …
Integrative Oncology SIG: What an Exciting Time to be an Oncology Social Worker! Read More »
Over recent years, with mandates from the 2008 IOM Report and the Commission on Cancer, best practices have been rapidly evolving in our world of psychosocial care in oncology. We can all likely identify with the constant effort to implement screening protocols, improve our workflows, and involve interdisciplinary teams in recognizing and addressing psychosocial distress. …
Now in the final year of my formal education in Medical Ethics, I am reflecting back on the last 10 years of professional development in “clinical ethics.” I look forward to serving in a new role as Ethics Consultor in a hospital and clinic. I feel such great affirmation about the competency of social workers …