As the holiday season approaches, you may find yourself reflecting on the year that has gone by and the ups and downs of 2023. As oncology social work professionals and students practicing in hospitals, cancer centers, home care agencies, hospice, community-based oncology practices, community programs, patient advocacy organizations, educational institutions, and other settings, YOU are …
My journey as an oncology social worker started in fall 1997 when I began my first internship at Lewis-Gale Regional Cancer Center in Salem, Virginia. I was a brand-new graduate student and eager to learn. I had asked for a placement in pediatric hospice, but to my unknown fortune, all they had available was the …
Evolving Oncology Social Work Practice: A Career as an OSW-C Read More »
Do you remember a time, not that long ago, when you didn’t know what Zoom was? I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had to learn a new platform so quickly! I’ll never forget the flurry of action in March 2020 when our small team at Gilda’s Club Madison had to quickly learn the …
I cannot speak authoritatively about how oncology social work has evolved over the years other than to observe that it has required us to continually adapt to the changing and complex environment of oncology healthcare delivery – especially during a pandemic. The familiar career question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” quickly became …
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 …
A Non-research Social Worker Finds Joy at a Research Conference Read More »
In an effort to help our colleagues in working through financial concerns with patients and their loved ones, we created a partial list of financial assistance resources. You’ll find information on financial assistance options for daily living expenses, transportation costs, and co-payments for cancer treatment as well as medications. We also included college scholarship opportunities. …
This, our third Issue of 2023, marks my last issue as AOSW Connections Editor-in-Chief. This is the 10th year I have been at the helm of our AOSW newsletter, a position that offers a very unique vantage point in witnessing how our association has evolved this past decade. I’m very proud of the space that …
A Decade of AOSW Evolution Through the Lens of the AOSW Newsletter Read More »
When a patient faces financial stress there are often straight forward ways to help. But sometimes a patient’s financial need is complex and doesn’t fit into any traditional form of financial assistance. These are the situations where social workers shine, as they have the skills to investigate a patient’s entire story and consider out of …
Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is never easy but those diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 39 face unique challenges. One challenge often overlooked, and therefore not planned for, is the financial impact of cancer treatment on the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population. Before diagnosis, many AYAs are at a stage …
Supporting Financial Independence in the AYA Population: Considerations for Providers Read More »
As oncology social workers, understanding the psychosocial impact of financial toxicity and the ramifications of health equity disparities is crucial in providing comprehensive care for cancer patients. This article aims to explore the multifaceted challenges related to financial toxicity and health equity and disparities and provide insights and strategies to help oncology social workers support …