AOSW Connections

As I’m writing this editor’s message for the last issue of Connections in 2026, my heart is full of gratitude. It’s no coincidence that the month of November also resonates with gratitude. I’m grateful to the AOSW community for the ongoing support of this newsletter, including the Board of Directors and members who continue to step forward to share their voice and highlight the work they’re doing in the field. I’m also grateful to the Connections team, one that works hard (mainly as volunteers) to bring this publication to you four times a year. Thank you for everything, collaborating with you brings me joy and inspiration!

When I reflect on health inequity, I am reminded of Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” I imagine many of you, like me, wholeheartedly agree. We see the impact of inequity every day in our work, and recognizing and addressing it is an essential part of our role as oncology social workers.

Sometimes a small change can make a big difference. That is the strategy behind the Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act, a common-sense bipartisan bill that was introduced in the current 119^th Congress as HR 4185. This bill is only 100 words long (shorter than this newsletter article!), yet it has the power to remove a significant barrier to evidence-based whole-person care.

Any AOSW member can submit a colleague for Kudos! Remember, nominators and nominees must be AOSW members. Please reach out to Kudos Editor Alicia Wlodynski at Alicia.Wlodynski@Moffitt.org with any questions.

When looking at health care equity, there are many areas that can be booming and floundering, while overlooking areas that are most affected. In rural America, one of the biggest issues is the lack of transportation and distance to resources.

The dawn of digital health technology in oncology care has arrived. As we witness the rapidly evolving changes in the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, it is impossible to avoid deep concerns about the potential for widening health equity divides.

What aspects of health inequity persist when the cost of cancer treatment is no longer the primary barrier? Financial toxicity is a well-established concern in oncology, influencing treatment decisions, adherence, and quality of life. However, insurance coverage and affordability represent only part of a broader landscape of cancer health equity.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant is a complex cancer treatment. It requires patients and caregivers to navigate intensive medical procedures, isolation, and prolonged recovery, as well as significant emotional and financial stress. For Spanish-speaking patients, these challenges are often compounded by language barriers, cultural differences, and systemic inequities that can affect every stage of the transplant journey.

In recent years, more attention is being paid to the impact of disparities and inequities on both the incidence and treatment of cancer. These are issues of importance to oncology social workers who are often involved with patients whose social determinants of health are significant. It is essential that oncology social workers stay abreast of these issues in order to assist their patients as well as to advocate for system level changes that can bring hope to those most vulnerable.

A breast cancer diagnosis brings questions that don’t wait for the next appointment: How will I pay for treatment? Who will drive me to radiation? What do I tell my kids? A skilled navigator can make the difference between a patient who stays on course and one who falls through the cracks, yet not every patient has access to one.

I never set out to become an oncology social worker. After spending many years in community mental health, a former schoolmate encouraged me to apply for an opening on her oncology team. It sounded like an interesting opportunity, so I decided to take a chance.

For the second year in a row, The Cancer Support Community (CSC) and the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) partnered to host the fifth annual Psychosocial Oncology Professionals Symposium (POPS) as the pre-conference event to ACCC’s 43^rd National Oncology Conference (NOC).