IPOS News

The Noemi Fisman Award for Lifetime Clinical Excellence honours an IPOS or psycho-oncology community member in recognition of outstanding clinical contributions to the field of psycho-oncology. They must have served for a major proportion of their career as a clinician and be able to demonstrate novel, beneficial and substantial initiatives impacting directly on the care of patients and his/her families either through their own practice or practice developments.

Dr. Jefford has built an outstanding career over more than twenty years in clinical psycho-oncology and survivorship care, distinguished further by his contributions to research and education. As Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and inaugural Director of the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC), he has led transformative initiatives that centre psychosocial wellbeing and holistic survivorship care. His early work included pioneering research on depression screening in oncology and palliative care. He has held major leadership roles across IPOS, COSA, MASCC, ASCO, and Cancer Council Victoria. Through these roles, he has advanced communication training, survivorship models, and shaped national policy. Dr. Jefford has published more than 280 papers and 11 book chapters, and has defined unmet needs, quality of life outcomes, and intervention strategies for diverse survivor populations. He has built national survivorship education programs, producing more than 50 multilingual resources and ACSC training has reached over 26,000 health professionals. As founder and inaugural Chair of the IPOS Survivorship SIG, he enabled influential international studies. A dedicated mentor and widely invited speaker, he has shaped global survivorship discourse and is regarded as a highly deserving candidate for the Noemi Fisman Award.

This award will be presented at the 2026 IPOS World Congress of Psycho-Oncology. 

Congratulations! Read more by going to https://ipos-society.org/awards/winners

The Hiroomi & Setsuko Kawano New Investigator Award honours a new investigator for outstanding research contributions in the field of psycho-oncology and is an early career award. Candidates must be within seven years of active work in psycho-oncology after completing their postgraduate, fellowship or equivalent specialist training (defined as a PhD or MD or equivalent) relative to opportunity. "Relative to opportunity" considerations include that career breaks or career disruptions (see below of details). Nominators who are unsure if a candidate meets criteria should seek advice from the Awards Chair. This award is sponsored by the Hiroomi Kawano Foundation in Japan.

Dr. Haywood stands out as an emerging leader in psycho-oncology and is highly deserving of The Hiroomi & Setsuko Kawano New Investigator Award. His work has made significant contributions in two key areas. First, he has advanced understanding of the lived experience of individuals affected by cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). This program of research led to the development of COG-IMPACT, the first and only assessment tool designed to identify unmet psychosocial needs associated with CRCI. The tool has already informed services across 12 countries and has supported more than 500,000 patients. Second, Dr. Haywood has contributed to improving how mental health difficulties are conceptualized in people affected by cancer. The field of psycho-oncology has long faced challenges related to psychological misdiagnosis, and he was the first to propose a viable solution through the application of the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) in cancer. This work introduced a dimensional framework that more accurately captures the complexity of cancer-related effects and associated psychopathology. Taken together, these accomplishments, along with a strong and growing publication record, active involvement in IPOS, and clear real-world impact, demonstrate both innovation and leadership.

Congratulations! Read more by going to https://ipos-society.org/awards/winners

IPOS affords an incredible opportunity for me to connect with and learn from psycho-oncology professionals across the globe! It’s been a pleasure meeting IPOS members from different countries, participating in webinars, and holding board positions. This has strongly supported my work in the field and further contributed to my passion for psycho-oncology.  

I work as a clinical psychologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where I work primarily with patients diagnosed with cancer. I also serve as the co-director of our Bereavement Clinic, where I support those who’ve lost loved ones to cancer. Over the last number of years, I’ve been involved with IPOS in various capacities, first as the Early Career Director and now as the North American (USA) Director. Outside of work, I love to travel. I’ll be in Iceland in July!

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Congratulations to Patricia Parker (USA) for Winning the 2026 Bernard Fox Memorial Award

The award will be presented to Dr. Parker at the 27th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, November 9-12, 2026, Barcelona, Spain.

The Bernard Fox Memorial Award honours an IPOS or psycho-oncology community member who has made an outstanding contribution in education or research to the field of psycho-oncology. The primary focus is on the academic and educational output of the nominee.

Dr. Parker has made outstanding contributions to psycho-oncology over the past 28 years. Her work includes training more than 5,000 oncology-care professionals and holding key leadership roles at institutional, national, and international levels. She has served as chair and co-chair for several psycho-oncology programs. Her leadership of the MSK Comskil Program has had substantial institutional and international impact, with extensive training reach and strong integration of research and clinical practice. She has an impressive publication record, consistent extramural funding, and a sustained commitment to mentorship and leadership within IPOS. With multiple impactful publications and sustained contributions to both education and research, she emerges very deserving of this award.

This is a mid-to-late-career award, and the nominee may work as an educator, as a researcher and/or provide clear evidence of being a leader in his/her chosen area of psycho-oncology. It is important that the nominator provide evidence in his/her letter of recommendation that the nominee meets these criteria. In addition, the nominator needs to provide two further letters of recommendation from other individuals to whom the nominee is known, which provide evidence that the nominee meets these criteria.

My association with the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) has significantly contributed to my professional growth and global perspective in psycho-oncology. Through active participation in IPOS conferences, academic collaborations, and leadership opportunities, I have gained valuable exposure to international advancements in psychosocial cancer care, supportive oncology, and tobacco control. IPOS provided a platform to exchange knowledge with leading experts across the world, strengthening my research, clinical practice, and advocacy efforts. The organization has also inspired and supported my commitment to holistic, patient-centred cancer care, academic mentorship, and the advancement of psycho-oncology services in India.  

Surendran Veeraiah is Professor and Head of the Department of Psycho-oncology and the Resource Center for Tobacco Control at Cancer Institute (WIA). With over 25 years of experience, his work focuses on psycho-oncology, tobacco control, supportive care, survivorship, and end-of-life care. He has played a pioneering role in establishing psycho-oncology training programs in India and has mentored several doctoral scholars. As Director (Region 1) of IPOS, Co-Chair of the IPOS Health Promotion SIG, and Member of the IPOS Survivorship SIG, he actively contributes to international collaborations, education, research, and advocacy initiatives aimed at advancing psychosocial cancer care globally. His activities include conference presentations, academic mentoring, tobacco control initiatives, survivorship programs, and community-based interventions, particularly alternative livelihood programs for bidi workers. He is also committed to enhancing patient dignity through supportive care initiatives such as providing free wigs and breast prostheses for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. Beyond his professional commitments, he enjoys mentoring young professionals and participating in community outreach activities that integrate public health, compassion, and social empowerment.

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The award will be presented to Dr. Lam at the 27th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, November 9-12, 2026, Barcelona, Spain.

Dr. Lam has had a stellar life-long career and commitment to IPOS. She has worked for the majority of her career in Hong Kong and has become a leader in Psycho-oncology in Hong Kong, Asia, and internationally. She is a prolific and impactful clinician researcher, mentor and educator, who has excelled as an advocate and agent for change and progress in Psycho-oncology worldwide. She has also contributed to the growth and expansion of psycho-oncology both in Asia and globally through her work in the areas of psychosocial adjustment to cancer, shared decision-making, fear of cancer recurrence, supportive care needs, and survivorship models of care. Wendy has an impressive publication and research grant record with multiple mentees who have gone on to contribute to our field. Her international impact is outstanding and her tenure as IPOS President was replete with stunning achievements. She was a valued Associate Editor on the 2020 Psycho-oncology 4th edition textbook, which has spread the knowledge base of psycho-oncology world-wide.

The Arthur M. Sutherland Award honours an IPOS or psycho-oncology community member with a lifetime achievement in the field of psycho-oncology. This is a late-career award and recognizes sustained and distinguished output in psycho-oncology over their whole career. This is the Society’s most important award and reflects the international standing of the recipient.

The recipient will have achieved international recognition for his/her work and be considered to have contributed important innovations to the field of psycho-oncology. Quantity of output is less important than evidence of international standing and innovation across an individual’s whole career. It is important that the nominator provides evidence in their letter of recommendation that the nominee meets these criteria. In addition, the nominator needs to provide two further letters of recommendation from other individuals to whom the nominee is known, which provide evidence that the nominee meets these criteria.

The International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) plays a meaningful role in my career growth by providing a global platform that strengthens both my clinical practice and professional development within psycho-oncology.

As someone formally trained in this field, IPOS connects me with an international network of experts, researchers, and clinicians who are dedicated to improving the psychological care of people affected by cancer. This exposure allows me to stay current with evidence-based practices, emerging research, and culturally responsive approaches, all of which directly enhance the quality of care I provide.

Additionally, IPOS offers access to educational resources, conferences, and collaborative opportunities that support continuous learning and skill refinement. Engaging with these spaces not only deepens my expertise but also encourages interdisciplinary perspectives that are essential in psycho-oncology.

Being part of IPOS also supports my long-term career goals by opening pathways for research involvement, professional visibility, and potential leadership within the field. Overall, it contributes to my growth by fostering ongoing education, meaningful collaboration, and a strong sense of belonging to a global professional community committed to compassionate, holistic cancer care.

I’d love to have psycho-oncology in my city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa and be able to give quality care to cancer patients, their families and multidisciplinary teams.

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I am a psycho-oncologist (psychologist) based in Kochi, India, working in a tertiary care hospital where I provide psychosocial support to cancer patients across the disease trajectory. My work focuses on integrating psycho-oncology into routine oncology care, with a special interest in geriatric oncology. I am actively involved in developing a structured multidisciplinary geriatric oncology program and conducting research on psychological distress and supportive care needs among elderly cancer patients.

Through IPOS, I stay connected to global developments in psycho-oncology and continuously work towards adapting evidence-based practices to resource-limited settings. My approach to care emphasizes collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and strengthening psychosocial support within multidisciplinary teams.

Beyond my professional role, I am a trained dancer and have served as Vice President of a Toastmasters Club, experiences that have shaped my communication and connection with people. I strongly believe that every person carries a story—and that these stories have the power to inspire, heal, and transform lives.

IPOS has been instrumental in shaping my development as a psycho-oncologist by providing access to global knowledge, evidence-based practices, and a collaborative network of professionals dedicated to psychosocial cancer care. As someone working in a low- and middle-income setting, IPOS offers valuable exposure to international standards and innovative models of care that I can adapt to my local context. It has strengthened my clinical approach, enhanced my research perspective, and inspired me to integrate structured psycho-oncology services within multidisciplinary oncology care. IPOS continues to motivate me to bridge gaps in psychosocial care and contribute meaningfully to the field.

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Sunt psiholog clinician cu competențe în psiho-oncologie, activitatea mea profesională se concentrează asupra evaluării și intervenției psihologice în contexte clinice. Formarea mea academică include studii universitare în domeniile psihologiei și sociologiei, completate ulterior prin programe de master și programe de formare complementră/continuă. Acest parcurs educațional mi-a oferit o perspectivă integrativă asupra comportamentului uman, asupra mecanismelor psihologice individuale și asupra dinamicilor sociale care influențează dezvoltarea și funcționarea psihică a persoanei.

În practica mea profesională urmăresc îmbinarea rigurozității evaluării psihologice cu o abordare empatică și orientată spre resursele persoanei.

Un domeniu de interes profesional îl reprezintă intersecția dintre psihologie și îngrijirea medicală, în special în contextul psiho-oncologiei și al îngrijirii paliative. În aceste arii, rolul meu este esențial pentru sprijinirea pacienților și a familiilor lor în fața unor experiențe existențiale dificile, caracterizate de incertitudine, suferință și transformări profunde ale vieții personale.

În paralel cu practica clinică, sunt implicat în activități de formare profesională și supervizare, contribuind la dezvoltarea competențelor altor psihologi și la consolidarea standardelor profesionale în domeniul psihologiei aplicate.

I am a clinical psychologist with expertise in psycho-oncology. My professional activity focuses on psychological assessment and intervention in clinical contexts. My academic background includes university studies in the fields of psychology and sociology, subsequently completed through master's programs and complementary/continuous training programs. This educational path has provided me with an integrative perspective on human behaviour, on individual psychological mechanisms and on the social dynamics that influence the development and psychological functioning of the person.

In my professional practice, I aim to combine the rigor of psychological assessment with an empathetic and resource-oriented approach to the person.

An area of ​​professional interest is the intersection of psychology and medical care, especially in the context of psycho-oncology and palliative care. In these areas, my role is essential in supporting patients and their families in the face of difficult existential experiences, characterized by uncertainty, suffering and profound transformations of personal lives.

In parallel with clinical practice, I am involved in professional training and supervision activities, contributing to the development of the skills of other psychologists and the strengthening of professional standards in the field of applied psychology.

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