IPOS News

The Jimmie Holland Memorial Award honours an IPOS or psycho-oncology community member, recognized for making a unique contribution that is considered to be a highly creative or pioneering innovation or activity that advances the field of psycho-oncology. The award is unique in its recognition of Jimmie Holland as a pioneer and chief innovator of our time, as well as for her enormous contribution as a mentor. This award is supported by the Holland family.

Elisabeth has an impressive 35-year career in clinical care, research, and contributions to the promotion and growth of psycho-oncology in her region. This prestigious award recognizes individuals whose unique, innovative, and pioneering contributions have substantially advanced the field of psycho-oncology. Elisabeth is a true pioneer — not only within Austria but also on the international stage. Her work has been instrumental in shaping and advancing psycho-oncology as an essential component of cancer care. The extensive evidence of her tireless efforts to integrate psycho-oncology into routine cancer care reflects a deep and sustained commitment to the core mission of IPOS. Her leadership, vision, and impact make her an exceptionally deserving recipient of this 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

There were FIVE scholarships offered in 2026 to attend the 2026 IPOS World Congress in Barcelona. We are pleased to announce the winners.

1. Andrea Patenaude IPOS Scholarship (valued at $5,000) Awarded to Martha Beatriz Paredes Delhonte (Peru) that includes:

2. Carolyn Messner Congress and Membership Scholarship Awarded to Rachel Kansiime (Uganda) that includes:

3. Matthew Loscalzo Congress Scholarship Awarded to Lydiah Maingi (Kenya) that includes:

4. Michael Jefford Congress Scholarship Awarded to Maria Madeline Mallillin (Philippines) that includes:

5. Wendy Lam Congress Scholarship Awarded to Mjedra Bajraktari Deva (Kosovo) that includes:

Congratulations to all and a HUGE thank you to those who supported the scholarships.

Click here to learn more about the World Congress

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!

Interested in being profiled?

Please email the following to [email protected] with the subject line “IPOS member profile submission”:

1. Name
2. Employment position
3. Employer/Institution
4. Country
5. Twitter handle (if available)
6. Jpg photo of yourself
7. Description: How does IPOS contribute to your career growth?
8. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

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.

Interested in being profiled?

Please email the following to [email protected] with the subject line “IPOS member profile submission”:

1. Name
2. Employment position
3. Employer/Institution
4. Country
5. Twitter handle (if available)
6. Jpg photo of yourself
7. Description: How does IPOS contribute to your career growth?
8. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

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.

Interested in being profiled?

Please email the following to [email protected] with the subject line “IPOS member profile submission”:

1. Name
2. Employment position
3. Employer/Institution
4. Country
5. Twitter handle (if available)
6. Jpg photo of yourself
7. Description: How does IPOS contribute to your career growth?
8. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.