IPOS News

My name is Nienke Zomerdijk and I am an early career researcher in Psycho-Oncology. My role is focused on both research and teaching. I am teaching undergraduate psychology students about the psychological needs of cancer patients and their families. I find this very rewarding and it is my hope to plant some psycho-oncology seeds. In my role as researcher, I am focused on understanding and addressing the psychological needs of people with cancer and their families. I am particularly passionate about haematological cancers. From my clinical experience in this setting, haematological cancer patients face additional challenges of intensive and lengthy treatments like stem cell transplantation and severe side effects. However, compared with cancers such as breast cancer or, increasingly, prostate cancer, the needs of this patient population have not received widespread attention. I hope to advocate for their needs and preferences and work together with community organisations and healthcare professionals to ensure the best psychosocial outcomes for haematological cancer patients.

Being a member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society - IPOS represents for me a community. IPOS has supported my research journey since 2016 when I was just starting my PhD. When I was blown away by the community, passion, and ideas at my first congress in Dublin, I knew I loved psycho-oncology. I am among the most fortunate people to have had the opportunity to learn from Prof Jane Turner, past IPOS president. She instilled in me the confidence to pursue a career in Psycho-Oncology and I am forever in her debt.

Since 2001, I have been working with cancer patients, professionals, and oncology institutions from Romania, Europe, and the USA. Based on this experience, I have developed the APSCO research project – www.psychooncology.ro. APSCO - Assessment of Psycho-Social and Communication needs in Oncology – is the first multi-center research project on psychosocial aspects of cancer in Romania. Furthermore, together with Dr. Alex Mitchell, we developed the first Emotion Thermometers-based cancer distress evaluation and monitoring app. I am the founder and president of APSCO - the Romanian Association for Services and Communication in Oncology, a proud member of the IPOS Federation, and a collaborating partner of the Innovative Partnership for Action Against Cancer - iPAAC initiative Europe. In 2016 the Romanian Ministry of Health named me a member of the Committee for Social Work and Support in Oncology as part of the Steering Group to develop National Cancer Control Plan 2016-2020.

The International Psycho-Oncology Society - IPOS is my professional family where we are developing and strengthening psycho-oncology policies, services, and resources across the world for cancer patients, cancer survivors, families, and loved ones, especially in emerging regions like Asia, Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Russia. This is our mission together with the largest and truly representative psycho-oncology professional society in the world, which represents a range of health disciplines across the globe, including psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, clinicians, social workers, social scientists, patient advocates, educators, and administrators, dieticians, epidemiologists, specialists in pastoral care and vocational rehabilitation. Dr. Luzia Travado, IPOS President Emeritus, dear friend, is my mentor here.

As Board Member at the European Cancer Organisation – ECCO in Brussels, elected on behalf of IPOS, I have been actively involved in oncopolicy and psycho-oncology capacity building in the European Union in partnership with ECCO. The most important project to be involved with is the ECCO Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care – ERQCC, which aims to improve outcomes for cancer patients in Europe by adopting and implementing essential quality cancer care requirements in Europe through existing clinical guidelines that enhance their effectiveness. Its final aim is to shape the policy environment at the European and national levels to improve the quality of cancer care across Europe and reduce cancer inequalities. Further, together with the Survivorship and Quality of Life Network members at ECCO, we have been working together to build professional consensus and improve cancer care.

From my experience in IPOS, I know that psycho-oncology is gaining momentum in more and more places around the world, with significant professional resources to be engaged in the following years to come and with good chances to succeed by teamwork, commitment, and investment. All my efforts are not enough; I and IPOS will need you as ambassadors of psycho-oncology standards across the globe. I believe the most significant professional and personal experience relates to the new IPOS standard - psychosocial care as a human right.

For a decade now, de Souza Institute has been offering continuing professional development courses to healthcare professionals, to enhance their knowledge and competency and give them tools to provide the best possible cancer and/or palliative care. With online course offerings, participants can start at any time, from anywhere! Join over 18,000 healthcare professionals who have learned with de Souza.
 
Sexual Health in Cancer Part 1 (IPODE) - Sexual concerns are one of the most common cancer survivorship issues, yet they are the least likely to be discussed. Learn skills in assessment and counseling for common sexual health issues in cancer care. Enroll by August 23, 2021, course starts on September 7^th to November 8, 2021.
Offered in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology.
Visit the Sexual Health in Cancer course webpage for additional details, including online classroom dates.
 
Sex Counselling in Cancer Part 2 (IPODE) – Buildong on Sexual Health in Cancer Part 1, this course is designed for health professionals who have a counselling practice and wish to develop further knowledge and skill in sex counselling.
 
Visit the Sex Counselling in Cancer Part 2 course webpage for additional details, including online classroom dates.
 
Both are offered in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology.

My name is Christoffer Johansen and I was born and live in Denmark, which is one of the most well organized societies in the world. Unfortunately we currently have an immigration policy, which is among the most disgusting one can imagine. Our nation is small and probably this is the reason, that the 5.6 million Danes are careful to allow only a minority of applicants to enter the country. I was raised in a family of cultural/liberal (in the US entitled socialists) politicians, architects and psychologists and after medical school moved from some years of abdominal surgery into the psychosocial research field. I have been actively participating in IPOS since the beginning and started the field of psychosocial epidemiology in my country illustrating how psychological factors do not cause cancer and also that you as a cancer patient may live better when consulting a psychologist. However, you do not live longer compared to your fellow patients. My primary work has been on etiology, prognosis and interventions in cancer. As a PI, I have had the responsibility for more than 20 investigator initiated RCT’s in behavioral psychosocial oncology. I have supervised more than 60 PhD students, published more than 650 papers in peer reviewed journals, authored books in the field of religion and disease (I am not a believer, at least not a religious believer). And also coauthored and edited books on late effects, survivorship and personality and health. The last book was in English at Elsevier in San Diego, USA. I am best at writing applications, editing papers and overlooking the scientific processes. I am biking everyday to work, I have been the President for IPOS in three year period in 2003 to 2006. Together with Dean Uwe Koch from Hamburg in Germany and Professor Luigi Grassi in Ferrare, Italy, I convinced (I tend to believe) WHO to add psychosocial aspects of cancer in the overall cancer program. I have crossed the Atlantic in a sailing boat, biked around New York for 6 months during my stay at Memorial Sloan Kettering, skiing almost the entire massive of the Dolomites in Italy and have a short training and diploma of being a person who may take people over a glacier. I never used this degree. Today I work as a Professor in Cancer late effect research at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmar

OCHSNER HEALTH IS SEEKING A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST TO JOIN ITS DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AND WORK EXCLUSIVELY WITH ONCOLOGY PATIENTS IN THE GAYLE AND TOM BENSON CANCER.  The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent) from an APA-approved program and be licensed or eligible for licensure in Louisiana. Candidate must have also completed internship training at an APA-Approved site. 

The position involves working closely with our multi-disciplinary teams including Lung Cancer, Head & Neck Cancer, Neuro-oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation to provide requisite and clinically important psychosocial care.  It also involves collaboration with our Pediatric Hematology-Oncology colleagues, working with members of our Palliative Oncology Team, and occasional travel to satellite facilities in the Greater New Orleans area. The salary offered will be competitive and commensurate with experience and training.

Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Ochsner Health is a not-for-profit committed to giving back to the communities it serves through preventative screenings, health and wellness resources and partnerships with innovative organizations that share our vision. Ochsner Health healed more than 876,000 people from across the globe in 2019, providing the latest medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named the top hospital in Louisiana and a top children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report. As Louisiana’s leading healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. Ochsner Health is innovating healthcare by investing in new technologies and research to make world-class care more accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner's team of more than 26,000 employees and 4,500 providers are working to reinvent the future of health and wellness in the region. To learn more about Ochsner Health, please visit www.ochsner.org. To transform your health, please visit www.ochsner.org/healthyyou. 

New Orleans is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in America. Amenities include multiple universities, academic centers, professional sports teams, world-class dining, cultural interests, renowned live entertainment and music. 

Interested physicians should email CV to: [email protected] AND [email protected] – Subject: ADPSYONC

Apply Link https://ochsner.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/OchsnerPhysician/job/New-Orleans---New-Orleans-Region---Louisiana/Clinical-Psychologist--Oncology----The-Gayle---Tom-Benson-Cancer-Center--New-Orleans--LA-_REQ_00091107

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Have a job position to promote? Click here for more information - https://ipos-society.org/ads

Friday, September 17, 9 am ET via zoom.

Open to all current IPOS members

In response to the rapid growth of the aging population diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, the mandate of the Cancer and Aging: Reflection for Elders (CARE) SIG is to promote global collaborations among researchers, clinicians, and decision makers to improve outcomes for these groups.

This session will be lead by:

• Tania Estape (Co-Chair 2021 – 2023) – Spain
• Patricia Parker (Co-Chair 2021 – 2023) – USA

REGISTER TODAY! Register online by going to https://ipos-society.org/event-4434513

I am Martha Paredes Delhonte, I am a Peruvian clinical psychologist. Since the beginning of my career I have been interested in the field of health psychology, especially in psycho-oncology, this interest led me to start professional practices in oncology services of two hospitals in Lima Peru and to study a Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology. Due to the fact that in my country, back in the 2000's, there was no training in the area of psycho-oncology, I decided to travel to Barcelona to train in the specialty, in this same city I started my doctorate studies and managed to practice in the palliative care service of a hospital (Hospital de La Santa Cruz y San Pablo) in this city for almost 2 years. Upon returning to Peru, along with other psychology professionals who were already working in the area, we promoted the specialization and work of psycho-oncology, these efforts were consolidated in what is now the National Association of Psycho-oncology of Peru (ANPpe) and of which I was proud to be vice president. Our association brings together psycho-oncologists from all over Peru and those specialists in the health field interested in psycho-oncology. We have the firm purpose of strengthening and positioning the specialty in our country, we seek not only to motivate more professionals to be interested in psycho-oncology, but also to provide resources for training and updating in the field. I have taught at universities in Peru and Barcelona, always in courses related to clinical and health psychology, psycho-oncology, palliative care and the processes of grief and loss. My passion is psychotherapy, I am a psychotherapist (REBT and cbt) since 2002 and I work with adults in my private practice in Lima.

Being a member of IPOS represents for me to continue growing professionally and allows me to bring knowledge, practices, experience and other resources to my colleagues in Peru. I have the privilege of being part of the membership committee, where I can see in detail the extraordinary and brilliant professional profiles of the applicants to the IPOS, this inspires me a lot to continue studying and working to be a better professional and collaborate more in the positioning of psycho-oncology in Peru. Something that few can imagine about me is that I tend to be very distracted (especially when I am walking alone) and that is why I lose many things and fall or stumble; so if you meet me someday do not be surprised if you see me walking and I do not realize that I have passed in front of you, or if you see me on the floor laughing because I have fallen or if I tell you that I do not remember where I left my car or my purse. ... my mind is very creative, it is constantly dreaming and imagining many things... and I confess that being part of IPOS was one of these dreams... and it came true!

We invite you to participate in a study on:

HOW YOUR CLINICAL PRACTICE HAS CHANGED SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Consider taking this survey if you are a:

(1) counselor, psychotherapist or mental health professional

(2) serving Latinos with cancer

We would appreciate answering this online survey which takes about 15-20 minutes. Please go to: https://redcap.link/FIPOL

Contact: [email protected] if you have any questions.

REMINDER:

THESE STUDIES ARE POSSIBLE THANKS TO YOUR COOPERATION, COLLABORATE WITH US FILLING OUT OUR SURVEYS AND EVALUATIONS WHEN WE REQUEST IT.

THANK YOU!

1. Management of Clinical Depression and Anxiety

Edited by Maggie Watson and David Kissane

9780190491857

April 2017 | March 2017

£23.99 £19.19 | $33.95 $27.16

This volume provides a brief set of clinical guidelines for handling clinical depression and anxiety in cancer patients.

2. Sexual Health, Fertility, and Relationships in Cancer Care

Edited by Maggie Watson and David Kissane

9780190934033

June 2020 | March 2020

£22.99 £18.39 | $35.00 $28.00

This volume provides clinical management guidelines for the impact of cancer and oncology treatments on sexual health, fertility and relationships. individuals and couples.

Order both titles online at www.oup.com/academic and enter WATSON20 to save 20%

My name is William “Bill” Breitbart and I was a founding member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society’s (IPOS) in 1984. 1984 was the year I became a Clinical Fellow in Psychiatric Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and had the privilege of being mentored by Dr. Jimmie Holland.  In 1984, Dr Holland and an international group of Psych-oncology pioneers established IPOS, and I was there to see it all begin and to ultimately participate in helping IPOS grow over the next 4 decades. I joined the faculty of MSKCC in 1986 and stayed on ever since. I became the Chief of the Psychiatry Service in 1996 (succeeding Dr Holland as she became the first Chair of our new Department) and I became Chairman of the Department at MSKCC in 2011. I have also been the Fellowship Training Program Director of our fellowships at MSKCC for over 20 years, and I have trained and mentored over 400 young psychiatrists and psychologists in psycho-oncology over the last 37 years I joined the Board of IPOS in 1990 and served as Treasurer, Secretary and Vice-president, before becoming President of IPOS in 2009. I received the IPOS 2009 Sutherland Lifetime Achievement Award and the IPOS 2019 Jimmie Holland Award for lifetime contributions to psychiatric oncology. I am currently a President Emeritus of IPOS. I helped establish IPOS Press which has published a number of handbooks in Psycho-oncology in partnership with Oxford University PressMy clinical and research efforts have focused on psychiatric aspects of cancer and palliative care. My research has included studies of delirium, pain, fatigue, desire for hastened death, and the role of inflammation in cancer-related depression. My most recent efforts focus on Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for cancer patients, an “NCI designated Research Tested Intervention” for end of life despair. I have had continuous NIH RO1 funding of investigator-initiated research since 1989. I am currently PI of R25 CA190169 which is training a national and international cohort of cancer care clinicians in Meaning Centered Psychotherapy. I have over 500 peer review publications, chapters and review papers, and 16 textbooks including: Psycho-oncology - 1^st , 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Editions (I took over as Senior editor from Dr. Holland for the 4^th edition of Psycho-oncology which was published in 2021) ; Psychosocial Palliative Care; Handbook of Psychiatry in Palliative Medicine – 1^st and 2^nd Editions; and the treatment manuals for Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy in Advanced Cancer Patients; and Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Advanced Cancer Patients; and Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy in the Cancer Setting from Oxford University Press. I am Editor-in-Chief, of Cambridge University Press’ international palliative care journal entitled, “Palliative & Supportive Care”. One thing that people are surprised to learn about me is that in fact I do sleep 8 hours a night and I am quite a procrastinator. I’m an example of how dedication to a mission and the courage to risk failure are attributes that can help one achieve a meaningful life.