IPOS News


  • 18 Jul 2022 3:14 PM | John Chagnon (Administrator)

    Psycho-oncological practice is diverse, challenging and worthwhile career that I really feel it is the right course for me. It is a vocation for people who are practical, conscientious, reliable and who find it easy quickly to establish good, trusting relationships with new people. I have these skills and a genuine desire to help people when they need it most. When I was first considering Psycho-oncological research as a career I thought that I would prefer the qualitative analysis of palliative care among cancer patients because I have already 2 years’ experience in this field. The aim of my research is to teach patients that everything is not our hand. Most of cases we have to face those situations which we never expect or prepare. Every step of our life is a challenging one. So, we cannot escape we have to face it and accept it with smiley face. Actually, it is known concept to everyone but when they face any tough situation, they forget to apply this concept. So, I want to encourage everyone to enjoy the stressful situation and make great chapter of experience in their life with that also makes own self as an example to their society.

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    2. Employment position
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    7. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.
  • 13 Jun 2022 1:49 PM | John Chagnon (Administrator)

    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 20,000 healthcare professionals who have learned with de Souza.

    Interprofessional Psychosocial Oncology Part 1: Introduction to Theory and Practice (IPODE) - Psychosocial Oncology is a specialty area of cancer care that is concerned with the myriad of psychological, emotional, social and spiritual responses of persons affected by cancer. This web-based continuing education course provides an opportunity for practicing health professionals to explore common psychosocial issues that individuals and families experience when an adult family member is diagnosed with cancer. Primary emphases in the course include understanding the illness experience and assessing distress and coping from a family centered perspective.  Enroll by August 15th , course starts on August 29th and ends on December 12, 2022.

    Visit the Interprofessional Psychosocial Oncology Part 1: Introduction to Theory and Practice (IPODE) registration page for additional details, including online classroom dates

    Offered in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology.

    Sexual Health and Counselling in Prostate Cancer (IPODE) - Prostate cancer impacts widely on patients' sexual health and wellbeing. Research shows that persons affected by prostate cancer want support, education, and counselling in this area. While health care professionals acknowledge that sexual health is within their scope of practice, few health professionals consistently assess or intervene to assist patients in cancer settings with sexual health problems.  The Sexual Health and Counselling in Prostate Cancer course is designed to equip health care professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver sexual health support to patients and families impacted by prostate cancer.  Enroll by September 9th , course starts on September 19th and ends on December 19, 2022

    Visit the Sexual Health and Counselling in Prostate Cancer registration page for additional details, including online classroom dates.


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  • 12 Jun 2022 1:35 PM | John Chagnon (Administrator)

    Are you a current member of IPOS?

    Interested in volunteering with: Cancer and Aging: Reflection for Elders (CARE) special interest group?

    July 13, 2022, 2 to 3 p.m. 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 led by:

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

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

    Sign-up by going to https://ipos-society.org/event-4863005


  • 10 Jun 2022 10:31 AM | John Chagnon (Administrator)

    Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET

    Theme: Protecting mental health and fostering resilience after war, pandemics, and other disasters

    Overall Goal: Discuss the experience of the Ukraine War on cancer patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Outline the range of responses to disasters, aspects of risk and resilience, and a framework for lowering distress and protecting mental health through the essential elements of Psychological First Aid.

    Methods: We have the pleasure of having an invited speaker, Dr. Joshua C. Morganstein, M.D., Captain, Public Health, who will talk about how to understand the impact of the Ukraine War and best practices in interventions. His presentation will be followed by a panel discussion by IPOS member and Director Dr. Csaba Degi and Dr. Erica SirrinePhD, LCSW, FT, followed by a general Q&A period from the audience.

    Invited Speaker:  Dr. Joshua C. Morganstein, M.D.

    Dr. Joshua C. Morganstein is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Deputy Director and Senior Scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a Captain in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He is Chair of the Committee on the Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster and Distinguished Fellow at the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Morganstein received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He completed a combined residency in Psychiatry and Family Medicine in the National Capital Consortium in Washington, DC. Dr. Morganstein leads the Disaster Mental Health and Public Health education and consultation services at CSTS and provides consultation and subject-matter guidance to local, state, national and international partners during dozens of disasters on actions to foster mental health and enhance sustainment for individuals, communities, and organizations. He is working with mental health professionals in Ukraine and non-governmental organizations to help support the well-being of military personnel, citizen soldiers, displaced citizens, and refugees impacted by the war in Ukraine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Morganstein was invited by numerous state healthcare organizations, medical professional organizations, interagency teams, and global partners to inform healthcare system leaders and personnel on critical public mental health principles and the adaptation of practices and procedures from high-stress occupations to promote well-being and operational sustainment for the healthcare workforce. Dr. Morganstein was sought out to assist the New York City public health and first responder systems to develop the HERO-NY workforce resilience program. He has conducted research with the U.S. National Guard that provided actionable recommendations and knowledge products for leaders to protect health and sustain military readiness during COVID-19 and other operations. Dr. Morganstein is frequently sought out by NATO medical leadership to present on disaster mental health and crisis leadership as well as the development of global military doctrine to enhance force protection. He is a member of the 5Eyes Mental Health Research International Collaboration, senior medical leaders within the Defense and Veterans Affairs agencies across partner nations advising on policy, sharing research findings and best practices, and publishing scholarly works on global mental health and readiness for military service members and their families.

    Dr. Morganstein has studied the effects of stress and trauma in organizational settings, including the military drone intelligence community as well as personnel impacted by the 2013 mass shootings at the Washington Navy Yard. He provided mental health subject-matter expertise to the United Nations’ development of the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, co-authored the only Curriculum Recommendations for Disaster Behavioral Health Professionals as well as the Mental Health and Well-Being chapter for a landmark Presidential report on the Impact of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States. Dr. Morganstein authored numerous articles, chapters, technical reports, and other scholarly work on the mental health impact of disasters, including climate-related disasters, mass violence, terrorism, nuclear exposure, and pandemics. He is Assistant Editor for the second edition of the Textbook of Disaster Psychiatry and Editor for the forthcoming textbook, PTSD.

    Chairs: This event will be moderated by Dr. Tom Hack and Dr. Melissa Henry.

      Registration:

      • Free to current IPOS members
      • $10 USD for non-members

      Register online by going to  https://ipos-society.org/event-4860482


      • 7 Jun 2022 10:42 AM | John Chagnon (Administrator)


        September 15-16, 2022

        This program will provide a high-level discussion surrounding chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, distress/anxiety, and its effects on cognition, delirium, dementia, and depression. This live virtual course will focus on communication-based concerns and barriers when interacting with the older cancer patient (including caregivers and family members), evaluation of decision making capacity, as well as how to work with an interpreter for patients who suffer both from dementia and experience a language barrier.

        Training Highlight

        The Geriatric Communication Skills Training on day two is comprised of a specific experiential learning methodology that will immerse participants in practicing newly taught skills in a simulated relevant clinical environment.

        Who Should Attend

        The target audience for this program includes physicians, social workers, nurses, physical therapists, and any other healthcare professionals who work with or have an interest in working with older adult cancer patients.

        Complimentary Registration for Accepted Applicants

        This two-day training is held a few times a year for any healthcare professional who works with or has an interest in working with older cancer patients. Participants will be competitively selected by an application process and registration is complimentary for those accepted. CME, ABIM MOC, Social Work, Nursing, and Psychology credits will be offered for this program.

        Learn more to apply: https://mskcc.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=5&EID=35822

        ---------------------

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      • 30 May 2022 2:27 PM | John Chagnon (Administrator)


        UTC (GMT) Tuesday, 12 July 2022, 17:00:00 (1 p.m. ET)

        Duration:  60 minutes

        Beneficial effects of self-management education and self-management support on outcomes in cancer survivorship

        The Survivorship Special Interest Group (SIG) of IPOS is organizing this webinar.

        It aims to introduce the concepts of self-management and self-management support (SMS) and benefits on outcomes in cancer survivorship. We will also discuss implementation of self-management education and support across the continuum of cancer survivorship care.

        The webinar aims to bring together the international community of researchers and clinicians interested in self-management and self-management support for people affected by cancer to encourage discussion and collaboration across the globe.

        CHAIRS

        • Savita Goswami (India), Chair of the IPOS Survivorship SIG Education Committee.
        • Isabel Centeno (Mexico) Member of IPOS Survivorship SIG Education Committee.

        SPEAKERS

        Prof Claire Foster, Professor of Psychosocial Oncology and Director of Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer: CentRIC, Health Sciences, University of Southampton, UK.



        Dr. Doris Howell, RN, PhD, FAAN. Emeritus Scientist, Princess Margaret Research Institute and Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto, and Program Director, Cancer Coaching, York University, ON Canada.

         

        OBJECTIVES

        • To describe the tasks of self-management and behavioural strategies for health recovery in cancer survivorship and the role of self-management support.
        • To discuss the benefits of self-management education and support on clinical, psychological and behavioural outcomes and research gaps.
        • To identify a road map for implementation of self-management education and support across the continuum of cancer survivorship.

        Registration:

        • Free to current IPOS members
        • $10 USD for non-members

        Register online by going to https://ipos-society.org/event-4836320

      • 11 May 2022 2:06 PM | John Chagnon (Administrator)


        May 25, 2022, 10 to 11:30 a.m. EDT

        Psycho-oncology has now been standing tall as an evidence-based discipline since more than two decades now. It is well established in the developed nations. However, its growth in LMICs has been sporadic, with some countries with well-set clinical services and solid space for research. It has not been so in some other LMICs. There seem to be regional and cultural challenges but despite that, our resolve is firm. So what can be done to establish, develop and enhance Psycho-oncology throughout the LMICs?  The purpose of this webcast is to learn from our member representatives who have been able to set up and are working on advancing Psycho-oncology services, capacity building and research in their regions/areas.

        The key learning objectives are:

        • To understand different working models of setting up Psycho-oncology services in an LMIC setting
        • To reflect on various challenges and facilitators in different contexts
        • To formulate a roadmap for setting up a new Psycho-oncology service

        Featuring:

        DR. CHIOMA ASUZU, PhD

        Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies

        University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

        Prof. Chioma C Asuzu is a clinical psychologist, psycho-oncologist, and head of Unit of Clinical Psychology, Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies of the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. She also holds joint appointment with the Dept. of Radiation Oncology at the College of Medicine of the University, as well as of the University College Hospital in Ibadan. Her teaching spans the undergraduate and post graduate programmes.  At the Dept. of Radiation Oncology, she runs the unit of psycho-oncology with a weekly clinic thereof. She is a co-author of some books on family life education and psycho-oncology. She has given several lectures and talks on family life, adolescent education and psycho-oncology both at national and international arena.  She is instrumental to the establishment of the Masters’ degree programme in psycho-oncology which is domiciled in the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Ibadan. She is the Foundation President of the Psycho-Oncology Society of Nigeria (POSON), the Association for Psycho-Oncology in Africa (APOA) and an executive member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS). She is working hard to spread the practice of psycho-oncology throughout Nigerian universities, the teaching hospitals, Africa and the other LMIC’s. She has supervised several PhD students in area psycho-oncology thereby building and developing the body of knowledge in this area in Africa. She is the first person from the LMICs to be in the IPOS board of directors. She won the IPOS Jimmie Holland Memorial Award in 2021. She is principal investigator and co-investigator of several grants from local and international granting bodies, AORTIC/NCI, TETFUND, UICC, etc. She has served the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and  IPOS in various capacities as vice-president in the AORTIC (2016-2018 and 2018-2020) and as the first person from LMIC be on the board of IPOS, 2015-2017, 2017-2019; as the secretary of IPOS in 2019-2021; and currently as the treasurer of IPOS from 2021 to date. She has co-chaired IPOS academies held in Durban, South Africa, in Marrakesh, Morocco, in Kigali, Rwanda, in Maputo, Mozambique and in Hong Kong.

        DR. CRISTIANE BERGEROT, PhD

        Head, Department of Psycho-oncology

        CETTRO Cancer Research Hospital, Brasilia, Brazil

        Cristiane Bergerot, Ph.D., is the head of the Department of Psycho-Oncology at CETTRO Cancer Research Hospital in Brasilia, Brazil. She completed a 3 year research fellowship in the Department of Medical Oncology at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California, USA. She has been working with cancer patients for almost 18 years as a clinician and as a researcher. She has over 50 peer-reviewed publications in journals including first-author publications in Nature Medicine, European Urology, CancerJournal of Immunotherapy for CancerBritish Journal of Urology International and Psychooncology. She has received four merit awards from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Conquer Cancer Foundation and was selected for the prestigious SWOG Young Investigator Course. In the past year, she has received 3 international Grants from renowned institution; Kure It, Conquer Cancer the ASCO Foundation and Kidney Cancer Association. She is committed to bettering the lives of patients with cancer through (1) obtaining a detailed understanding of their quality of life and (2) addressing their quality of life through novel, targeted interventions. Cris was elected in 2021-2023 to serve as a director representing Latin America at the International Psycho-Oncology Organization (IPOS). She is also serving as a committee member of palliative care, cancer & aging, eHealth and FORwards special interest groups at IPOS. 

        DR. JAYITA DEODHAR, MD

        Professor

        Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India

        Jayita Deodhar, MD., is Professor and in-charge of Department of Palliative Medicine and Psycho-oncology Unit at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.  She has 27 years of experience in Psychiatry and has been working with cancer patients for 17 years as a clinician and as a researcher. She has initiated a structured formal consultation liaison psycho-oncology service in her institute. Her research interests are psychosocial interventions in cancer patients, psychosocial palliative care and geriatric oncology. She is committed to forming a national body of Psycho-oncology professionals in India and enhancing capacity building in the region. She is on the Board of Directors, International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) (2019-21 and 2021-23) and is Chair of LMIC Committee of IPOS. She is dedicated to enhancing Psycho-oncology services in culture and context-led methods appropriate in low resource settings.

        PHILLIP ODIYO, MA

        Psychologist and Patient Support Manager

        Faraja Cancer Support Trust, Nairobi, Kenya

        Philip Ouma is a psychologist working as Patient Support Manager at Faraja Cancer Support Trust in Nairobi and Eldoret. He is currently studying for a Doctoral degree at Erasmus Medical University (Netherlands). Philip trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York through the Union for Cancer Control Fellowship. He is currently a Fellow at the Association of Union for International Cancer Control Fellows and was awarded Naomi Stearns Fellow in 2018 for his role in developing psychosocial oncology in Kenya. Philip was elected in 2021-2023 to serve as a director representing Africa at the International Psycho-Oncology Organization (IPOS). He is also serving as committee member of developing countries committee at the International Society for Sexual Medicine ( ISSM) Philip Odiyo is currently the Secretary for Prostate Cancer Support Association in Kenya, Board Member at the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations; he is also the founding Chairman of Psycho-oncology Society of Kenya and the founding Vice President of Association for Psycho-Oncology Society in Africa. Philip has presented in several IPOS meetings in Rotterdam (2013), Portugal (2014) and Berlin (2017) Durban (2013), Marrakech (2015) and Kigali (2016) among others. He is a reviewer in the following Journals: The Breast Journal, Supportive Care in Cancer, e-Cancer Journal and Psycho-Oncology: Journal of Psychological, Social and behavioural dimensions of cancer. 

        REGISTRATION:

        • Free to current IPOS members
        • $10 USD for non-members

        REGISTER ONLINE BY GOING TO https://ipos-society.org/event-4826096


      • 8 Apr 2022 12:20 PM | John Chagnon (Administrator)

        “The IPOS Academy was inspiring and educative.  It has yielded so much positive impact and influence.”
        Quote from previous attendee of our IPOS Training Academies

        Start Date: September 2022

        Deadline to Apply EXTENDED: May 27, 2022

        Overall Goal: To train attendees on best-practices in psycho-oncology in African oncology settings

        IPOS has developed, in close partnership with partner organizations in Africa, an IPOS Pan-African Capacity-Building in Psycho-Oncology ECHO. Key benefits of ECHO are: 1) To build capacity for comprehensive cancer care in Africa through dissemination of best practices in psycho-oncology; 2) To hear worldwide experts on state-of-the art psycho-oncology practice; 3) To connect with other professionals in oncology and create a community of practice allowing for rich mutual learning and clinical discussions; and 4) To provide consultation and support in creating local program development planning in psycho-oncology.

        Please see the following links for a short description of Project ECHO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAMaHP-tEwk&feature=youtu.be and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfqRwNd0Nao&feature=youtu.be

        This ECHO will deliver training in evidence-based practices through monthly meetings over the course of one year. Each meeting lasts 1h30-2h and will be on a different topic in psycho-oncology. First, there will be a presentation by an international speaker, then a participant will present a case relevant to the lecture, and third there will be a case discussion led by the lecturer and a panel of experts in the field. Participants in the program will be professional working in direct clinical contact with cancer patients in Africa in a field appropriate to the field of psycho-oncology (e.g., physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers).

        Applications are now opened for the program. Kindly complete the scholarship application, which will be peer-reviewed. Eligibility criteria are found below. Applications will only be accepted if they are received at your earliest convenience before May 27, 2022 to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Applications must include the fully completed Application Form including the checklist and a five-page Curriculum Vitae for the applicant.

        Our Organization:

        IPOS is the sole multidisciplinary international charitable organization devoted to psycho-oncology, leading in education, research, training, public policy, and advocacy. In 2014, IPOS celebrated its 30th anniversary and IPOS holds non-state actor status with the World Health Organization (WHO). Part of our mission is to build capacity for cancer care in low- and low-middle income countries including in Africa. IPOS includes 40+ member countries from 6 continents.

        Full eligibility criteria for the application (please note that all criteria must be met):

        • Be a professional working in direct clinical contact with cancer patients in Africa (you will be asked for formal signed letter from your institution as part of the application);-e.g Physicians, Nurses, Psychologists, social workers
        • Be a member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS)  and of your National Psycho-Oncology Society where it exists, or willing to be a member if accepted to the program
        • Be fluent in oral and written English. Note: According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “when a person is fluent, they can speak a language easily, well, and quickly.”
        • Have access to a camera and to internet to be able to participate in the ECHO sessions with your camera on during the sessions.
        • Commit to attend the twelve ECHO sessions if selected to be a participant in the program (the sessions are scheduled on every first Thursday of each month at 12-2pm EDT starting in September 2022 except for a few sessions which will occur earlier during the day for scheduling reasons and for which we will inform you ahead of time);
        • Consent to the ECHO sessions being recorded (the didactic teaching only) and posted on the IPOS website;
        • Willing to complete short questionnaires throughout the program to give your feedback about the program as it evolves;
        • Commit to sharing the knowledge learned through the Academy to professionals in your city and country in Africa.

        Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is complete. Incomplete applications or handwritten applications will be automatically withdrawn from the contest without notice. Applications will only be accepted if they are received at your earliest convenience before May 27, 2022 to the following e-mail address: [email protected]Applications must include the fully completed Application Form including the checklist and a curriculum vitae, resume, or biosketch  for the applicant.

        Note: Please send any questions you may have about this call for applications to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. IPOS will only be able to answer any questions related to this call for applications from April 11th to 22th, after which IPOS will no longer be able to answer. After the May 27 deadline, the only correspondence the applicants will receive is the result of the competition. Participants should anticipate receiving the results by the last week of May. If you have not received a response, please check the IPOS website to know if there has been a delay in the processing of the applications. If you have not received a letter of offer by the last week of May, unless otherwise indicated on the IPOS website, it means that you were not selected to participate in this ECHO.

        HOW TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION?

        • Kindly complete the scholarship application
        • When saving your complete application, please save it with your country and complete name including your last name and surname separated by underscore. For example: Nigeria_Henry_Ann
        • Please then email your Scholarship Application Form completed via computer or typewriter, including the check list below, a current copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, and the signed waiver form and institutional letter confirming your work in direct contact with cancer patients in Africa no later than May 27, 2022 to the following email: [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A 5-PAGE CV WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

        All applications must include a fully completed and signed Applicant Waiver Form as well as a letter of attestation of your employment from your institution confirming that you are working in direct clinical contact with cancer patients in Africa. Incomplete waiver forms will result in your application being rejected.

        Read more by going to IPOS 2021-22 ECHO Call for Scholarships 06052022 (1).pdf

      • 5 Apr 2022 10:12 AM | John Chagnon (Administrator)

        The 1st Psycho-Oncology Conference in Georgia was held on Saturday, April 2, 2022. The conference was opened by a presentation by Dr. Tom Hack, President of IPOS.

        The conference was attended by clinical oncologists, radiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and oncology nurses. The main goal of the meeting was:

        • To introduce the psycho-social needs of cancer patients to the clinical oncology society in our country.
        • Georgian oncologists need to recognize the requirement for psychological support in cancer patients and referral systems developed accordingly.
        • Wide integration, Psycho-Oncology as an imminent part of cancer care, in every cancer profile hospital. 

        It was an honor for our society, That Dr. Tom Hack opened our first-ever conference in Georgia. Many thanks to Mr. Hack for this opportunity. 

        Thank you again for your support.





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