IPOS News

• IPOS is now accepting nominations from active members to be on the Board of Directors. Individuals with a current “Active” membership from across the globe are encouraged to submit nominations for the volunteer Board positions noted below. Individuals with an “Early Career” membership are encouraged to submit for the Early Career Director position.

  The following positions are open for nomination:

  1. One Vice President position
  2. One Secretary position
  3. One Treasurer position
  4. Seven individual Director positions:

• REGION 1: One or more Directors the targeted regions of Africa, Middle East, India or Russia.
• REGION 2: One or more Directors from Asia/Pacific.
• REGION 3: One or more Directors from Canada and the USA.
• REGION 4: One or more Directors from Europe/UK.
• REGION 5: One or more Directors from Latin and Central America.
• One Early Career Director.

Important items to note about the positions open for nomination:

• To seek nomination for the office of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer, the member must have served, at some point in time, a minimum of one term on IPOS the Board of Directors.
• For individuals concerning submitting for Vice President, please note the succession pattern shall be such that an individual so elected shall serve one term as Vice-President, one term as President and one term as Past President, for a total of six successive years.
• A Director can serve in the role of Secretary or Treasurer for a maximum of two terms after which they must be elected to the role of Vice President to remain on the Board.
• The Early Career Position, individuals can only hold this position for one term of two years. Above submitting a nomination for this position, the individual must have an “Early Career” type of membership with IPOS.

Important Nomination and Election Timelines:

• Release of call for nominations: April 2, 2025
• Nomination Deadline – June 2, 2025. Please submit online by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IPOSBOARDNOM20252027. Please have the following ready PRIOR to submitting your nomination as you will have to provide:

o   Please provide the first and last name of the IPOS Active member NOMINATING you for the position noted above:
(please be sure the person has renewed/joined for 2025 and has provided you permission to list them as nominating you)

o   Please provide the email address of the IPOS Active member NOMINATING you for the position noted above:
(we will email the person to confirm they support your nomination)

o   Please provide, in point form highlights, details about your experience with IPOS here:
(please note this will be used in the election package once released)

o   Please past your current biography (brief 100 to 200 words maximum) here:
(please note this will be used in the election package once released)

o   Please provide your candidate statement - an outline of why you want to serve on the IPOS board and your election platform. 100 to 300 words maximum.
(please note this will be used in the election package once released)

o   The election package will include a photo of all nominees. Please confirm you will email your photo, in jpg format, to [email protected] within 48 hours of submitting your nomination.

• Ballots to be issued to all voting members – June 19, 2025
• Voting Closes – July 7, 2025

SUBMIT ONLINE BY JUNE 2 BY GOING TO https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IPOSBOARDNOM20252027

Are you interested in knowing what our volunteers have been up to? EVERYONE can now access 2024 reports from:

1.Early Career Professionals in Psycho-Oncology (ECPP) Committee
2.Education Committee
3.Federation Committee
4.Fundraising and Marketing Committee
5.Membership Committee
6.Research Committee
7.E-Health and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
8.Fear of Cancer Recurrence Special Interest Group (FORwards)
9.Implementation Science and Practice (ISP)
10.Low and Medium Income Countries (LMIC)
11.Pediatric
12.Survivorship

All reports can be accessed by going to https://ipos-society.org/about/sigs

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? All IPOS members can volunteer. There are “VOLUNTEER” icons beside several groups where members can submit interest in volunteering. Go to https://ipos-society.org/about/sigs

Currently my professional work is aimed at palliative psycho-oncology, where I have the opportunity to care for patients with breast, lung, sarcomas, primary, unknown and gastric cancer. I am dedicated to research on topics of psychology in palliative care. I am an undergraduate and graduate teacher and I promote psycho-oncology and palliative psychology as much as possible. I am a committed person, passionate about psycho-oncology who seeks to strengthen the profession. I like to paint in oils, dance and take care of my 7 dogs.

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. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

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As a graduate psychologist and psychotherapist, I have been working with clients for over 15 years. Through collaboration with associations of oncology patients, together with my colleagues, I lead psychological support groups, psycho-oncology workshops, and education sessions. Recently, I became a member of the Health Promotion and Prevention Committee of IPOS, with the aim of exchanging knowledge and transferring good practice examples to local communities.  

I enjoy spending my free time camping.  

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. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

I am an early-career counsellor at Mazumdar Shaw, Narayana Health, Bangalore, working  in the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology department. My Master's in Clinical Psycho-oncology from Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, and training at Apollo Hospitals and Karunashraya Hospice Trust have aided  me to equip myself to support children and families throughout their  cancer treatment journeys.

My current work focuses on providing psychosocial support to children and their families throughout the often-long and demanding course of cancer treatment, with a central emphasis on maintaining and enhancing their quality of life. I contribute to the hospital playroom, fostering holistic development and wellbeing through play, art, and creative activities. I am passionate about the therapeutic power of play and its role in helping children in multiple domains of well-being.

Beyond my direct clinical work, I am aspiring to address the broader needs of these children and their families, and in developing appropriate and accessible resources to support their long-term wellbeing.

My personal interests in dance and literature inspire me, and I hope to integrate these art forms into my future clinical practice, using creative expression as a therapeutic tool.

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. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. I also serve as the Secretary General of the Interamerican Psychological Society and as an Associate Editor for the Brazilian Journal of Cognitive Therapies. I worked as a research assistant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the Department of Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities (MSKCC). My doctoral research focused on a pre-pilot study that assessed the effectiveness of behavioral activation through physical activity intervention among breast cancer survivors. 

As an Early-Stage Investigator, I conducted a research project titled “Developing and Testing a Spanish-Language Intervention to Reduce Cancer-Related Insomnia,” which adapted an existing intervention that has already shown efficacy among cancer survivors. This project aimed to create and test a Spanish-language behavioral intervention in a pilot randomized clinical trial. As a professor, I mentor graduate students in cancer-related research through the Health Psychology Research Laboratory (HPR Lab). I look forward to collaborating with members of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) to promote the dissemination and implementation of scientific advancements in cancer care. I engage in daily physical activity, specifically walking for 45 to 60 minutes, to support my well-being and mental health.

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. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

Nsamu Moonga is a music therapist and PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria. He is conducting research titled "Indigenous Musical Arts for Distress and Anxiety Management in Patients with Cancer at Lusaka's Cancer Diseases Hospital." His work explores the therapeutic potential of Indigenous Musical Arts (IMAs) to provide culturally grounded interventions for cancer patients. Nsamu's research integrates psychology, music therapy, psycho-oncology, and anthropology to address the psychosocial needs of patients in low-resource settings.

As an active member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS), Nsamu advocates for equitable and inclusive healthcare practices, particularly in low—and middle-income countries. His transdisciplinary research approach aims to decolonise health systems by incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices into oncology care.

Outside academia, Nsamu enjoys composing music inspired by African traditions and connecting with communities through storytelling and the arts. His passion for blending creativity with care continues to inspire his work.

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. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

Daphne is a general adult psychiatrist, psycho-oncologist, bioethicist, and theologian dedicated to providing holistic care to cancer patients and those facing end-of-life issues, both in outpatient and hospital settings. With a medical background complemented by deep training in the humanities, she approaches patient care from a multifaceted perspective, addressing not only psychological needs but also supporting the emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of those grappling with illness and loss.

As a bioethicist, Daphne contributes to the ethical oversight of medical research and offers consultations on challenging clinical decisions. She is also involved in education and training, mentoring future clinicians in her areas of expertise.

Beyond her clinical and academic roles, Daphne is passionate about the integral development of youth. She volunteers as a management member of a non-profit organization focused on youth empowerment and has active civic involvement in family advocacy groups. 

Outside her professional life, Daphne finds joy in appreciating nature, art, film, classical literature, deep conversations, personal encounters, and “wasting” time with friends.

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. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

I am part of the team at the Psychooncology Department in a cancer Hospital in Chile. We focus on work with adult cancer patients and their families during their cancer journey working closely with other Supportive care Units and health care professionals.  

I have been working in Psycho Oncology for the last 5 years after my training. It allows me the opportunity to know inspiring people and also the IPOS community and the IPOS Survivorship SIG. During this time I have been learning about collaborative work, new international research collaborations along with delivery psycho oncology through Telemedicine and in person clinics at the hospital. 

It brings the opportunity to contribute to include aspects of care for healthcare professionals as long as becoming a mother of two. I am very passionate about learning from our contexts and to find ways to keep building healing relations with others. Psycho Oncology It is a fascinating field and discipline, it has given me the opportunity to learn about human experiences and belonging, acceptance and growing in a shared learning with people we work with. I am very thankful for this time and learning. 

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. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.