IPOS News

Abstracts are now being accepted through 23rd January for the upcoming Irish Psychosocial Oncology Network (IPSON) conference on Thursday, 20th March 2025 at National College of Ireland in Dublin. The theme of the conference is Collaborative Practice in Psychosocial Oncology: Optimising Quality in Practice and Research.

The conference will feature two exciting keynote speakers:

Dr. Sahil Suleman, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, University Hospitals Birmingham, NHS Foundation Trust

Ms Siobhan Gaynor, Metastatic Cancer Patient and Researcher

Registration for the conference will open in several weeks, however be assured that the schedule for the day is looking fantastic! Details for poster abstract submissions and the conference are attached. We are grateful if you would share these details with your professional networks.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and seeing you at the conference.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch: [email protected]

SUBMISSIONS

Please email your abstract as a Word document (Calibri, 12-point font) no later Please email your abstract as a Word document (Calibri, 12-point font) no later than 23rd

January 2025, midnight GMT to: [email protected]

I have 11 yrs of general psychiatry practice followed by 2 years of liaison psychiatry practice in EGYPT. For 3 years I have been working in psycho oncology as a senior specialist psychiatrist at SQCCCRC. I am looking forward to collaborate with colleagues from around the world and share the knowledge for better psycho oncology care.

Music inspires me.

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.

As a Psycho-Oncologist at the After Completion Therapy Clinic, Cancer Institute (WIA), I have dedicated the past five years to providing specialized psychological support to pediatric and young adult cancer survivors. My role in this holistic clinic involves working closely with a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, nurses, psycho-oncologists, and social workers to offer comprehensive care. I am particularly fascinated by the resilience and unique needs of pediatric cancer survivors, which fuels my passion for helping these young individuals navigate their post-treatment journey. Witnessing their strength and growth, while addressing their psychological and emotional challenges, is both inspiring and rewarding. My commitment lies in facilitating their transition from treatment to a fulfilling life, ensuring they receive the support necessary to thrive. This interdisciplinary approach not only enhances the overall well-being of survivors but also continually enriches my professional experience. Engaging with young patients and their families, understanding their experiences, and contributing to their long-term wellness drives my dedication and enthusiasm in this field.

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 work as a cognitive psychologist and psycho-oncologist in Centro de Terapia Cognitiva (Cognitive Therapy Center) de Buenos Aires, in which I coordinate the activities of this area.

I am the coordinator of my own team of Psycho-Oncology and Palliative care in the private practice. In Argentina, I am a teacher in different institutions, related to psychotherapy, psycho-oncology and palliative care.

I have been an associate member of IPOS since 2007.I have attended some world congresses and presented a poster at one of them. I like singing to relax from the stress at 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.

Tihana is an Early Career Professionals in Psycho-Oncology (ECPP) Committee Co-Chair, a dedicated healthcare professional with a specialization in oncology and hematology nursing. Subsequently, she expanded her horizons by undertaking a specialization in Oncology Nursing at the European College of Cancer Nursing. Currently, Tihana is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences, solidifying her commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of oncology nursing and psychosocial interventions. Tihana is not only a proficient healthcare practitioner but also a prolific researcher and author. Her publications span various topics. Notably, her work in psycho-oncology nursing reflects a keen understanding of the holistic care needed for cancer patients. Tihana's dedication to the field of oncology and hematology nursing, coupled with her academic prowess and leadership qualities, positions her as a dynamic and influential figure in the healthcare community. In her free time, she writes a book blog.

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.

Dr. Veronica Cardenas is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Psycho-Oncology Care. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as Professor and Medical Director at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and as Director of Psychiatry and Psychology Services at Moores Cancer Center. Dr. Cardenas completed an NIH Predoctoral Clinical Research Fellowship at Stanford University and an NIH Postdoctoral Geriatric Psychiatry Research Fellowship at UCSD. She joined the UCSD faculty in 2011, where she became a pivotal figure in psycho-oncology, serving as Director of Psycho-Oncology Education and Training at Moores Cancer Center. In this role, she mentored psychology trainees, interns, and medical students, focusing on cancer survivorship, end-of-life, and palliative care. Her research has been dedicated to developing, testing, and implementing psychosocial treatment interventions, with funding support from the National Cancer Institute, the UCSD Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, and the American Cancer Society. In 2023, Dr. Cardenas founded the Center for Psycho-Oncology Care to address the growing need for high-quality psycho-oncology services. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and dancing

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.

Do you want to take active part in international collaborations on implementation research and practice?

OPEN TO ALL CURRENT IPOS MEMBERS!

Please, join our Special Interest Group (SIG) onImplementation Science and Practice (ISP) and attend the first online meeting on Tuesday November 19, 2024 at 2-3 p.m. CET

Sign-up by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ImplementationSIG

Pernille Bidstrup, (Co-Chair 2023 – 2025) Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark

Carmen Loiselle, (Co-Chair 2023 – 2025) McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Dr. Jie Li holds the position of Associate Research Professor at the Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, Shandong University, China. She is a dedicated educator, specializing in social medicine, and is responsible for the instruction of courses within this field. In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Li also serves as a mentor for master's students majoring in social medicine and health management.

Her research expertise lies in the critical examination of psychosocial aspects related to cancer. She is particularly focused on developing and evaluating interventions designed to address these complex issues. Through her work, Dr. Li aims to enhance the quality of life and psychological well-being of individuals affected by cancer. Her contributions to the field are significant, offering valuable insights that inform both clinical practice and public health policy.

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.

During the 25th IPOS World Congress at Maastricht, Netherlands, it was inspiring to meet participants from around the globe, sharing their research and clinical work in psycho-oncology. Innovative ideas for optimizing psychosocial cancer care were particularly exciting. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) forecasts over 35 million new cancer cases by 2050, a 77% increase from 20 million in 2022, significantly raising the cancer burden. As emphasized in the opening remarks, a multidisciplinary team approach is essential for psychosocial cancer care. Specialists like psychiatrists and psychologists are crucial for patients needing intensive support. However, most cancer patients do not require this level of specialist care; patient-centered care can address their psychosocial needs. IPOS advocates that psychosocial care is a human right. To meet this standard, patient-centered care must involve frontline healthcare professionals such as general practitioners, oncologists, nurses, social workers, patient advocates, and allied health professionals in providing psychosocial support. Additionally, the rising cancer burden makes a sustainable model, like the social-medical collaboration model increasingly necessary. We will never have enough highly trained mental health and other healthcare specialists working within a conventional medical care paradigm to meet the demands for psychosocial oncological care that are coming. A wider approach is needed. Many supportive care services are community-based and operated by non-government or charity organizations. Strengthening medical-social collaboration can potentially offer seamless, bidirectional support to help meet this rapid growth in demand. IPOS fosters multidisciplinary collaboration in research, clinical practice, and professional training, as sees inclusivity as a key to optimizing cancer care.

We bring voices together from all areas to the World Congress and backgrounds as proof that a medical-social collaboration is very much needed. We share knowledge, best practices, new research and paths forward focussed on patients. Sometimes opinions may differ, but the importance of every person and their value to patients should not be undervalued.

Wendy Lam, PhD, RN

President, IPOS

Integrative Approach to Working with Grief and Loss

With Dr. Virginia Boquiren, Ph.D. Psychologist

Working with grief is an integral part of psychotherapy. While typically associated with the death of a loved one, grief is also experienced in other situations such as major life transitions, illness, aging, broken relationships, or the loss of a goal (e.g., unfulfilled career aspirations or inability to start a family). Grief is a normal emotional response, but it can be complicated by challenges that interfere with its natural course. For example, clients may struggle with overwhelming emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, or anxiety, which can be difficult to manage.

In this workshop, Dr. Boquiren presents a flexible, integrative approach to working with grief. Using theoretical principles and evidence-based interventions from different psychotherapeutic approaches, you will learn to assess various grief processing challenges and apply targeted techniques. Skills will draw from several evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness.

Date: November 15, 2024
Time: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
10% off for IPOS members. Use the code: IPOS10 at checkout

REGISTER NOW

Please note this is a paid advertisement. For more information on advertising with IPOS, please go to https://ipos-society.org/ads