IPOS News

My name is Nikolina and I work as a health psychologist in Sofia, Bulgaria. I have master’s degree in health psychology; and currently I am PhD student in health psychology in Sofia University. I have deep personal and professional interest in psycho-oncology and especially in applying of logotherapy and meaning-centered approach to cancer patients – individually and in support groups.

I am also logotherapy and existential analysis consultant, certified by EALP (Еuropäische Akademie für Logotherapie und Psychologie, Austria).

My PHD research is devoted to examining the existential factors related to fear of cancer recurrence in women with breast cancer.

In my free time I like being in nature, cooking and reading. I also maintain support group in Facebook for cancer survivors.

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As a palliative care social worker, I perform the following roles; Providing diagnostic education to patients with palliative care needs. Developing care and treatment plans for patients with palliative care needs, conducting community outreach and home visits to help establish and strengthen community-based care and management of palliative care needs, empowering patients and caregivers in social economic skills through training, and supporting group model. Addressing patient and caregiver psychosocial needs to enhance their coping skills. Creating awareness among other healthcare providers on palliative care needs.

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Dr. Valentina Ogaryan is a licensed clinical psychologist as well as the Clinical Director at the UCLA Simms Mann Center for Integrative Oncology. In her role, she oversees clinical programming as well as the clinical staff providing psychosocial care to patients and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Ogaryan teaches, trains and supervises advanced doctoral interns and students while overseeing the multidisciplinary training program. Dr. Ogaryan has received extensive training in building resilience in healthcare providers, and is passionate about the role of self-care in health care professionals. Dr. Ogaryan is involved in various mental health initiatives supporting Armenia and is passionate about providing culturally congruent care in medical settings. Dr. Ogaryan is also a team member of The UCLA Promise Armenian Institute, a hub for world-class research and teaching on Armenian studies, and for coordinating research and public impact programs across UCLA and with the Republic of Armenia and the diaspora.

Fun facts: This is my first year as a member of IPOS, and I am eager to attend IPOS 2024 World Congress in the Netherlands! I look forward with great excitement to meet colleagues and learn from experts around the world! On a lighter note, in my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, baking, traveling and getting lost in museums.

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Dr Foluke Sarimiye is a clinical lecturer of Radiation/Clinical oncology, and a Psycho-Oncologist at the University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Her expertise and research high lights the importance of reducing cancer health disparities, cancer control, community oncology programs and psychosocial issues associated with cancer, from diagnosis to survivorship or end of life.

She serves as an executive council and board member of some associations such as Psycho Oncology Society of Nigeria (POSON); Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria (ARCON); Patela Care Foundation, Committee member IPOS ECPP.

Foluke is a recipient of awards such as: Rotary Club International meritorious service award; Research grant award winner for Pilot Project on Implementation and Dissemination Science, African Behavioral Research Center, and National Cancer; ERASMUS+ Education and Training Grant for Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa; OncoDaily 2024 Prestigious Yvonne Award in Community Oncology.

Foluke's passion and pursuit are to serve, positively impact humanity, acquire knowledge, add to existing knowledge through research and pass the baton of virtues, knowledge, and skills she has acquired to younger colleagues.

Foluke enjoys reading, listening to music, humanitarian services, art, culture, poetry, maxims, history, traveling, tourism, and interior designing.

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Zahra is responsible for the implementation of the Distress Assessment & Response Tool (DART) at The Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She has tailored DART for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), with a specific focus on Kenya. Zahra has translated and culturally adapted DART into Swahili to ensure its relevance to the Kenyan population. Furthermore, she has successfully integrated DART into Meditech, the AKU Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, and has undergone training in Managing Cancer and Living Meaningful (CALM) intervention. Currently, she is working towards certification in Genetic Counseling as part of the AKU-MedGenome partnership. Zahra's primary role involves investigating the bidirectional relationship between mental health and cancer.

Interesting fact - I have a talent for unintentionally killing succulents and cactuses all the time!

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Dr Hu focuses on the health management of female cancer survivors. Her studies apply digital-humanitarian intersection methodology to support breast cancer survivors and their primary caregivers, to address the diversity need of women, especially for underserved females.

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IPOS MEMBERS ONLY!

IPOS has recently established an Implementation SIG Special Interest Group.

Translating psycho-oncology research results into the cancer clinic is a challenge worldwide. We would thus like to invite all IPOS members who are interested in working together on implementation and implementation science in joining our new special interest group - the Implementation SIG.

We will have two yearly virtual meetings to focus on activities such as:

• Sharing best practices
• Exchanging ideas
• Establishing new research collaborations.

Registration is FREE to IPOS members, and IPOS membership is required.

Please complete a simple form to register your interest – go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ImplementationSIG.

Best wishes,

Pernille Envold Bidstrup (Co-Chair 2023 – 2025) – Denmark
Carmen Loiselle (Co-Chair 2023 – 2025) – Canada

Read the Implementation SIG Terms of Reference.

I started my career as a psychologist in 2018.
2019 - volunteer psycho-oncologist at the Kyiv Children's Cancer Center,
2021 - psycho-oncologist at the Varta Clinic.
2021 - member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society
2021-2023 - leader of support groups of the NGO "National Center for Providing Psychological Assistance to People in Grief and Bereavement".
2022-2023 - leader of support groups for Ukrainian war survivors and refugees
from 2023 – leader of support groups for cancer survivors,
2024 – member of the American Psychological Association (APA)
The theme of my PhD thesis is "Media-psychological rehabilitation of women with fear of repeating traumatic events in conditions of social crisis". I'm researching the fear of cancer recurrence.
I am interested in neuroscience and philosophy.
I am military retired. I like painting and traveling.

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Omar Munoz Abraham was born and raised in Mexico. He later moved to the United States to complete his psychiatry residency at University of Miami. During his PGY-4 year, he served as Administrative Chief Resident, which enhanced his leadership and academic skills. His interest in Consultation-Liaison grew during his training, leading him to Brigham and Women’s/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School fellowship program under the Psycho-oncology track. His professional passions include psycho-oncology, palliative care, transplant psychiatry, and neuropsychiatry. He has presented at IPOS and is a member since 2022 and plans to continue his involvement with the society.  

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I am Jisha Abraham, working in the field of Psycho-oncology for 10 years after completing my M. Phil in Psycho-oncology. Currently I am working in Malabar Cancer Centre –PGIOSR for the last 7 years. The Division of Psycho-oncology in this centre work with patients of all socio economic status, from children to older adults and from prevention to survivorship and palliation. We conduct conferences, workshops, training and webinars interdepartmentally and for other mental health professionals nationwide to improve their knowledge and skills.

Personally my special interests are in neuro-cognitive aspects of the cancer patients, dealing with Adolescents and Young Adults cancer patients and caregivers, and Survivorship. I am passionate about managing the emotional concerns of a patient for a meaningful life during and after cancer. Also, I love teaching the art of psycho-oncology management to the budding psycho-oncologists and mental health professionals.

Interested in being profiled?

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

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5. Twitter handle (if available)
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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.