IPOS News

Helsa is a qualified psycho-oncologist currently working in the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department at St. John’s Hospital, Bangalore, as part of an NGO-led psychosocial care team. She holds an MSc in Clinical Psycho-Oncology from Christ University and has trained under experienced psycho-oncologists, supporting paediatric, adult, geriatric, and palliative care populations.

Deeply committed to child mental health, Helsa believes in creating therapeutic spaces that honor each child’s individuality. She works to enhance their quality of life by understanding their interests and incorporating those into therapy—be it through stories, play, or creative expression. Her approach blends compassion with evidence-based care, helping children and families navigate the emotional challenges of cancer with resilience and hope.

As a member of IPOS, she actively advocates for psychosocial support as an integral part of paediatric oncology care.
Outside of work, Helsa enjoys reading with a warm cup of coffee or tea, playing instruments, singing, and expressing herself through painting and doodling. She finds joy in life’s little moments and brings that same spirit into her work—believing that even the smallest spark of connection or creativity can make a meaningful difference in a child’s healing journey.

Interested in being profiled?

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

1. Name
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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.

Thank you to all that submitted a board nomination by the June 2, 2025 deadline. Nominations are now closed.

As for next steps:

1. Ballots to be issued to all voting members on June 19, 2025. Only individuals with a current Active or ECP membership by June 17, 2025 will be issued a ballet by email (to the email address in individual member record files)
2. Voting will close end of day July 7, 2025

We encourage all to click here and read about your 2025-2027 Board Candidates. Details on all have been provided below.

• The following positions were open for nomination followed by nominations received for each:

  1. One Vice President position
     • Tania Estapé, Ph.D., FEFOC Fundació (Spain)
     • Melissa Henry, Ph.D, Gerald Bronfman Oncology Department, McGill University (Canada)
  2. One Secretary position
     • Cristiane Bergerot, Ph.D., Oncoclinicas&Co (Brazil)
     • Patricia A. Parker, Ph.D., Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (USA)
  3. One Treasurer position
     • Jayita Deodhar, MD, MRCPsych, Diploma in Palliative Medicine (Cardiff University), Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre (India)
  4. REGION 1: One Director from the targeted regions of Africa, Middle East, India or Russia.
     • Gil Goldzweig, The Academic College of Tel Aviv Yaffo (Israel)
     • Zahra Riaz Haji, The Aga Khan University (Kenya)
     • Edgar Laleti Simiyu, KITALE county referral hospital (Kenya)
     • Margaret Mogaka, Ministry of Health Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (Kenya)
     • Surendran Veeraiah, M.Phil., Ph.D., Cancer Institute (WIA) (India)

5.     REGION 2: One Director from Asia/Pacific. 6.     REGION 3: One Director from Canada and one Director from the USA. 7.     REGION 4: One Director from Europe/UK. 8.     REGION 5: One Director from Latin and Central America.
9.     One Early Career Director

Trabajo en el instituto oncologico del oriente boliviano en la ciudad de santa cruz de la sierra, soy psicologa con especialidad en psicooncologia y cuidados paliativos, mi area de trabajo son adultos veo pacientes con cancer de cervix, mama, gastricos, melanomas.

Actualmente en proceso final para presentar la asociacion boliviana de psicooncologia. Sigo estudiando porque es un area que me apasiona, sigo aprendiendo tambien de mis pacientes. Me gusta mucho cocinar para mi familia y amigos, pintar, escuchar musica e ir al campo a cargar energias.

Interested in being profiled?

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

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#WHA78

The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 19–27 May 2025. The theme of this year’s Health Assembly is: One World for Health. IPOS is a proud non-state member of WHO.

IPOS President Wendy Lam (Hong Kong) and IPOS Volunteer Surendran Veeraiah (India) are both in attendance representing International Psycho-Oncology Society and bringing the voice of psychosocial oncology to the table. Your support helps make this possible!

A special thanks to IPOS supporter Dr. André Ilbawi, Cancer Control focal point, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases Division of Universal Health, World Health Organization. Dr. Ilbawi works closely with IPOS on many initiatives.

Learn more by going to: https://www.who.int/about/governance/world-health-assembly/seventy-eighth#:~:text=The%20Seventy%2Deighth%20World%20Health,live%20from%20this%20web%20page.

Dr. Izuhunwa Amadasun is a Medical Doctor and current volunteer intern of IPOS’ Fundraising and Marketing Committee, who is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world. She has a deep passion for empowering individuals to achieve optimum health. Having battled stage 4 rectal cancer in her prime and emerged victorious, she has a unique understanding of the cancer burden, the necessity of being proactive about one’s health, and the importance of speaking up when needed.

She published her debut book titled ROOFTOP: My Struggles and Triumph Over Stage 4 Cancer, in which she chronicles her experiences in detail, hoping that others will find comfort, draw strength, and gain a better understanding of what a battle with cancer truly entails. Proceeds from the book are used to support psychotherapy treatment for select survivors. She is an advocate and volunteer working with various cancer awareness and support groups, such as the Foundation for Cancer Care West Africa to advance their efforts.

She is currently pursuing an MBA in Business Analysis at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. A fun fact about Izuhunwa is that she is also a Certified Financial Education Instructor who uses her platforms to provide life-changing personal finance education and coaching to individuals interested in adopting the best practices for managing their money. Hence her tag “The Money Doctor.”

Interested in being profiled?

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I am a Psycho-oncologist and Psychotherapist specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). My professional experience includes providing psychological and emotional support to children with cancer and their families, as well as adults experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, and relational issues. Currently, I am pursuing advanced studies in Couples Therapy and Sexology, aiming to offer comprehensive support in relationship dynamics and sexual health. As president of the Colegio Estatal de Psicólogos de Querétaro, I actively promote professional development, clinical innovation, and greater awareness of psycho-oncology in Mexico. My passion is empowering individuals and families to build resilience and reclaim emotional wellbeing amid life's challenges.

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.

On April 9, 2025, the global psycho-oncology community came together to celebrate the first-ever World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD). This special day was created to raise awareness about the vital role of psychosocial care in cancer treatment, while also honouring the incredible legacy of Dr. Jimmie Holland, whose pioneering work shaped the field of psycho-oncology as we know it.

In its very first year, WPOD saw more than 30 events take place across more than 25 countries, including in-person gatherings, online seminars, social media campaigns, and awareness initiatives. The response was both inspiring and humbling. Despite a short planning timeline, the level of engagement was impressive — reconnecting with former members, reaching new regions, and sparking meaningful conversations around the world.

WPOD is more than a one-day celebration. It’s a growing platform to:

• Highlight the importance of integrating psycho-oncology into cancer care
• Celebrate the progress we've made and identify areas still in need
• Encourage collaboration among professionals, organisations, and communities
• Empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to prioritise mental health

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made this first WPOD such a success. With everything we've learned this year, we’re already looking ahead to making 2026 even more impactful, inclusive, and far-reaching. Thank you for being part of this journey — and let’s keep building momentum together.

IPOS World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD) Organising Committee
Co-Chairs: Dr. Ozan Bahcivan, Dr. Chihtao Cheng
Members: Dr. Wendy Wing Tak Lam, Dr. Chioma Asuzu, Dr. Tom Hack, Dr. Jayita Deodhar

We are pleased to inform our network of a two-day workshop organized by the Georgian Psycho-Oncology Society, held on April 25–26, 2025. The workshop was titled "Psychological Support for Pediatric Cancer Patients and Their Families."

The training focused on the psychological and emotional challenges faced by children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment, as well as the impact on their families. It aimed to provide a foundational framework and practical skills for psychosocial professionals to offer comprehensive and holistic support.

Key topics included:

• Psychological impact of childhood cancer
• Standards of pediatric psychosocial oncology care
• Gestalt approach to working with children
• Communication strategies for young patients and their families
• Approaches to supporting patients and families
• Bereavement support

They were honored to host distinguished international trainers:

• Frans Meulmeester (Netherlands): Gestalt Trainer, Therapist, Coach, Supervisor, and Consultant. Frans is a registered member of the European Association for Gestalt Therapy and Theory (EAGT) as a therapist, GPO, and supervisor. He is also a European Certified Psychotherapist with the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).

• Alisa Kamalyan (Armenia): Clinical Psychologist, Head of Psychosocial Services at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, Armenia. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Psychosocial Wellbeing Working Group of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP).

Sincerely,

Georgian Psycho-Oncology Society

The British Psycho-Oncology Society (BPOS) recently held its annual conference in Manchester, which served as a slightly delayed 40th Anniversary Celebration. One of our best-attended recent BPOS conferences, we attracted 78 delegates including researchers, practitioners from a range of disciplines including psychology, nursing, counselling, and radiography.

We heard inspiring keynote presentations from Steve Bland, a former journalist and current podcast producer who eloquently gave a personal account of the impact of cancer on his own family, and Dr Ricky Frazer (Velindre University NHS Trust) who presented about exciting innovations and advancements in immunotherapy.  Oral presentations and flash talks from our delegates ranged from sessions on cancer caregiving, adolescent and young adult cancer, PROMs and PREMs, psychological interventions, through to inequalities and understudied cancers. Forty-six posters were showcased along with opportunities for networking and mentoring support for students and early career researchers.

Congratulations to our prize winners:

• James Rathbone – Best Oral Presentation
• Deborah Critoph – Best Flash Talk
• Grant Punnett – Best Poster
• Lana Cook – Delegate’s Choice Best Poster

The conference also included our Annual General Meeting at which the Committee talked our plans to launch our new Special Interest Groups which will focus initially on ‘Personalised Care’ and ‘Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer’. We are grateful to North West Cancer Research, the Ruth Strauss Foundation, and Wiley for sponsoring the event. Our next conference will be held in Bristol in March 2026.   

Sandra Bijelac has actively participated as a lecturer in numerous congresses and professional gatherings. She has also contributed to the realization of several Continuous Medical Education programs as a certified lecturer.

Published Papers and Congress Presentations

1. S. Bijelac: Crisis as a Psychological Response to Malignant Disease, Archives of Oncology, 44th Cancer Week, 2007.

2. S. Bijelac, N. Miletic: Mastectomy – Postoperative Psychogenic Trauma, 1st Croatian Congress of Psycho-oncology and Liaison Psychiatry with International Participation, Pula, 2009.

3. S. Bijelac: Interactive Approach as Part of Psychosomatic Treatment in Postsurgical Psychological Rehabilitation, Journal of B.U.ON., 7th Congress of B.U.ON., Izmir, Turkey, 2008.

4. A. Djurdjevic, S. Delic, S. Berat, S. Bijelac, D. Pavlovic, D. Cupic: Education of Cancer Patients as Psychosocial Support, Archives of Oncology, Forum for Patients – Psychological Support, 46th Cancer Week, 2009.

5. S. Bijelac, V. Kodzopeljic: Rehabilitation of Patients with Malignant Diseases, Proceedings of the Conference “Days of Special Educators”, Zlatibor, 2009.

6. S. Bijelac, J. Milošević: Psychosocial Aspects of Gynecological Malignancies, Archives of Oncology, 47th Cancer Week, 2010.

7. S. Bijelac: Psychosocial Support During Surgical Treatment of Oncology Patients, Continuous Medical Education, Lepenski Vir, 2011.

8. S. Bijelac: Psycho-oncology and Mentality, Proceedings of the 1st Congress of Psychotherapists of Serbia, Belgrade, 2011.

9. S. Bijelac: Education and Counseling as Part of Surgical Oncology Treatment, Rak – Journal of the Cancer Society, ISSN 1451-463X, December 2011.

10. D. Pjanić, V. Plešinac Karapandžić, K. Dabić Stanković, N. Čalovska Hercog, S. Bošnjak, M. Andrijić, S. Bijelac-Janković, Vesna Milosavljević: Integrative Art Psychotherapy in Women with Cervical Cancer – Scientific Research Paper, Proceedings of the 2nd Congress of Psychotherapists of Serbia, Belgrade, 2012.

11. S. Bijelac: Psychotherapeutic Approach and Application of TA in Oncology, Proceedings of the 2nd Congress of Psychotherapists of Serbia, Belgrade, 2012.

12. S. Bijelac: Psychosocial Support During Surgical Treatment – Continuous Medical Education of Healthcare Workers and Associates, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS), Belgrade, 2013.

13. J. Kovačević, O. Aleksić-Hil, D. Maćešić-Petrović, S. Bjelac: ADHD and Treatment in Childhood, Proceedings of the 3rd Congress of the Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Zlatibor, 2013.

14. D. Maćešić, J. Kovačević, S. Bjelac, O. Aleksić-Hil: Behavioral Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities in Inclusive Educational Settings, Proceedings of the 3rd Congress of the Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Zlatibor, 2013.

15. S. Bijelac: Psychosocial Rehabilitation Before Surgical Intervention – Assessment and Interventions, Cancer Section of the Serbian Medical Society (SLD), Belgrade, 2013.

16. S. Bijelac: Psychotherapy in Psycho-oncology – Focus on Anxiety Disorders, 3rd Congress of Psychotherapists of Serbia, Belgrade, 2013.

17. D. Pjanić, V. Plešinac Karapandžić, K. Dabić Stanković, N. Čalovska Hercog, S. Bošnjak, S. Bjelac Janković: Integrative Art Psychotherapy in Women with Cervical Cancer – Scientific Research Paper, Proceedings of the 3rd Congress of Psychotherapists of Serbia, Belgrade, 2013.

18. K. Vojvodić, S. Bjelac: Communication Between Healthcare Professionals and Patients – A Transactional Analysis Perspective, Proceedings of the 3rd Congress of Psychotherapists of Serbia, Belgrade, 2013.

19. S. Bijelac: Communication with Oncology Patients, Project “Palliative Care in Serbia”, City Institute for Public Health Belgrade and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, 2015–2016.

20. S. Bijelac: The Importance of Counseling Support for Breast Cancer Patients, Proceedings of the Cancer Section of the Serbian Medical Society (SLD), Belgrade, 2017.

21. M. Krljar, S. Bijelac, M. Gošović: The Impact of Occupational Stress on Burnout Syndrome in Oncology Surgery Nurses.

22. Project of the Department for Home Care and Palliative Care, Health Center “Voždovac” – Team Member.

23. Panel Discussion: “Capacity for Closeness and Oncology Patients”, February 2019 – Lecturer.

24. S. Bijelac: Burnout Syndrome, Association of Healthcare Workers of Serbia, XX Professional Conference of Laboratory Technologists and Technicians of Serbia, Leskovac, March 29–31, 2019.

25. S. Bijelac: Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients, XX Professional Conference of Laboratory Technologists and Technicians of Serbia, Leskovac, March 29–31, 2019.

26. Panel Discussion: “Without Fear”, Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, May 22, 2019 – Lecturer.

27. S. Bijelac: The Importance of Counseling Support for Women with Breast Cancer, National Congress of Healthcare Workers of Serbia with International Participation, Zlatibor, May 22–26, 2019.

28. Department for Home Care and Palliative Care, Health Center Voždovac: “Over a Cup of Tea About Death” – Interactive Workshops, November 2018 – May 2019 – Team Member and Lecturer.

29. S. Bijelac: Psychosocial Support for Lung Cancer Patients, Continuous Medical Education – Lung Cancer Course, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, May 27, 2019.

30. S. Bijelac: Lecture on Anxiety and Depression, Faculty of Theology, University of Belgrade, November 2019 – Lecturer.

31. S. Bijelac: The Importance of Counseling Support for Women with Breast Cancer, National Congress of Healthcare Workers of Serbia with International Participation, Zlatibor, 2019.

32. S. Bijelac: Burnout Syndrome, XX Professional Conference of Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, Leskovac, 2019.

33. S. Bijelac: Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients, XX Professional Conference of Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, Leskovac, 2019.

34. S. Bijelac: Communication with Oncology Patients, Palliative Care Project, Institute for Public Health Belgrade, 2016.

35. Home Care for Patients – A Guide for Family Caregivers, Project “Support for Education in Palliative Care”, Institute for Public Health and the Secretariat for Health of the City of Belgrade, 2022.

36. NURDOR Project: “Rehabilitation Camp of Love and Hope 2023”, funded by the Ministry of Justice.

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.