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The International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) plays a meaningful role in my career growth by providing a global platform that strengthens both my clinical practice and professional development within psycho-oncology.

As someone formally trained in this field, IPOS connects me with an international network of experts, researchers, and clinicians who are dedicated to improving the psychological care of people affected by cancer. This exposure allows me to stay current with evidence-based practices, emerging research, and culturally responsive approaches, all of which directly enhance the quality of care I provide.

Additionally, IPOS offers access to educational resources, conferences, and collaborative opportunities that support continuous learning and skill refinement. Engaging with these spaces not only deepens my expertise but also encourages interdisciplinary perspectives that are essential in psycho-oncology.

Being part of IPOS also supports my long-term career goals by opening pathways for research involvement, professional visibility, and potential leadership within the field. Overall, it contributes to my growth by fostering ongoing education, meaningful collaboration, and a strong sense of belonging to a global professional community committed to compassionate, holistic cancer care.

I’d love to have psycho-oncology in my city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa and be able to give quality care to cancer patients, their families and multidisciplinary teams.

Interested in being profiled?

Please email the following to ed@ipos-society.org 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. Description: How does IPOS contribute to your career growth?
8. 50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

I am a psycho-oncologist (psychologist) based in Kochi, India, working in a tertiary care hospital where I provide psychosocial support to cancer patients across the disease trajectory. My work focuses on integrating psycho-oncology into routine oncology care, with a special interest in geriatric oncology. I am actively involved in developing a structured multidisciplinary geriatric oncology program and conducting research on psychological distress and supportive care needs among elderly cancer patients.

Through IPOS, I stay connected to global developments in psycho-oncology and continuously work towards adapting evidence-based practices to resource-limited settings. My approach to care emphasizes collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and strengthening psychosocial support within multidisciplinary teams.

Beyond my professional role, I am a trained dancer and have served as Vice President of a Toastmasters Club, experiences that have shaped my communication and connection with people. I strongly believe that every person carries a story—and that these stories have the power to inspire, heal, and transform lives.

IPOS has been instrumental in shaping my development as a psycho-oncologist by providing access to global knowledge, evidence-based practices, and a collaborative network of professionals dedicated to psychosocial cancer care. As someone working in a low- and middle-income setting, IPOS offers valuable exposure to international standards and innovative models of care that I can adapt to my local context. It has strengthened my clinical approach, enhanced my research perspective, and inspired me to integrate structured psycho-oncology services within multidisciplinary oncology care. IPOS continues to motivate me to bridge gaps in psychosocial care and contribute meaningfully to the field.

Interested in being profiled?

Please email the following to ed@ipos-society.org 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.     Description: How does IPOS contribute to your career growth?
8.     50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

Sunt psiholog clinician cu competențe în psiho-oncologie, activitatea mea profesională se concentrează asupra evaluării și intervenției psihologice în contexte clinice. Formarea mea academică include studii universitare în domeniile psihologiei și sociologiei, completate ulterior prin programe de master și programe de formare complementră/continuă. Acest parcurs educațional mi-a oferit o perspectivă integrativă asupra comportamentului uman, asupra mecanismelor psihologice individuale și asupra dinamicilor sociale care influențează dezvoltarea și funcționarea psihică a persoanei.

În practica mea profesională urmăresc îmbinarea rigurozității evaluării psihologice cu o abordare empatică și orientată spre resursele persoanei.

Un domeniu de interes profesional îl reprezintă intersecția dintre psihologie și îngrijirea medicală, în special în contextul psiho-oncologiei și al îngrijirii paliative. În aceste arii, rolul meu este esențial pentru sprijinirea pacienților și a familiilor lor în fața unor experiențe existențiale dificile, caracterizate de incertitudine, suferință și transformări profunde ale vieții personale.

În paralel cu practica clinică, sunt implicat în activități de formare profesională și supervizare, contribuind la dezvoltarea competențelor altor psihologi și la consolidarea standardelor profesionale în domeniul psihologiei aplicate.

I am a clinical psychologist with expertise in psycho-oncology. My professional activity focuses on psychological assessment and intervention in clinical contexts. My academic background includes university studies in the fields of psychology and sociology, subsequently completed through master's programs and complementary/continuous training programs. This educational path has provided me with an integrative perspective on human behaviour, on individual psychological mechanisms and on the social dynamics that influence the development and psychological functioning of the person.

In my professional practice, I aim to combine the rigor of psychological assessment with an empathetic and resource-oriented approach to the person.

An area of ​​professional interest is the intersection of psychology and medical care, especially in the context of psycho-oncology and palliative care. In these areas, my role is essential in supporting patients and their families in the face of difficult existential experiences, characterized by uncertainty, suffering and profound transformations of personal lives.

In parallel with clinical practice, I am involved in professional training and supervision activities, contributing to the development of the skills of other psychologists and the strengthening of professional standards in the field of applied psychology.

Interested in being profiled?

Please email the following to ed@ipos-society.org 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.     Description: How does IPOS contribute to your career growth?
8.     50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.

I am a psycho-oncologist at the Manipal Hospice & Respite Care Centre (MHRCC), MAHE, India, where I work across the spectrum of serious and life-limiting conditions, including cancer, other serious life-limiting conditions, neurodegenerative disorders, organ failure, and complex rehabilitation settings. My clinical work focuses on meaning-centered care, caregiver distress, existential suffering, advance-care planning, and the integration of structured psychosocial pathways within interdisciplinary medical systems.

I completed my M.Phil. in psycho-oncology at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar. I am actively involved in the ICCI–SIGPPO pediatric psycho-oncology guideline drafting initiative and serve within IPOS’s Early Career Professionals Committee (ECPP), including participation in the World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD) Special Interest Group.

IPOS has provided a global platform for mentorship, collaboration, and early-career leadership. It has strengthened my commitment to building scalable, culturally responsive psychosocial care models in low- and middle-income contexts while remaining aligned with international research and practice standards.

View Contributor Index

Original Article

The IPOS-ECHO African Capacity-Building Program: An Impactful Training Initiative to Disseminate Psycho-Oncology in Africa
Chioma C. Asuzu, Elizabeth O. Akin-Odanye, David W. Lounsbury, Joyce M. Terwase, Philip Odiyo, Scott Nichols, Sharon Nichols, Emeka Odiaka, Melissa Henry

Radioactive iodine symptom burden, psychosocial factors, and health-related quality of life among differentiated thyroid cancer survivors: a cross-sectional analysis
Alaina L. Carr, Kristi D. Graves, Gautham Pillai, Gary Bloom, Jacqueline Jonklaas

Letter to the Editor

Methodological considerations in “Frequency of and factors associated with social problems among working-age patients with cancer in Japan”
Ankur Sharma, Sushma Narsing Katkuri, Varshini Vadhithala, Arun Kumar, Sushma Verma, Dhanya Dedeepya

Author's response to correspondence on “Frequency of and factors associated with social problems among working-age patients with cancer in Japan”
Kazuho Hisamura

Disclaimer: This version of the table of contents may be incomplete. To view the official complete table of contents, please navigate your web browser to the journal's website at Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice

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IPOS has contributed to my career growth by helping me stay connected to global thinking and best practices in psycho-oncology. Through its conferences, webinars, guidelines, and shared resources, I’ve been able to deepen my understanding of psychosocial care in oncology across different cultural and healthcare contexts. Being part of IPOS has also supported my professional identity as a psycho-oncology practitioner, giving me opportunities to learn from experienced clinicians and researchers, reflect on ethical and systemic challenges, and translate evidence-based approaches into my everyday clinical and program-level work. Overall, IPOS has helped me grow not just in knowledge, but also in confidence, perspective, and clarity about my role within multidisciplinary cancer care.

I am a psychologist working in pediatric hemato-oncology, with a strong focus on psychosocial care for children and families undergoing intensive treatment of bone marrow transplant. My work includes direct clinical support, caregiver and staff mental health interventions, training healthcare teams, and building systems for psychosocial assessment and documentation. I am particularly interested in understanding emotional distress within medical settings and translating it into practical, team-friendly frameworks.

My involvement with IPOS has helped me stay connected to global perspectives in psycho-oncology, learn from diverse clinical contexts, and strengthen my grounding in ethical, culturally sensitive care. IPOS resources and discussions have supported my growth as both a clinician and a systems-focused professional.

Something interesting about me is that I’m deeply curious about how people make sense of illness within families and communities. I enjoy listening to everyday language, metaphors, and silences, and often find that the most meaningful clinical insights come from small, ordinary moments rather than formal sessions.

Interested in being profiled?
Please email the following to ed@ipos-society.org 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.     Description: How does IPOS contribute to your career growth?
8.     50-to-200-word description that notes details on your practice, involvement with IPOS and something “fun or interesting” about yourself.