IPOPC NEWSLETTER

News and updates in research, education, and community engagement in psychosocial oncology and palliative care.

SUMMER 2026

Welcome from the Director of the Carol LaMare Program

Greetings from Alice Cagampang Ryan

As we close another academic year, I am filled with gratitude, pride, and hope as I reflect on all that our Carol LaMare Scholars community has accomplished together. This newsletter is, above all, a celebration.

In June, we had the privilege of honoring 12 remarkable Carol LaMare Scholars as they graduated from the University of Washington School of Social Work. Surrounded by their families, friends, field instructors, mentors, and loved ones, we celebrated not only the completion of their MSW degrees, but also their commitment to compassionate, person-centered care for individuals and families facing serious illness. It was a joyful reminder that behind every achievement is a community of support, encouragement, and shared purpose.

Throughout the year, our scholars have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to learning and service in hospitals, clinics, hospice programs, and community settings. They have walked alongside patients and families during some of life's most vulnerable moments with curiosity, humility, and compassion, carrying forward the values that have long defined the Carol LaMare Scholars Program.

As the academic year comes to a close, it is also an opportunity to pause and reflect on the growth, relationships, and experiences that have shaped the past months. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the practicum instructors, faculty, alumni, donors, and supporters whose generosity of time, expertise, and encouragement make this program possible.

As summer begins, I hope each of you finds time for rest, renewal, and celebration. Caring for others requires that we also care for ourselves, and these moments of restoration help sustain us in this important work.

While we take pride in what has been accomplished, we are equally excited about what lies ahead. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of scholars in the coming academic year and continuing our shared commitment to advancing excellence in psychosocial oncology and palliative care social work.

Wishing you a joyful summer and all the best in the season ahead.

Alice Cagampang Ryan, LICSW

Assistant Teaching Professor

Director, Carol LaMare Scholars Program

University of Washington, School of Social Work

Strategic Planning Feedback Due September 1st

Strategic Planning Summary

We invite you to read and share your thoughts on the draft of IPOPC's strategic planning summary for 2026 to 2028 and beyond.

Carol LaMare Graduation

We celebrated our latest cohort of Carol LaMare Scholars at the Mountaineers Club, alongside their families, friends, many practicum instructors and alumni. We are so proud of all the amazing work that our newest cohort has done and will continue to do. They are now a part of our more than 170-strong Carol LaMare Alumni nationwide.

See some of the pictures, Click Here

EAB Meeting

The Center for IPOPC Research and Practice successfully held its first External Advisory Board (EAB) meeting. Board members shared important insights into the center's direction, inspiration, and strategic priorities.

The next EAB meeting is planned for Nov/Dec 2026.

AOSW Representation & Sponsorship

Anao Zhang, Lynn Behar, and J'May Rivara from IPOPC attended the 2026 Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) Annual Conference. This year, IPOPC was very pleased to sponsor the highly popular conference app in support of the continued growth of AOSW, the world's largest professional organization for oncology social workers. Another Seattle-based organization, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, was also a sponsor at AOSW this year.

In addition to conference sponsorship, IPOPC director Anao Zhang delivered a pre-conference clinical workshop at AOSW, entitled "Advanced Clinical Case Conceptualization to Deliver Psychotherapies to Individuals Impacted by Cancer."

A full slide deck of the workshop can be ACCESSED HERE

Selected Achievement for Celebration

Anao Zhang, Director of the Center for IPOPC Research and Practice, was inducted as a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) -- our nation's premier research organization in the field of social work. In addition, Dr. Zhang was elevated to Fellow status, nominated by Dr. Lynn Behar, at the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), the largest national organization of oncology social work providers, researchers, administrators, and others.

Professor Alice Cagampang Ryan, Director of the Carol LaMare Scholars Program, received the University of Washington School of Social Work 2025-2026 academic year MSW Student Choice Teaching Award. A quote from the student who nominated Alice: "[She] teaches with heart, passion, and a wonderful sense of humor."

We are so proud of the well-deserved recognition for Alice and congratulate her on this notable achievement.

Anao Zhang, the Behar Endowed Associate Professor in Psychosocial Oncology, was ranked among the most impactful social work scholars at the top 40 social work schools ranked by U.S. News. Specifically, Dr. Zhang's HiA impact factor ranked 27th among all social work faculty members at a top 40 school of social work. Notably, Dr. Zhang is the only ranked scholar in the HiA category at the UW School of Social Work. Congrats, Anao.

Center for IPOPC Research and Practice Publications

Zhang, A., Dixon, S., & Bleyer, A. (2026). Advancing research for adolescents and young adults with cancer: A position statement. Journal of the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1177/21565333251392237 (IF: 1.2)
Zhang, A., Chen, M., Brandon, R., Currin-McCulloch, J., Liu, X., Cheladyn, B., Ferrell, B., Jones, B., Zebrack, B., & DuVall, A. (2026). The current state of palliative care research for adolescents and young adults with cancer: A systematic review and meta-thematic analysis of empirical literature. Psycho-Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.70228 (IF: 3.5)
Zebrack, B., Zhang, A., Ghazal, LV, Francis-Levin, N., & Brandon, RE. (2026). The essential nature of social work in cancer control. Cancer Control. https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748251353081 (IF: 2.6)
Palmer, S., Freeman, J., Hasson, R., Zhang, A., Miller, A., Komi, L., … Robinson, L. (2026). The home environment and children’s motor competence: A scoping review. Journal of Motor Learning and Development. (IF: 1.4)

Carol LaMare Commencement Highlights

We invite you to recap some of the highlights of the Carol LaMare Graduation, hosted to honor all the Carol LaMare Scholars who graduated this month from the University of Washington School of Social Work with their Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree.

Put your headset on, sit down, and ENJOY!

Carol LaMare Alumni Corner

We are super pleased and excited to launch the Carol LaMare Alumni Corner, a designated section in each newsletter that focuses on the students, alums, and supporters of the Carol LaMare Scholars Program at the Center for IPOPC Research and Practice.