ExCel (Excellence in Cancer Education & Leadership) strives to improve the delivery of psychosocial-spiritual care for oncology patients through an innovative social work-specific educational program. ExCEL is a collaborative partnership between the City of Hope, the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) and the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Work (APOSW). The investigative team for this five-year National Cancer Institute-funded initiative includes: Shirley Otis-Green, Betty Ferrell, Marcia Grant, Brad Zebrack and Barbara Jones. The project will address six critical aspects of psychosocial support necessary for oncology social workers to meet the standard of care recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2008 Report – “Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs.”

Dr. Jones will serve as co-investigator (PI of the subcontract) and liaison for the APOSW. Dr. Jones will assist in the development of the curriculum, electronic and print content, as well as act as faculty and provide evaluation of the APOSW members’ experiences and goal achievements as they participate in the various educational opportunities offered through the project.

Sponsor:
Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope / NIH-National Cancer Institute R25-CA138291