For Immediate Release

From Routledge
May 2009

Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Article Commemorates

25th Anniversary of the Association of Oncology Social Work
Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, edited by James Zabora, ScD, MSW, is proud to announce the
publication of the article Historical Threads in the Development of Oncology Social Work.
This 60-page article on the origins and development of the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW)
appears in Volume 27, Issue 2, 2009 and features contributions from twenty renowned authors. The article
highlights the major role of oncology social work in assisting cancer patients, their families, and their
caregivers, and how the AOSW has been at the forefront of leading the way for 25 years and counting.
From the Articles Introduction:
As the Association of Oncology Social Work celebrates its 25th year, we pause to reflect on the many
historical threads that contributed to its development and hear from each of the presidents who helped
create the organization, as we know it today. Set within hospitals, medical social work was born in the early
20th century. In the 1940s medical social work became necessary for hospital accreditation. Two additional
historical shifts, one in medical improvements in treating cancer, the other a shift to a consumer-oriented
American Cancer Society, contributed to the push for a greater role for the federal government in funding
cancer research. Oncology social work came to full blossom in the 1970s, a result of the physicians need
for a member of the health care team who understood cancer, its treatment, and the patients need to
address his or her psychosocial needs resulting from cancer. Today, oncology social work is a fully
developed profession with a national organization providing education and support to oncology social
workers in their use of psychosocial interventions and research in behalf of cancer patients and their
families.
Journal of Psychosocial Oncology will feature the article, Historical Threads in the Development of
Oncology Social Work for FREE from May 1 June 30, 2009 on the journals web page at:
www.tandf.co.uk/journals/WJPO. Visit the journals web page to download the article and to review the
complete Table of Contents from this and other issues.
----------Journal of Psychosocial Oncology is the official journal of the Association of Oncology Social Work
(AOSW). The first interdisciplinary resource of its kind the journal is in its third decade of examining
exploratory and hypothesis testing and presenting program evaluation research on critical areas, including
the stigma of cancer; employment and personal problems facing cancer patients; patient education; family
involvement in patient care; children with cancer; the psychosocial needs of cancer patients; hospital and
hospice staff; and volunteers.
Published quarterly, the journal offers subscription options for institutions and individuals to enter a print and
online subscription or the option of entering an institutional online only subscription. AOSW members
receive a print and online subscription to the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology as a benefit of
membership. Visit www.aosw.org for more information on the society and its many member benefits.
An optional print and online subscription rate of $83 is also available to individual members of the American
Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) and the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS). Visit
the journals web page or contact our Customer Service Department to enter your subscription at the special
rate.
2009 Publication Details
Volume 27, 2009, 4 issues per year Print ISSN: 0734-7332 Online ISSN 1540-7586
2009 Subscription Rates
Institutional (print and online): US$721 / 552 / 717
Institutional (online only): US$685 / 524 / 681
Individual (print and online): US$120 / 93 / 120
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Manuscript submissions, contact:

Send manuscripts to James R. Zabora, ScD, MSW
Editor, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
Dean. National Catholic School of Social Services
The Catholic University of America
100 Shahan Hall, 620 Michigan Avenue
Washington. DC 20064 USA.
Email: zabora@cua.edu.
For subscription information, or to order a print sample copy, contact:
Taylor & Francis
Customer Service Department
325 Chestnut St., Ste. 800
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 1-800-354-1420, Press 4
Email: customerservice@taylorandfrancis.com