Master’s-level Oncology and Palliative Care Social Worker, ovarian cancer survivor, with 40+ years’ experience in psychosocial support, advocacy, training, and patient-centered cancer care. ACADEMIC DETAILS:
SCHOOL:
Tygerberg High School, Parow, Cape Town
UNIVERSITY TRAINING :
BA Social Work University of Stellenbosch - 1975
BA Hons Social work University of Stellenbosch - 1976
Masters Mental Health University of South Africa - 1984
3. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE: in brief since qualification
Internship:
Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital - 1979
• Mental Health and psychiatric social work in the private welfare area and public sector hospital setting.
• CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) Western Cape social work coordinator and consultant 1983-1991
• Social work private practice 1991-1997 - specialising in Oncology social work.
• GVI oncology services: Oncology Social worker & Coordinator
1997-2002
• GVI Oncology Human Resource Manager & Head of Psycho-social services currently
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIPS
• South African Council for Social Services Professional (SACSSP)
• South African Social Workers in Private Practice Association (SASWIP)
• South African Oncology Social Work Association (SAOSWA)
• Pan African Psycho Oncology Society (PAPOS)
• Member of AFRICAN ORGANISATION FOR RESEARCH AND
TRAINING IN CANCER (AORTIC)
• Member of the American Oncology Social Work Society (AOSW)
• Member South African Oncology Social Work Association (SAOSWA) National Chairperson of SAOSWA since 2002 to the 2010
INTERNATIONAL Conferences attended
Hamburg UICC Conference 1990 - Presented a Poster on the “I Can Cope Program” Implementation in South Africa
Lucerne UICC Psycho Social Aspects of Breast Cancer 1996
New Orleans AOSW (American Oncology Social Work Society Conference) 1999
Ghana (Accra) Aortic Meeting 2003 - Presented a paper re the “Hoping is Coping” group work program in the GVI Practices in South Africa
IPOS Conference Copenhagen 2004: Keynote Speaker
Austin, Texas, (American Oncology Social Work Society Conference) 2005
AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) Survivor Advocate program, Los Angeles 2007
World Cancer Summit, Ireland, Lance Armstrong Foundation 2009
American Cancer Society, Skills building workshop, Accra, Ghana 2009
UICC conference China 2010 as an invited guest of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society UN Special Meeting briefing as Cancer Ambassador for South Africa – New York City 2011
Icon conference 2012 Durban
Aortic Conference Durban 2013
Advocacy Leaders meeting Casablanca Morocco 2013
UICC conference Melbourne Australia 2014
ADDITIONAL TRAINING COURSES
• Extensive Narrative training in a Study group with Dr’s Suzanne Shuda and Elize Morkel.
• Attendance of two intensive workshops with Michael White of Dulwich Narrative Therapy Centre, Australia
• Workshop with David Epson re narrative practices with Children
• Play therapy training Dr Gary Landert (USA)
• Therapeutic Hypnosis training, Wellness Institute USA
• Workshops on Grief and Bereavement issues
• Training in Filial Therapy
• Common Shock workshop- Kathe Weingarten from the USA
• Advocacy Training USA 2007
• Advocacy training Livestrong and ACS 2010 and 2011 in South Africa
• Narrative training 2013, 2014 Elize Morkel
Career achievements:
• Development and pioneering “I Can Cope Program” for cancer patients and families in South Africa and Namibia.
• Presentation at Hamburg Conference in 1990
• PAPOS Conference, Pretoria 2003
• Launched the first Cancer Survivors Day in South Africa
o Rolled it out as a National Program, currently in its 5th year
• Contributed to Cancer text book edited by Prof Basil Bloch
o Gynaecological Cancers; Ed Prof. Maskew Miller: 1994
• Development of the Hoping is Coping support program for people living with cancer.
• Received the CANSA - Mariette Loots Award for contribution to developing services for cancer patients and their families in 1989 for the developing of the “I can Cope” cancer group work program.
• Development of in-house training program for radiographers, oncology nurses, administrative staff and oncology social workers
• Co-Founder of the South African Oncology Social Work forum in 2000 after attending the American Oncology Social work Conference in New Orleans in 1999. Current Western Cape Regional Chairperson of SAOSWA.
• Co-Founder and Director of People Living with Cancer organisation in South Africa (www.plwc.org.za & www.cancerbuddies.org.za
• Development of GVI in-house oncology focused training programs for staff development in soft skills for all occupational groups.
• Established Patients centered care model and standards of care within GVI oncology as well as implementing dedicated training programs in this regard.
• Initiated and coordinated the GVI introductory psychosocial skills building training programs that GVI oncology presents for all healthcare professionals; to assist with building interpersonal skills of health care staff, enabling them to deal with the emotional issues of caring for cancer patients and their families.
• Initiated and implemented the National Cancer Survivors day concept in South Africa that is being celebrated throughout SA since 2000 that is now part of the health Calendar of South Africa
• Facilitates the Cancer Buddy support group in Cape Town since 2008 monthly
• Has presented numerous talks at National Cancer conferences
• Has attended and presented at International Cancer Conferences in Africa (2) , USA (4) and Europe (5) between 1994-2012 UICC conferences in China(2010) and Melbourne (2014)
• Participated on the 1st Patient survivor Forum held steering committee during May 2011 who hosted the Voice of Cancer survivors Forum in South Africa to improve cancer advocacy initiative in South Africa
• Currently conducting Photovoice research project with Dr Lynn Edwards for PLWC that was ethically approved by the MRC 2014/2015
Articles Published and other contributions
• The role of counselling in the care of cancer patients and their families; CME (Continuing Medical Education), 1998, Vol16, No5, P415-419
• Making a difference: The multidisciplinary team approach in cancer care; Mrs Linda Greeff & Dr Leon Gouws; The Specialist Forum - October 2003
o Contributed a chapter in a Gynaecological Cancer Handbook Gynecological Cancers; Ed Prof. Maskew Miller: 1994
• Tumori, a Journal of Experimental and clinical Oncology
3RD International Cancer Control Congress Monograph, September –October 2009 p 584
