Date & Time: Wednesday December 2nd, 10:00am - 11:00am PT / 1:00pm - 2:00pm ET
Presented by: Anao Zhang, PhD, LICSW, OSW-C, ACBT
This presentation explores how clinical social workers can support adolescents and young adults with cancer in expressing their priorities, navigating family dynamics, and participating in palliative care decisions. Drawing on a systematic review and clinical case examples, the session highlights approaches to meaningful communication, developmentally responsive psychosocial support, and advance care planning. Participants will consider how to center young people’s voices while addressing caregiver concerns and barriers to care.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify developmental and psychosocial needs that shape palliative care experiences for adolescents and young adults with cancer.
- Apply communication strategies that center young people’s voices while addressing caregiver concerns and differences in care preferences.
- Describe social work approaches to advance care planning and advocacy that align care with young people’s values, goals, and priorities.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Anao Zhang is a psychosocial oncologist and licensed clinical social worker specializing in the mental health and survivorship needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer. His clinical work emphasizes integrated, evidence-based psychosocial care that addresses the emotional, social, and developmental challenges of living with a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Zhang is a board-certified oncology social worker and an academy-certified cognitive-behavioral therapist, with advanced training in cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with cancer and solutionfocused brief therapy. His approach is informed by the social determinants of youth health, recognizing how social conditions shape psychological well-being, access to care, and survivorship experiences. At the University of Washington School of Social Work, Dr. Zhang holds the Lynn Behar Endowed Professorship in Psychosocial Oncology and directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Research and Practice. He advances interdisciplinary research and professional training to strengthen psychosocial oncology and palliative care services. An intervention researcher with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Zhang develops and evaluates mental health interventions for people affected by cancer, particularly younger patients. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Psycho-Oncology, contributing to the evidence base that informs compassionate, clinically effective care for individuals navigating cancer treatment and life beyond diagnosis.