Doctoral Student Receives $40,000 Grant From American Cancer Society

Congratulations to Penny Damaskos, a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler School of Social Work who recently received a $40,000, two-year grant from the American Cancer Society. The grant is meant to encourage researchers in the field of oncology social work. Ms. Damaskos has over fourteen years of experience in the field of oncology social work and currently runs the Post-Treatment Resource Program for cancer survivors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

For her dissertation, Ms. Damaskos hopes to examine the concept of resiliency in oncology social workers to better understand why people stay in the oncology field despite the high stress. She hopes the subject could have significant training implications both for the field and in practice arenas.

Ms. Damaskos first heard about the grant a few years ago while attending a conference of the Association of Oncology in Social Work. She was encouraged to apply for the grant by her colleague, and fellow Wurzweiler doctoral student, Louisa Daratsos. Louisa is also a recipient of the ACS Doctoral Studies Grant and provided support to Penny as she navigated through the application process.

Ms. Damaskos encourages students in Masters and Ph.D. studies who are interested in the field of oncology to apply for this grant. Those who are considering it will find that they are welcome and well-supported. Ms. Damaskos explains that the grant applicants can be at the beginning stages of their doctoral studies and still apply for this grant. It is important for the student to show commitment and the intent to serve in the oncology social work field. Since several WSSW students have already received the grant, the school has the infrastructure in place to make the application process a bit easier.

The Doctoral Training Grant is a two year grant with the possibility of extension for four years. It will help students cover the costs associated with research, tuition, attending relevant conferences and travel expenses.

Click here for more info about the grant.

Click here for Masters level funding.

Ms. Damaskos is also the co-author (with Page Tolbert) of 100 Questions and Answers about Life After Cancer: A Survivor's Guide.
(Thanks to guest editor, Aries Liao)