Cancer Social Work Services | Knight Cancer Institute

OHSU Social Worker Caroline Macuiba consulting with a patient

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute provides specialty-trained social workers who can provide advocacy, education, resources and compassion to help you and your family cope with cancer.

Social workers make up an important part of your care team. They bring a broad understanding of cancer, cancer treatment, survivorship, community resources, palliative care, hospice care, grief and bereavement.

They are available at several locations and by phone. Services include:

Support around adjustment to your diagnosis
Help with communication between you and your medical team
Information and referrals for community-based services
Grief and loss support
Support to you, your caregivers and family
Help mediating family conflict related to illness
Help with transportation and lodging or housing
Help with navigating OHSU
Help with advance directives and end-of-life issues
Help with palliative care
Information and referrals for financial and insurance concerns

Our teams

Social work leaders

South Waterfront patients

Abrianna McCarthy, M.S.W., CSWA
503-418-3544

Benign hematology
GIST
Head and neck cancer
Lung cancer

Carisa Deethardt, LCSW, APHSW-C (also see Keren McCord)
503-494-8787

Blood cancer and blood disorders
Stem cell transplant

Cami Godsey, LCSW
503-494-5955

GI cancer (colon, rectal, pancreatic)

Gregory Rainey, LCSW, C-SWHC
503-494-9244

Clinical trials (phase 1)
Melanoma
Palliative care (outpatient)
Prostate cancer
Thyroid cancer

Keren McCord, LCSW, OSW-C (also see Carisa Deethardt)
503-418-5862

Blood cancer and blood disorders
Stem cell transplant

Sheilagh Diez, M.S.W., CSWA
503-494-6625

Breast cancer
Gynecologic cancer patients receiving infusions at the Center for Health & Healing Building 2
Urologic cancer (kidney, bladder, testicular, germ cell, penile)

Dena Wellington, LCSW
503-418-9768