Home » UofL researcher to receive national award in oncology social work

UofL researcher to receive national award in oncology social work

Tara Schapmire’s research is used in schools across the nation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 20, 2015) — Tara Schapmire, Ph.D., M.S.S.W., of the University of Louisville’s Interdisciplinary Program for Palliative Care and Chronic Illness, today receives the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW)/American Cancer Society Leadership in Oncology Social Work Award for 2015. The national award recognizes an AOSW member for contributions to the field of oncology social work and leadership through administration, education, clinical practice or research.

Tara Schapmire
Tara Schapmire

Schapmire is an assistant professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and affiliated faculty member at the Kent School of Social Work.

Schapmire is co-investigator on a five-year, $1.5 million National Cancer Institute grant to create and evaluate an interdisciplinary oncology palliative care curriculum known as iCOPE (Interdisciplinary Curriculum in Oncology Palliative Care Education). The program is implemented across schools of social work, medicine, nursing and chaplaincy residency programs.

In addition to her work on iCOPE, Schapmire is a co-investigator on the $7.5 Million Kentucky LEADS Collaborative dedicated to reducing the burden of lung cancer in Kentucky through community-based interventions to educate providers and care for survivors, and the prevention and early detection of lung cancer.

As a practicing oncology social worker, Schapmire was responsible for securing grant funds to provide support for all aspects of psychosocial adjustment in all phases of the cancer experience by providing direct financial support, social support and teaching coping skills to patients and their families. She also created a palliative care program, support groups and provided continuing education for hospital employees in these areas.