Caregiver Needs

Dorothy Gold MSW, LCSW-C, OSW-C is Oncology Social Work Clinical Specialist at the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center at GBMC in Baltimore, MD and part of a multidisciplinary team that works with head and neck cancer patients and their families/loved ones. She also facilitates support groups for survivors and caregivers. Dorothy is a board-certified oncology social worker (OSW-C) with many years of experience in the oncology field and focusing on head and neck cancer for over 17 years. She received her MSW from University of Maryland School of Social Work and has been a clinical field instructor with the school for graduate social work students. She is a member of AOSW (Association of Oncology Social Workers) and in 2010 was recognized as Oncology Social Worker of the Year. Dorothy serves on the Board of Directors of SPOHNC (Support for People with Head and Neck Cancer) and authored a chapter in their book, Managing the Challenges of Head and Neck Cancer. Dorothy has published and lectured widely on topics related to psychosocial adjustment and quality of life for head and neck cancer patients and loved ones.

Dr. Tobin is board certified in General Psychiatry, Consult-Liaison Psychiatry and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She specializes in psychiatry of the medically ill with a special focus on patients with cancer. She provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services at the University of Chicago medical campus.

She recently served as a Consult-Liaison and Research Fellowship with the National Institutes of Mental Health

Allison Breininger has been caring for her husband Sean since his diagnosis of Fanconi Anemia ten years ago. While by his side through a bone marrow transplant and multiple cancers, she came to realize that caregivers are often in the negative space: unseen, unrecognized, unsupported, yet a vital part of the big picture. She created The Negative Space, where she writes openly and honestly about the realities of caregiving, encourages other caregivers to speak their truth, and provides concrete support suggestions for those with caregivers in their lives, including the "I'm Part of the Story" Caregiver Gift Boxes.

Allison also writes, speaks, and advocates on behalf of caregivers through partnering with organizations to improve and increase their caregiver services and co-hosts the In Sickness Podcast with a fellow young spousal caregiver. You can find her online at the www.thenegativespace.life and @negspacelife.

Allison's full cancer caregiver story can be read on her profile page here.

A mom, a wife, marketing communications professional, Kristi also became a caregiver in 2016 when her husband, Andy was diagnosed with HPV-attributed head and neck cancer. Since then Kristi has been working with HNCA as a Caregiver Ambassador to bring awareness to this type of cancer, advocating for prevention, early detection, and the important role of the caregiver in the cancer treatment team.

Kirsti's full cancer caregiver story can be read on her profile page here.