One of the many services that the Meso Foundation offers to patients, caregivers, and the bereaved community is support groups offered over Zoom video conferencing. These groups have been in the past community-led and successfully attended, but attendees have expressed a need for a moderator who can step in when needed. We are now happy to announce that we have brought in help and all groups will now be professionally moderated.
We would like to introduce Beth Flanzbaum, MSW, LICSW. Beth received her master’s degree in social work from Simmons College of Social Work
in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2018, Beth obtained a Certificate in Palliative and End-of-Life Care from Smith College School of Social Work. She brings over 40 years of experience in aiding individuals and families through their most challenging moments.
Beth is currently an adjunct faculty member and faculty advisor at the Boston University School of Social Work. Previously, she was the mesothelioma social worker at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s International Mesothelioma Program in Boston until 2023. There, she worked closely with mesothelioma patients and caregivers, guiding them from diagnosis through treatment and beyond, and facilitated multiple support groups. She has a particular interest in the impact that mesothelioma has on not just the patient but the caregiver as well. Beth will be leading a few groups a month, including a new afternoon group for patients.
We would also like to reintroduce Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C.
Jennifer has over a decade of experience running groups for people impacted by cancer. Jennifer is the Executive Director of Life with Cancer and Patient Experience for the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. She works
to ensure that patients, survivors, and their family members have access to psychosocial care at no cost to them to help individuals cope with cancer, its treatments, and survivorship in the best possible way. She specializes in working with young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer, communication around end-of-life concerns, and sexual health. She was awarded the 2017 Oncology Social Worker of the Year award from the Association of Oncology Social Workers. Jennifer earned her master’s degree from Washington University in Saint Louis and her bachelor’s degree from Clemson University.
Jennifer has been leading a couple of professionally moderated groups a month for the foundation over Zoom and has moderated in-person groups at the annual symposium as well.
Our Patient Services Director, Julie White, RN, BSN, OCN, will also continue moderating groups as well.
If you would like more information about support groups and how you can be notified of upcoming groups, please contact our Patient Services Director, Julie White, at [email protected] or by calling 703-879-3819.
