Anao Zhang

Discipline: Social Worker

Funding awarded to: University of Michigan

Developing and implementing an inclusive and equitable framework to integrate palliative care services in adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology programs

Adolescent and young adult cancer patients (AYA) are an age-defined cohort (15-39 years old), with approximately 90,000 newly diagnosed AYA cancer cases in 2021. Critical barriers prevent the delivery of effective and equitable palliative care to AYAs with cancer, and a multifaceted and systematic approach is urgently needed. Dr. Zhang’s project aims to develop and implement a patient-centered framework for integrating palliative care into an AYA Oncology Program in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, focusing on health equity and inclusivity. The project will contain two project phases: a Delphi phase involving a panel of national experts in palliative care and AYA oncology to develop an integration framework; and an implementation phase to integrate palliative care into the AYA Oncology Program at the University of Michigan Health (UMH) using the developed framework.

As a Scholar, I will continue to relentlessly advocate for patient-centered care, incorporating patient voices and perspectives into clinical care and research on palliative care. I will champion interprofessional collaboration, involving providers from all relevant backgrounds to advance palliative care for AYAs with cancer, including but not limited to physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, and dietitians. I will promote collaborations between clinicians and researchers to yield clinically meaningful research priorities and research-supported clinical practices/guidelines. Most importantly, I will vigorously advocate for health equity and ensure that AYA cancer patients will benefit from palliative care services regardless of their background. I envision an equitable system of palliative care for AYAs with cancer, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, including racial/ethnic minorities and sexual and gender minorities.