Valley Children’s Healthcare proudly boasts this year’s Pediatric Oncology Social Worker of the Year.
Pediatric Oncology Social Worker Alistair Robertson was named the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers (APOSW) 2016 Social Worker of the Year at its annual conference in Providence, Rhode Island on April 14. Robertson, who is in his 15th year at Valley Children’s, is the network’s first employee to earn the award, which has been previously given to social workers from numerous other renowned organizations.
“I was totally surprised, overwhelmed, honored, humbled and grateful to receive such a prestigious award,” Robertson said. “Of course, it takes a team to do the hard work we do, so I share this award with my social-work colleagues and the entire oncology services staff.”
Nominees for the award, established in 1995, must be APOSW members for at least two years – Robertson is currently the secretary on the APOSW board of directors – and are nominated by their own medical teams. Valley Children’s Patient and Family Services social worker Tim Wright was among the people nominating Robertson. Criteria for the award include practice, teamwork, resourcefulness, innovation and advocacy, among others.
Robertson helped develop and co-leads an annual APOSW workshop for new pediatric oncology social workers, which is held at the organization’s annual conference. This is just one of several areas he was praised in when nominated.
“Alistair has a way of using his many years of experience as a clinician to illustrate and teach these young workers while instilling a sense of confidence in the abilities they already possess,” Anne Kosem, APOSW president and social worker at Duke Medical Center, wrote in her recommendation letter. “The feedback we have received regarding this workshop has been extremely positive with attendees specifically point out their appreciation for Alistair’s ‘real-life examples’ from his many years of clinical experience.”
Robertson has also volunteered in Mexico and has gone on medical missions to Kenya. He also organizes an annual trip for our oncology patients to attend an Oakland Raiders game and meet NFL quarterback and Valley Children's supporter Derek Carr.