Clinical social workers bring something truly special to healthcare, especially in oncology. They see the whole person-not just the diagnosis – and understand how illness touches every part of someone’s life: family, emotions, daily routines, fears, hopes, and the practical challenges that come with navigating treatment. Their work helps make healthcare more human. They listen, advocate, support, and guide people through moments that often feel overwhelming. And in doing so, they help create care that feels compassionate and connected.
Social workers are also highly trained and credentialed professionals. They pursue ongoing continuing education and engage in professional associations to ensure that they stay current with the latest tools, best practices, and insights that inform and elevate their care.
At Red Door Community, our oncology social workers walk alongside individuals and families facing cancer, offering evidence-based support, resources and information, and a safe space to make meaning of uncertainty. Their presence helps ensure that emotional and social needs are addressed with the same seriousness as medical treatment.
Additionally, their work often extends beyond the individual, to ensure that broader support systems are on the same page.
That’s why we are proud to share that Erin Baumann, one of Red Door Community’s dedicated oncology social workers, has been inducted into the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM). For more than a century, NYAM has been a home for leaders who are shaping the future of health, medicine, and public well-being. To be invited into this esteemed body is not merely a celebration of individual achievement; it is a validation of the vital contributions the social work profession brings to medicine.
We have long said that social and emotional support is an essential part of comprehensive cancer care, and Erin’s recognition reflects that sentiment. It also reminds us that when social workers are part of the conversation, healthcare becomes more holistic and more attuned to the full scope of patient needs.
Please join us in celebrating Erin’s accomplishment and in recognizing the meaningful, – often unseen – work that social workers do every day to support individuals, families, and communities.
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