Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mary Ann Massolio. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mary Ann, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
I have been working as a pediatric oncology social worker for the past 30 years in the Tampa Bay area. Three years into my career, my own 9 year old son, Jay, was diagnosed with 4th stage non hodgkins lymphoma, 9 hours after my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This was truly a defining moment in both my personal and professional life. His short journey battling childhood cancer changed the direction of my social work career to add the opening of the first school in the United States for children with cancer in his loing memory.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I have been working as a hematology/oncology social worker for 30 years in Tampa, FL. I have worked with pediatric oncology patients, sickle cell patients and patients with bleeding disorders. I began my career working with hemophilia patients who were HIV+ in 1993. I developed support programs for families and worked with a multi disciplinary team to meet their needs. Three years into my career, my own son, Jay, 9, was diagnosed with 4th stage non hodgkins lymphoma. Our family became one of the families that I was serving.
My career changed dramatically as an oncology Mom as opposed to a social worker. Jay passed away 6 months into treatment, an event that changed many programs that I had been providing and I added many more. Being an oncology Mom myself, sets me apart, as it is a journey that I share with those I serve. The programs that I now offer pediatric cancer families are: TOTS: Together Oncology Toddlers, SIBS: Strength in Brothers and Sisters, Tutoring, Cooking for a Cure, Voices of Angels bereavement program, equine therapy, Florida Academy of Performing Arts program, support groups, financial assistance, cancer survivorship program, Paul’s Project PACKS, MOMS: Meeting Oncology Moms, Parents Night Out, Una Voz, our spanish speaking support group and virtual programs. We fund and operate a pediatric cnacer research lab under the direction of Cameron Tebbi, M.D., who receives no compensation as he works on developing the vaccine for leukemia.I am most proud of the 1Voice Academy, a partnership with Hillsborough County Schools to open the first school in the United States for children with cancer. The 1Voice Academy is a fully accredited K – 12 school.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Yes. I truly feel it was my destiny to work in the pediatric cancer community. My concentration of study was bereavement and though I could have never imagined that I would actually be part of this community, I feel that it is a profession that chose me. I cannot imagine working in any other field.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Without question, the aspect of my career that has been most helpful in my success, is peer support and learning from the families that I serve. My personal experience and spending so much time with pediatric cancer parents, patients and siblings, has allowed me to cultivate, revise, add and delete program ideas to best meet their needs. Nothing is black and white for our families and being flexible to meet individual needs is what I try my best to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.1voicefoundation.org
- Facebook: 1Voice Foundation 247469786621
- Linkedin: 1VoiceFoundation/Mary Ann Massolio
- Twitter: @1voiceOrg causecarecure
- Youtube: 1Voice Foundation