FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The School of Social Work is pleased to announce that faculty member Sheila Hammer has been selected as a 2026 Health Equity Scholar by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS). Sheila Hammer, MSW, LCSW, is an Associate Clinical Professor of Social Work and a doctoral student in the Interdisciplinary Health PhD program at Northern Arizona University.
Before joining NAU, Sheila Hammer worked as an oncology social worker. After moving to Arizona and learning of the stark oncology disparities in oncology care for American Indian populations, she started the Interdisciplinary Health PhD program with the goal of moving the needle towards psychosocial oncology health equity for Indigenous populations. Her current projects include improving psychosocial oncology care for the Navajo population when traveling off the Navajo Nation for some, or all, of their cancer care, creating a culturally tailored diabetes and cancer intervention and prevention program for Navajo adults living with both cancer and diabetes, and improving breast cancer screening for Navajo women.
The American Psychosocial Oncology Society is committed to advancing the development and delivery of equitable, evidence-based psychosocial oncology care through research, clinical practice, education, and advocacy. Guided by a vision in which all individuals affected by cancer have access to high-quality psychosocial care, APOS works to promote wellbeing and optimize biopsychosocial and spiritual outcomes.
Additional coverage of Hammer’s work will be featured in our upcoming Research Newsletters!