Hello! My name is Madeline Meislin but please feel free to call me “Maddy.” I am very excited to join Cancer and Careers as the new Program Coordinator. As my self-identity has been rapidly evolving in the past few years — evolving from “student at Penn State” to “active job seeker” to “nonprofit programming professional” — I recognize the importance of needing something to define oneself: Who am I? What do I do? Why is it important? And, as your identity changes, so do the emotional and psychological implications that are associated with these questions.

Before joining Cancer and Careers, I worked at Hospital for Special Surgery, managing 13 weekly programs for people with musculoskeletal limitations. While most participants were not currently in the workforce, programs strived to help patients “get back in the game,” whether that meant being able to walk up and down the stairs or play with their grandchildren. Now, I am thrilled to be helping cancer survivors get back into the game, which for so many of us defines our identity — our work.

While working at a hospital, I witnessed healthcare professionals eager to continually learn more strategies for helping their patients. Cancer and Careers offers comprehensive in-service trainings as well as an Educational Series for Healthcare Professionals that covers practical and legal issues around balancing work and cancer. In fact, the first educational series of the year is coming up this Thursday, March 26, 2015, at 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT. For more information or to register, please visit www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/events/ed-series-wheretostart.