Katherine Walsh

Katherine Walsh serves as a Professor in the Social Work Department at Westfield State University, where she joined the MSW program faculty after 18 years as a Professor at Springfield College School of Social Work. She maintains active clinical practice in Northampton since 1990, specializing in individual, family, couple, and group therapy within healthcare contexts including Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Her research focuses on psychosocial oncology and hospice/palliative care, with significant contributions to grief/loss theory, cancer survivorship, and therapeutic adventure interventions. Recent publications analyze oncology social work competencies, adolescent survivorship needs, and experiential education models, demonstrating consistent specialization in clinical applications for vulnerable populations across the cancer continuum.

Walsh has led substantial research initiatives including NCI-funded surveys on evidence-based practice (2007), evaluations of therapeutic adventure programs for foster care teens (2007), and American Cancer Society projects serving diverse families (2009). Her advisory roles include President of the Association of Oncology Social Work, testimony for the President's Cancer Panel, and board positions with Hospice of Hampshire County, American Cancer Society, and Cancer Connection.

Teaching methodology integrates clinical practice through experiential learning activities like ropes courses, community service projects including DCF spring adventure camps, and program evaluations. She co-produced the award-winning educational video "CANCER: A FAMILY JOURNAL" (1981) and developed multimedia resources including the "Cancer Survival Toolbox" for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.