Sharon Daneshgar of Port Washington has been named The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)’s 2014 Hematology-Oncology Social Worker of the Year.
Since 2005, Daneshgar, who works at North Shore-LIJ Health System, has led a monthly leukemia/lymphoma support group for the Long Island Chapter of LLS, in conjunction with the health system. She has been a member of the chapter’s mission committee, which oversees all the services that LLS provides locally.
In 2010, Daneshgar received the chapter’s “Quality of Life” award, given to a volunteer who helps improve the quality of life of patients served by the group.
“She’s one of those people that goes above and beyond all the time,” said Karen DeMairo, director of patient access, education and advocacy at the Long Island Chapter of LLS.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Daneshgar entered the social work field more than 30 years ago. An employee of the health system since 1984, she worked in the inpatient oncology unit at North Shore University Hospital until March, when she transferred to the North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute at the Monter Cancer Center in Lake Success.
“Helping people with blood cancers and advocating for them and their families,” is what Daneshgar said she likes most about her job, and she is especially passionate when it comes to helping young people.
“They have such a different reaction to the cancer experience,” she said. “They’re still in the process of establishing themselves emotionally, professionally and financially.”
She also helps run a monthly cancer support group for people aged 18 to 40.
