MSW, LCSW
Adolescent and Young Adult Program Director
Area of Interest
Lauren is a clinical social worker with a passion for working with adolescent and young adults living with cancer. Lauren was hired as the AYA Program Director in October of 2015 and has been meeting patients and families and growing the program ever since.
Her work as Program Director focuses on direct patient care, psychosocial research, programming, education, and advocacy. She is also actively involved in the development of AYA provider education across the US.
About AYA
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with cancer have unique medical and psychosocial needs. This time of life is one of transition. You gain independence, continue to develop your identity, build a network of friends, find partners, go to school, get jobs, start families and so much more. Cancer treatment affects all of these aspects of life and AYAs need a different kind of support than other patients. Our program’s goal is to meet some of these unique needs and help AYAs being treated at UNC make cancer part of their story, not their whole story.
The Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Support Program (made possible by our friends at the Be Loud Sophie Foundation), works with patients age 13-39.
Awards and Honors
- Triangle Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes Young Adult Cancer Champion Award, 2021
News and Stories
N.C. Basnight Cancer Hospital to open Young Adult Outpatient Infusion Clinic
The Be Loud! Center for Young Adult Cancer Care was designed by former UNC cancer patients and is led by Lauren Lux, MSW, LCSW, and Andrew “Smitty” Smitherman, MD.
Mom’s memory inspires new parenting clinic
The new Parenting with Cancer Clinic will help cancer patients talk to their children openly and honestly about their cancer, and to help with legal issues that can accompany cancer, such as end-of-life decisions, wills, trusts and custody agreements.
Triangle Business Journal names Baric, Lux and Smitherman ‘Health Care Heroes’
The Triangle Business Journal honored Ralph Baric, PhD, Lauren Lux, MSW, LCSW, and Andrew Smitherman, MD, MSc, MPH, during the 2021 Health Care Heroes award ceremony.