Since 2012, Dr Sansom-Daly has worked as a Clinical Psychologist for Sydney Youth Cancer Service, a leading team in the treatment and clinical care of adolescents and young adults aged 15-25 years with cancer. She is also the Director of the Behavioural Sciences Unit, UNSW Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, the largest psychological research group in child/adolescent cancer in Australasia. Dr Sansom-Daly holds prestigious Early Career Fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council Australia, and Cancer Institute NSW, and has been a chief investigator on grants worth >$15.4million. In 2019 she was awarded the International Psycho-Oncology Society’s Hiroomi Kawano New Investigator Award, and in 2021 received the Australian Psychological Society’s Early Career Award.
Reflecting her dual clinical-research roles, Dr Sansom-Daly focuses on applying evidence-based psychological models and methods to understand, and address, the mental health implications of cancer among adolescents and young adults with cancer. Her research spans the cancer trajectory, from diagnosis through to survivorship and end-of-life, and she is particularly passionate about developing resources and interventions to improve the cancer experience and the way clinical services are delivered. Dr Sansom-Daly’s current studies include implementing videoconferencing-based mental health support into community settings for AYA cancer survivors, as well as co-designing advance care planning and communication support resources for AYAs whose cancer may not be curable.