Huntsman Cancer Institute Myeloma Program

Jenny Vasquez, Multiple Myeloma Social Worker

Our HCI Myeloma Program licensed clinical social worker, Jenny Vasquez, is dedicated to helping patients and their loved ones deal with difficult emotions and life changes related to a diagnosis of myeloma.

Through counseling and other assistance, Vasquez focuses on meeting the emotional, social, practical, and psychological needs of patients. She can also assist you, your family, and others in using hospital and community resources.

Along with our new patient coordinator Debbie Coleman, Vasquez faciliates the Myeloma Support Group at Huntsman Cancer Institute, which meets Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in the chapel on the first floor of Huntsman Cancer Hospital.

You can contact Vasquez by calling (801) 587-4695.

About Jenny Vasquez, Liscensed Clinical Social Worker

Jenny Vasquez is a dedicated social worker with a diverse background of clinical experience. Prior to joining HCI’s multiple myeloma outpatient team, she worked with inpatients on the fourth floor of Huntsman Cancer Institute and on the inpatient BMT unit. She also worked as a member of University of Utah Medical Center Crisis
Team responding to the needs of patients throughout the hospital, including those facing psychiatric crisis in the emergency department.

Jenny has provided outpatient psychotherapy at Intermountain Health Care Wasatch Canyons Center for Counseling and worked as a transplant social worker with LDS Hospital's liver and kidney transplant department. She has extensive experience in psychiatric crisis, evaluation and disposition, trauma, and grief and bereavement work.

A native of Salt Lake City, Jenny received a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in social work from the University of Utah.

Inpatient Social Worker

Jennifer Hebdon-Selijestad, Inpatien Myeloma Social Worker

While autologous stem cell transplants for multiple myeloma are done on an outpatient basis, it may be necessary at some point to stay in the hospital on an inpatient basis if a complication occurs that requires close monitoring.

Jennifer Hebdon-Seljestad is dedicated to helping multiple myeloma and other BMT patients who are admitted to the hospital, as well as their caregivers, by lending her support and professional expertise.

She facilitates a caregiver support and education group that meets on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the BMT Inpatient Conference Room on the 5th floor of the University of Utah Hospital. Lunch is provided for those who attend, and patients are asked to bring their patient education binders to the meeting.

You can contact Hebdon-Seljestad by calling (801) 585-1845.

Jennifer Hebdon-Seljestad, LCSW, works with blood and marrow transplant patients at Huntsman Cancer Institute. She earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah in 2001. She also has a spanish fluency certificate from Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Before joining HCI, Jennifer worked as a social worker for five years at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute. She also worked as a crisis social worker for a year and a half, both at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City and at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful. She previously worked for five years at The Road Home, providing services for homeless individuals and families who have been placed in community housing.

She has provided individual, couples, family, and group therapy; discharge planning; crisis psychosocial assessment and intervention as part of an emergency room multidisciplinary team; and case management for acute psychiatric, substance abuse, and detoxification patients.