Jillian Y. Bissar, MSSW, LCSW-S

Clinical Biography

Jillian Bissar, MSSW, LCSW-S, is a licensed clinical social worker in UT Health Austin’s Livestrong Cancer Institutes. She is also a member of the Health Social Work care team. She specializes in providing care management and psychotherapy services to address patients’ psychosocial needs.

Jillian Bissar earned both her bachelor’s degree in social work and her master’s degree in social work from The University of Texas at Austin. She has additional training in comprehensive lifespan sexual health and healthy relationship curriculum, Our Whole Lives (OWL), and Enriching Communication Skills for Health Professionals in Oncofertility (ECHO). With these trainings, she supports patients in their lives around the intersection of sexual health, chronic disease, and disability.

Jillian Bissar formerly worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a Radiation Social Work Counselor and Social Work Supervisor, supporting cancer patients and their support systems. Prior to that, she spent 12 years in HIV services as a social work case manager and supervisor, where she served children, adolescents, and adults living with HIV. She also has experience working with adolescents around sexual health and pregnancy as well as women’s health, child protection, and Intimate Partner Violence work. Her clinical interests include helping patients to live fulfilling lives, increase coping skills, improve relational functioning, and achieve their desired goals and outcomes as they navigate acute and chronic health challenges. She is a member of the Association of Oncology Social Work, Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Work, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare.