Finding Integrative Oncologists and Other Practitioners - CancerChoices



Finding Integrative Oncologists and Other Professionals

At a glance

Several medical approaches are available for cancer care, each with a distinct focus. These may include treating cancerous cells and tissues with standard therapies, or a more holistic approach that addresses symptom management, quality of life, body terrain imbalances, and mind-body health. An integrative, whole-person approach combines both approaches. Learn about different medical professionals within integrative oncology and find directories of practitioners working in integrative cancer care. 

Find directories for integrative oncology professionals

On this page

Integrative oncology: an overview ›

Directories of integrative oncologists and other professionals ›

Descriptions of different medical approaches and how to find professionals ›

Guidance for choosing and collaborating with integrative oncology professionals ›

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Integrative oncology: an overview

Most people start with conventional medicine which focuses on chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, immunotherapy, and more. Beyond conventional care, many further choices are available in several distinct medical systems.

Integrative medicine includes combining conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary and lifestyle medicine. Integrative oncology is practiced both by oncologists and other healthcare practitioners with a special interest in oncology. Integrative oncologists › are trained in conventional medicine, with additional training in integrating conventional, complementary, and lifestyle approaches in cancer care. 

Naturopathic medicine › is a distinct primary healthcare profession that emphasizes prevention, treatment, and achieving optimal health by using therapeutic methods and natural products to stimulate the body’s inherent self-healing processes. Naturopathic oncologists (with a FABNO designation) are licensed in naturopathic medicine as well as certified in naturopathic oncology care. These practitioners can prescribe natural therapies and lifestyle approaches as well as recommend and coordinate your use of other complementary therapies (within their areas of training) in collaboration with your primary oncologist.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) › is a highly developed medical system that has been practiced for over 2,000 years and is widely integrated into modern healthcare in China, where it is used alongside conventional Western medicine in hospitals. In many Chinese hospitals, TCM treatments such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qigong are routinely offered to patients for managing chronic diseases, supporting recovery, and reducing the side effects of conventional treatments like chemotherapy. TCM is also now widely accepted and used globally.

Ayurveda › is an ancient medical system from India, practiced for over 3,000 years, that focuses on balancing the body’s energies, or doshas, through personalized treatments including herbal medicine, diet, and lifestyle practices. In India today, Ayurveda is widely integrated into the healthcare system, with Ayurvedic hospitals and clinics offering treatments alongside conventional medicine.

Functional medicine is a personalized healthcare approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the body’s systems and aims to restore balance, promoting overall health rather than simply treating symptoms.

Anthroposophic medicine › pays equal attention to the body, soul, and spirit of the patient and includes a holistic understanding of humans and nature and of disease and treatment. It is integrated with conventional medicine in large hospitals and medical practices worldwide, but mostly in Europe. Anthroposophic health care is provided by medical doctors, therapists, and nurses. 

Homeopathic medicine is based on the theory that “like cures like”—a very small dose of a substance that causes a symptom in a healthy person may cure the illness.

Any of the medical professionals described above may complete special training and certifications to enhance their cancer care. In your community, you may also be able to find practitioners of specific therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, nutrition, physical therapy, and more. These therapies can assist with many side effects of cancer treatment and promote healing and wellness.

When selecting professionals, we recommend that you start by finding and narrowing your candidates for your primary oncology provider. But wherever you start, within each type of medical system that you plan to use, ideally you’ll want to find a professional who is willing to collaborate with professionals in your other chosen systems. 

Find integrative oncologists and other professionals

Descriptions of different medical approaches and how to find professionals

Guidance for choosing and collaborating with integrative oncology professionals

Meet the Practitioner Podcast episodes

Hear from different practitioners to learn more about what it’s like to work with an integrative professionals:

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Keep reading about how to integrate your choices

Authors

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS

Senior Clinical Consultant
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Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.

For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.

Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS Senior Clinical Consultant

Nancy Hepp, MS

Lead Researcher
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Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS Lead Researcher

Miki Scheidel

Co-Founder and Creative Director
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Miki Scheidel is Co-founder and creative director of CancerChoices. She led the effort to transform Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies, the prior version of CancerChoices, to its current form. Miki and her family were deeply affected by her father’s transformative experience with integrative approaches to metastatic kidney cancer. That experience inspires her work as president of the Scheidel Foundation and as volunteer staff at CancerChoices. She previously worked with the US Agency for International Development and Family Health International among other roles. She received her graduate degree in international development from Georgetown University, a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Gettysburg College.

Miki Scheidel Co-Founder and Creative Director

Reviewers of selected sections

Santosh Rao, MD

Medical oncologist and CancerChoices advisor
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Dr. Rao is a medical oncologist, the medical director of integrative oncology at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, and director of medical oncology for genitourinary cancer at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. He is the 2022-23 president-elect of the Society for Integrative Oncology. Dr. Rao is also the host of the podcast Integrative Oncology Talk, with support from the Society for Integrative Oncology.

After graduating from the University of Michigan Medical School and completing a residency program in internal medicine at the University of California San Diego, Dr. Rao completed a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona and later obtained a board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Rao has trained in Ayurveda and Healing Touch. He also attended the Leadership Program in Integrative Medicine at Duke University. His research interests include genitourinary oncology, sleep, and integrative medicine implementation and program development.

Santosh Rao, MD Medical oncologist and CancerChoices advisor

Erin Price, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

Director of Young Adult and Psychosocial Support Programs, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
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Erin Price, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C, was driven to help others facing cancer shortly after her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2010 at the age of 27. Erin currently serves as the Young Adult and Psychosocial Support Programs Director at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC, where she manages various programs and serves as a therapist and integrative patient navigator. Her areas of expertise include cancer survivorship, adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer, and integrative cancer care. She is also a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project LEAD scientific research advocacy training, an experienced grant reviewer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and a member of the Georgetown Breast Cancer Advocates. She has presented at several national conferences and been published in peer-reviewed journals. In 2021, she was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star and Emerging Leader in Cancer.

Erin Price, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C Director of Young Adult and Psychosocial Support Programs, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

Christine Mineart, MPH

CancerChoices Director
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Christine has a dynamic background in the life sciences, public health, and program operations. Her career began at the lab bench with a Gates Foundation-funded HIV Vaccine research group, which led her to graduate studies in public health epidemiology at UC Berkeley. Her research experience spans clinical epidemiology research to evaluating the impacts of community nutrition programs in Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and Oakland. Most recently she has worked in executive operations for a seed-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco. Personally, Christine is passionate about holistic health and wellness. She is a clinical herbalist and Reiki master, and she has been practicing yoga for 15+ years. She brings a breadth of experiences to her work leading the CancerChoices program.

Christine Mineart, MPH CancerChoices Director

Last update: October 31, 2024

Last full resource review: August 2021

CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.

Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.