Integrative Oncology Navigation Training

Cancer can be a devastating illness that affects a person physically, mentally, and spiritually. While we have developed ground-breaking medical treatments, these do not often address the holistic needs of the patient. Complementary cancer therapies are widely used, but not always well-understood or researched by patients. Additionally, many patients and clinicians don’t know about how these therapies can be integrated into conventional cancer care. 

The George Washington University Office of Integrative Medicine and Health and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts innovative Integrative Oncology Navigation Training Program will vastly expand one’s knowledge of complementary health therapies and enhance your skills to empower patients/clients in accessing integrative cancer care resources that support them with an individualized, holistic approach.

Integrative oncology is a patient-centered, evidence-informed field of cancer care that utilizes mind and body practices, natural products, and/or lifestyle modifications from different traditions alongside conventional cancer treatments. Integrative oncology aims to optimize health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes across the cancer care continuum and to empower people to prevent cancer and become active participants before, during, and beyond cancer treatment.

Society for Integrative Oncology

This comprehensive professional training program is designed for healthcare professionals and complementary and integrative health practitioners to learn how to successfully navigate cancer patients/clients through the challenges of cancer by using an integrative cancer care approach. This program provides in-depth education about integrative oncology and current complementary cancer therapies, how to review evidence for these therapies and their use, and the body mechanisms targeted by various integrative approaches. Learners will identify resources to offer a deeper level of support and how to assist patients/clients in gaining access to these resources. They will hone skills for evaluating current evidence for complementary health approaches and for educating their patients/clients in how to choose appropriate integrative therapies to enhance their cancer care journey, in consultation with their healthcare team. To tie it all together, learners will discover how to effectively empower patients/clients in developing appropriate integrative care plans in collaboration with their healthcare team.

The training is open to both new and experienced health and wellness professionals who would like to expand their skills and services to include whole-person and comprehensive navigation support. Our past trainees serve diverse populations and come from a variety of backgrounds:

• Oncology Nurses, Oncology Social Workers/Counselors, Integrative Nurses, Holistic Nurses, Health and Wellness Coaches, and other professionals currently serving as healthcare and cancer patient navigators.
• Integrative Health Professionals (including, but not limited to):
  • Nutritionists & Dieticians, NDs, Functional Medicine practitioners, Health & Wellness Coaches, Health Educators, Ayurvedic practitioners, Acupuncturists, Herbalists, Yoga Therapists, Yoga Teachers, Qigong or Movement professionals, Mind-Body Therapists/Practitioners, etc. who which to be able to offer more comprehensive support to their clients living with cancer.
• Mental Health Professionals working with oncology patients/clients.
• Integrative Physicians, Oncology Physicians, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, Medical Assistants, Physical Therapists, and other Oncology Health Professionals.
• Oncology Patients/Survivors/Caregivers (Prior training in basic oncology navigation and/or 2 years of experience in oncology navigation is strongly advised.)

• Our course prepares navigators to confidently share their knowledge of evidence-based complementary therapies with their patients and equips learners with resources, tools, and skills to help patients better cope with their illness.
• Up to 44 continuing education credits or contract hours are offered to Nurses, Social Workers, Health and Wellness Coaches, and Nutrition Specialists.
• Learners come away with a greater awareness of self-care practices and their usefulness for serving patients and preventing burnout.
• Each learner receives educational resources and information to establish their integrative navigation practice.
• Learners have access to renowned, expert faculty in the field of integrative cancer care and professional navigators offering cutting-edge, whole-person care.
• Our training enhances ACOS-accredited hospital cancer programs’ ability to meet the Commission on Cancer’s Patient-Centered Standards.

• 2-year access to self-paced course materials
• 8 comprehensive course modules of video lessons and written educational content developed by a team of subject matter experts
• Extensive course resources: all presentation slide PDFs, numerous professional PDF course handouts and workbooks, bonus experiential demonstration videos and more
• Professional Certificate of Completion awarded by an accredited integrative health university, training digital badge & CEs or Contact Hours (upon successful achievement of lesson content and required program assessments). CEs or Contact Hours are currently available for the following professions:

The training contains 8-course modules with multiple lessons, activities, handouts, assessments, and experiential activities. We estimate that the training will take each learner approximately 45 hours total to complete. Learners may interact with the material at their own pace and have two (2) years of access and complete the content.

Our comprehensive self-paced training course costs (will be provided) and includes two-year access to the course materials and up to 44 continuing education credits or contact hours for Nurses, Social Workers, Health and Wellness Coaches, and Nutrition professionals. Learners will gain a valuable toolbox of resources and skills to support patients/clients with integrative tools throughout the cancer continuum.

If you would like to be added to a list to be notified with registration reopens, please contact Erin Price, LICSW, OSW-C, erin@smithcenter.org.

Continuing Education Approvals:

Disclaimer:
*Various other professional organizations and boards may accept this offering for continuing education requirements. Please verify with your respective relevant professional organization.
In order to successfully complete this course and earn a Certificates of Completion and CEUs/Contact Hours learners must complete all course Modules, successfully complete 7 module-based post-tests (participant must score 80% or higher), and complete and submit an evaluation form at the end of the course.