Our Training

Integrative Oncology Patient Navigator Training

“The Integrative Oncology Patient Navigation Training should become the gold standard for cancer navigators: from day one the program has exceeded my expectations.”

– Navigation Training Alum

Smith Center’s innovative Integrative Oncology Patient Navigator Training offers the country’s only comprehensive learning experience in the practice of integrative cancer care navigation.

For 10 years, Smith Center offered our immersive in-person Integrative Patient Navigator Training to oncology professionals, lay navigators, and patient advocates throughout the country. We are excited to share that in response to a need for our training to be more accessible, we have redeveloped the course into a self-paced online curriculum.

This online self-paced professional training program for healthcare and integrative health practitioners will teach you 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, body mechanisms targeted by various integrative approaches, and how to craft integrative care plans for patients/clients. Learners from a variety of professions can earn a certificate of completion and up to 44 continuing education units including Nurses, Social Workers, Health and Wellness Coaches, and Nutrition Specialists.

The Integrative Oncology Patient Navigator Training has been approved by the following continuing education providers:

  • Maryland Nursing Association (MNA) – 44 contact hours
  • American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) – 44 contact hours
  • MD Board of Social Work – 41 CEs
  • International Coaching Federation (ICF) – 40 CEs
  • National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) – 36 CEs
  • Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA) – 24 CEs
  • Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (American Nutrition Association) (BCNS) – 44 CEs
  • National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) – 40 CEs

You can register for the course today by visiting: https://ce.muih.edu/browse/ce/courses/integrative-oncology-patient-navigator-training. 

Format: Online, Self-Paced, On-Demand Professional Certificate Program

Cost: $1,200; includes two-year access to the course materials, up to 44 continuing education credits or contact hours, and a valuable toolbox of resources, handouts, and skills to support patients with integrative tools throughout the cancer continuum.

If you have any questions, please contact Erin Price, LICSW, OSW-C, erin@smithcenter.org.

Thank you to the sponsors who have generously provided funding to help us redesign our training: The Scheidel Foundation, The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and The Gwendolyn and Morris Cafritz Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tell Me More About the Course Curriculum

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 Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts innovative Integrative Oncology Patient Navigator 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.

Course Modules

  1. The Landscape of Integrative Cancer Care and Integrative Navigation
  2. Introduction to Evidence-based/informed Complementary Therapies in Cancer Care
  3. Hallmarks of Cancer/Tumor Microenvironment/Body Terrain
  4. Deep Dive into Selected Complementary Therapies and 7 Healing Practices
  5. Deep Dive into Natural Products and Off-Label Drugs (OLD)
  6. Creating Integrative Navigation Care Plans with Your Patients/Clients
  7. Navigating Professional Stress and Developing Sustainable Self-Care Practices
  8. Course Wrap-Up and The Path Forward

As a result of this program, learners will be able to: 

  • Explain integrative cancer navigation and the role of integrative navigators during each phase of the cancer experience.
  • Examine the concepts of the hallmarks of cancer, body terrain, and tumor microenvironment and how an integrative care approach can manipulate them to cancer’s disadvantage.
  • Contrast an integrative cancer care approach with conventional, complementary, and alternative care approaches.
  • Examine the major categories and applications of complementary therapies in cancer care.
  • Examine the use and safety of natural products, herbal supplements, and Off-Label Drugs applied in cancer care.
  • Investigate the major categories of complementary therapies and describe examples of evidence-based/informed complementary therapies within each category.
  • Assess patient/client barriers to accessing integrative cancer care.
  • Create a sample integrative oncology navigation plan for a patient/client.
  • Reflect on your self-care needs, implement a simple self-care practice, and evaluate the experience to relate to and provide a superior quality of whole-person care to your patients/clients throughout their cancer experience.

Who Should Attend?

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 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.
  • 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.)

Why You Should Attend

  • 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.

What’s Included in the Training?

  • 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:
    • Maryland Nursing Association (MNA) – 44 contact hours
    • American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) – 44 contact hours
    • MD Board of Social Work – 41 CEs
    • International Coaching Federation (ICF) – 40 CEs
    • National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) – 36 CEs
    • Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA) – 24 CEs
    • Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (American Nutrition Association) (BCNS) – 44 CEs
    • National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) – 40 CEs

How Long is the Training?

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.

How Much Does the Training Cost?

Our comprehensive self-paced training course costs $1,200 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.

How Do I Enroll in the Training?

You can register for the course today by visiting: https://ce.muih.edu/browse/ce/courses/integrative-oncology-patient-navigator-training.

If you have any questions, please contact Erin Price, LICSW, OSW-C, erin@smithcenter.org.

Disclosures to Learners

Continuing Education Approvals:

MUIH is accredited by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists℠ (BCNS℠) to provide Nutrition Professional Continuing Education (NPCE) credits for Certified Nutrition Specialists® (CNS®). MUIH designates this activity/material for a maximum of 44 NPCE Credits. Provider ID number: NPCE-0002

This program is approved for 24 health CEUs for the Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA).

The National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) Program Approval Commission has approved this program as continuing education courses for National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWCs) for 36 CE units. Refer to Course Number: CEA-000046-1 on your NBC-HWC CE submission documentation.

This program is approved for a total of 40 (Forty) National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) Category I CECs on a one (1) contact hour to one (1) continuing education unit equivalency. NANP Category I CECs on a one (1) contact hour to one (1) continuing education unit equivalency.  

The program has been approved by the ICF Coaching Education International Coaching Federation (ICF) for the following hours: 13 Core Competencies (CCEs); 27 Resource Development

This nursing continuing professional development activity is approved for 44 contact hours by Maryland Nurses Association (MNA), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

MUIH is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education learning activities and maintains full responsibility for this program. This training qualifies for 41 Category II continuing education units.

This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval for contact hours through the Maryland Nurses Association is based on an assessment of the educational merit of this program and does not constitute endorsement of the use of any specific modality in the care of clients. In order to receive all contact hours for this course, learners must complete all 8 modules with an 80% score of better on each module post-test and complete the course evaluation. No contact hours will be awarded for partial course completion. No one with the ability to control content of this activity has a relevant financial relationship to disclose except Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, presenter and content reviewer for this educational event, is on the speakers’ bureau for Gaia Herbs and NutraBiogenesis, as well as, a Principal Investigator on a research study funded by Pharmavite. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated. Course access expires 12/31/2025. This course is being jointly provided by Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in partnership with the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH). Smith Center is responsible for the content development and MUIH is responsible for course administration including awarding contact hours to learners.

This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the American Holistic Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval for contact hours through the American Holistic Nurses Association is based on an assessment of the educational merit of this program and does not constitute endorsement of the use of any specific modality in the care of clients. No one with the ability to control content of this activity has a relevant financial relationship to disclose except Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, presenter and content reviewer for this educational event, is on the speakers’ bureau for Gaia Herbs and NutraBiogenesis, as well as, a Principal Investigator on a research study funded by Pharmavite. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for this individual have been mitigated. Course access expires two years from the date of course registration. AHNA Contact Hours were approved on 05/10/2023. For AHNA Contact Hours, course must be completed by 05/10/2025. This course is being jointly provided by Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in partnership with the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH). Smith Center is responsible for the content development and MUIH is responsible for course administration including awarding contact hours to learners. In order to successfully complete this course and earn a Certificate of Completion, you must: 1. Complete all course Modules; 2. Successful completion of 7 module-based post-tests (participant must score 80% or higher); 3. Completion/submission of evaluation form at the end of the course.

Others Pending:

The Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine (OBNM) has conditionally approved this program for 44 contact hours.

Disclaimer:

*Various other professional organizations and boards may accept this offering for continuing education requirements. Please verify with your respective relevant professional organization and email ce@muih.edu with questions.

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.

Presenter Bios and Partners

Laura Pole, RN: Baccalaureate and Master’s in Nursing; Licensed as an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist; certified as a health-supportive chef.  Director of Nourishment Education Programs and Co-Developer and Co-Leader of Integrative Cancer Care Navigation Training.

Carole O’Toole, MS: Masters in Medical Anthropology/Health Policy. Consultant, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Member, Society of Integrative Oncology, Association of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators, Global Network for Spirituality and Health, Spiritual Care Association. Co-Developer and Co-Leader of Integrative Cancer Care Navigation Training.

Erin Price, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C: Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Masters in Social Work. Director, Young Adult & Psychosocial Support Programs, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Graduate of Project LEAD, National Breast Cancer Coalition. Integrative Oncology Special Interest Group Leader & Member, Association of Oncology Social Work. State Leader & RISE Advocate, Young Survival Coalition. Member, Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work and Georgetown Breast Cancer Advocates.

Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO: Naturopathic doctor with board certification in naturopathic oncology; independent consultant in practitioner and consumer health education. Executive Director of TAP Integrative, a nonprofit educational resource for integrative practitioners. Co-author of The Definitive Guide to Cancer and The Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer; Co-host of radio show, Five To Thrive Live! on the Cancer Support Network. Past president, Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Nancy Hepp, MS: Master’s in instructional design and graduate work in research and cognitive. Project Manager, CancerChoices.

Beth Romanski, MS, INHC: Beth Romanski is a seasoned higher education professional, currently serving in the role of adjunct faculty member at Maryland University of Integrative Health, a leading academic institution solely dedicated to integrative health programs.  Beth holds a master’s degree in Higher Education, a Quality Matters Certificate in Instructional Design, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Workplace Wellness from Maryland University of Health in addition to various integrative health professional trainings.  Beth is a passionate lifelong learner and health educator and serves in various leadership positions for professional continuing education associations and is an active member of the National Wellness Institute (NWI) Emerging Wellness Professionals (EWF) Task Force, Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US) Education & Research Committee and the American Institute of Stress (AIS). Beth also holds a certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and is founder of MyHealthyTransitions Health Coaching and is Co-Host of the Wellness Warriors Radio podcast.  In her practice, she takes an educational and empowering approach to facilitate positive habits that support holistic wellbeing and sustainable results, with the mindset that “being healthy doesn’t have to be hard.”

Disclosure Statement: The presenters have no conflict of interest in developing or presenting this content. The program development has been supported by the following non-profit foundations.


Thank You to Our Course Sponsors!

Scheidel Foundation

https://scheidelfoundation.org/

Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation

https://macyfoundation.org/

Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

https://www.cafritzfoundation.org/

Program Partners:

CancerChoices

www.Cancerchoices.org 


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