Tag: Healing

with Priya Shamsundar, NP

Please join us for an engaging presentation that reviews palliative care medicine as a medical specialty that improves quality of life and helps to relieve symptoms at home for people of any age, at any stage of an advanced illness, whether that illness is curable, chronic, or life limiting. The underlying premise of this discussion is supported by the belief there should be a holistic and spiritual infusion with approach to conventional medicine.

About Priya Shamsundar

Priya Shamsundar is a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner that works with Capital Caring. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Stony Brook University and her Master’s degree from Pace University in 2013. Her specialties include Urology, Pain Management and of course Palliative Care. Her aim as a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner is to provide holistic care with a collaborative approach to patients with chronic and long term illnesses such as cancer and end stage illnesses. She is well versed in initiating discussions that address advance care planning and insight to questions that may arise when dealing with any chronic or long term prognosis. She currently cares for patients in the community of the District of Columbia and is one of the only Palliative Care providers that makes home visits. She continues to show commitment to her patients with hopes that her expertise will ease the journey and anxieties that comes along with managing a chronic or life impacting illness.

This event has been cancelled. Please check back for future events featuring Chef Gérard at Smith Center.

with Gérard Pangaud

Learn how to prepare a balanced and healthful menu using seasonal ingredients and enjoy a meal prepared for you by 3-Michelin star Chef Gérard Pangaud.

Menu items:

  • Butternut and celeriac soup
  • Cod with a marmalade of endives and citrus
  • Chocolate temptation

*Class is limited; please RSVP right away!

About Gérard Pangaud

A Brilliant Career

It’s no surprise that Gérard Pangaud excels in the art of cooking. Born in the suburbs of Paris, he grew up in a family where both his parents were very good cooks and appreciated fine dining.

After finishing high school, Gérard attended the Ecole Hoteliere of Paris, earning his Brevet of Technician and his Brevet of Technician Superior. Through the School of Restaurant and Hotel Administration at Cornell University, he also earned the equivalent of a US baccalaureate of science degree in hotel and restaurant management.

During his externship he worked for the five-star Royale Hotel in Deauville, at the Modern Hotel in St Jean de Luz, and at the three-star Grand Hotel in Paris. Afterwards, he worked for Master Chef Jo Rostang at La Bonne Auberge in Antibes, a three-star Michelin restaurant, and then at Troisgros in Roanne, also a three-star Michelin restaurant.

Gérard’s first position as Chef took place in Konstanz am Bodensee, Germany, at a fine French restaurant called Sankt Stefanskelle. He subsequently returned to Paris to become Chef at la Barriere de Vaugirard, one of three Barriere restaurants, the others being the Barriere de Clichy with Chef Guy Savoy and the other, Barriere Poquelin with Chef Bernard Loiseau.

Soon after, he opened Rue Montmartre, a small Parisian restaurant located next to the stock exchange. Within his first year of operation, he and the restaurant were awarded one Michelin star. In 1980, he moved his restaurant, renamed Gérard Pangaud, to Boulogne. Within a few months, he received two Michelin stars.

Not quite 28 years old, he was the youngest chef to be awarded two Michelin stars. In 1982, he was chosen by President Mitterand as Chef of the G-7 Conference held at Versailles, hosting such dignitaries as President Ronald Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

Gérard moved to America in 1985. With the title of Executive Chef, he opened Aurora, an acclaimed New York restaurant designed by Milton Glaser. Under his guidance, the New York Times awarded the restaurant three stars and ranked it as one of New York’s top ten dining establishments.

Gérard is best known in the DC area for his innovative, yet elegant French cuisine, first at the Ritz-Carlton, then in his own restaurant – Gérard’s Place. Acclaimed since its opening in 1993, Gérard’s Place was consistently one of the highest rated restaurants, not only in Washington DC, but in the country, earning high praise from critics, congressmen, rock stars, heads of state, and movie stars alike.

For the last two years, and before becoming the Culinary Director for La Pasta, Gérard served as the Director of the Culinary Program at L’Academie de Cuisine, one of the top ten professional cooking schools in the country.

For five years, Gerard has worked as the corporate chef for Marriott International and Ritz-Carlton at Marriott HQ in Bethesda.

Gérard’s other interests include painting, traveling and working out. He is an avid golfer.

Awards:

  • 3 Michelin stars
  • 4 stars NY Times
  • 4 stars Washington Post
  • 4 stars Washington Magazine
  • Maitre Cuisinier de France
  • CMC
  • James Beard Award

Participants are encouraged to attend all 4 classes, beginning on Wednesday, October 2nd.

Please click here to register for this series.

with Stacie Marinelli

October 30, 6:30-8:00pm – Poetry Performance!

Please join us in hearing and supporting the poetry developed throughout this month-long workshop by our fantastic participants. All are welcome. Free to attend.

Having cancer brings up so many new emotions and its trials test our stamina and strength. Writing about what we go through can release some of the trauma and allow us to view our path with new eyes. This is a four-session writing workshop for writers at all levels that will culminate in a reading of our work. Together we will share what we have to say about living with cancer from diagnosis to survivorship and generate new work through spontaneous writing using various prompts. Bring a notebook or laptop to the sessions.

Suggested Donation: $30 (includes all 4 classes)

Our programs are open to the community, and tailored to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.

About Stacie Marinelli

Stacie Marinelli is a local writer, researcher and storyteller who became involved with the Smith Center after her diagnosis of tongue & neck cancer in 2012. Words about the experience tumbled out in journal entries and poems which allowed her to better accept her cancer. She has blogged about her sense of community during cancer treatment and on being a peer mentor for the cancer-support group Imerman Angels. In Boston and DC, she led workshops on writing practice based on the books of Natalie Goldberg, on writing about one’s life as a heroic journey, and on creative memoir. She served as the managing editor of a New England storytelling newsletter for many years and her writing and editing work includes poems and articles published in anthologies and magazines.

With Laura Pole, RN, MSN, PCNS

I would like to personally dedicate this class in memory of our dear participant and friend Leah Fitchue, who did everything she did with gusto, including eating my food!

Getting well never tasted so good! 

Come savor together the last days of summer and celebrate your life, challenges and all, in a day filled with learning, cooking, eating and savoring in good company. Menu items to include grilled fish or tempeh tacos, watermelon gazpacho, fresh grilled peaches and more. Chef Laura awaits you in the Healing Kitchen to celebrate life with nourishment!

*Please Note: Every individual’s needs are unique. We aim to offer a variety of health-promoting options for each individual to consider, but do not prescribe the specific dietary content of any program for anyone.

Suggested donation: $25, includes a health-supportive meal and all recipes

Our programs are open to the community, and tailored to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.

About Laura Pole

Laura Pole, RN, MSN, comes with a diverse educational background including a Masters degree in nursing, chef certification, and professional music training. For over 20 years, she has been merging her careers as a health supportive chef, professional musician, oncology clinical nurse specialist, and a palliative care educator. Laura serves Smith Center in several ways: Director of Nourishment Education Programs, Director of Professional Trainings in Culinary Translation and Co-Creator/Coordinator of Patient Navigation Trainings. Laura is also on faculty for the nationally acclaimed Cancer-Fighting Kitchen workshops.

with Julia Rowland, Ph.D.

Does harnessing procrastination to promote change sound like a paradox? It turns out that we procrastinate for a reason, possibly one that is deeply rooted in our emotions. Come explore what keeps us from reaching our goals and learn more about yourself along the way.

About Julia H. Rowland, Ph.D.

Dr. Rowland, newly named Senior Strategic Advisor to Smith Center, comes to this position as a long-time clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of psychosocial aspects of cancer. She has worked with and conducted competitively funded research among both pediatric and adult cancer survivors and their families, published broadly in psycho-oncology and co-edited the ground-breaking text, Handbook of Psychooncology.  Dr. Rowland received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in psychosocial oncology. While at MSKCC, where she held joint appointments in pediatrics and neurology, Dr. Rowland helped to develop and was the first Director of the Post-Treatment Resource Program, one of the first non-medical survivorship care programs to be offered by a major cancer center in the U.S. In 1990 Dr. Rowland moved to Washington, DC to become founding Director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Georgetown University and the Lombardi Cancer Center. Nine years later, in September of 1999, she was recruited to the National Cancer Institute to become the first, full-time Director of the Office of Cancer Survivorship, a position in which she served for 18 years, championing the growth of survivorship research and care, before stepping down in September 2017 to assume her new role at Smith Center.

Good Vibrations Tibetan Sound

With Jameson Freeman

founder of FABUM Inc. & Robert Lee, sound frequency specialist at Human Activation 

The ‘moment-making’ non-profit FABUM presents a Sound Bath with Crystal Ashram for an enchanting evening of restoration and inspiration. Come enjoy this uniquely designed sound and meditation program, as we allow the ancient frequencies of Tibetan singing bowls to wash over us and nourish mind, body and spirit.

Suggested Donation: $0

Our programs are open to the community and tailored to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone. All donations support future programming at Smith Center.

About Jameson Freeman 

Jameson is an advocate, artist, entrepreneur, yoga-meditation practitioner and student. He is founder of FABUM Inc., a nonprofit arts organization, and has helped develop two technology startups.

He has written, produced and directed several theatrical works and has performed in diverse productions and venues in Washington, DC, New York City and Philadelphia. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Arts Club of Washington, where he chairs the organization’s Drama and Programs Committees.

Inspired by BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as part of the CETAB (Cleaner Environment Through Accountability in Bankruptcy) advocacy campaign, he lobbied Congress in 2010 to amend the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to prevent corporate environmental clean up costs (such as from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill) being passed on to U.S. tax payers.

He launched and stewards the Diplomats of Dance Society, which supports the cultural diplomacy of the internationally acclaimed Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. A classical ballet dancer growing up, Jameson and his husband, choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess, established a fund to nurture dance education at the University of New Mexico.

Jameson offers a free weekly restorative yoga class, as well as other meditation and awareness practice (from nature baths to events with Tibetan singing bowls) in the Washington, DC metro area.

He holds a 300-hour yoga teacher certification from the Swami Krishnananda Yoga Vidyapeeth Ashram in Mysore, India, and studied under Dr. Ashutosh Agarwal, disciple of Swami Krishnananda Saraswati, as well as under Hatha Yoga teacher and gold medalist Yogacharya Kadambari CP. He is currently enrolled in a two-year Karuna Training certification, a contemplative psychology program led by Archaya Melissa Moore, PhD., student of Chögyam Trungpa, Buddhist meditation master and founder of the Vajradhatu and Naropa University, as well as the Shambhala Training Method.

 

with Julia Rowland, Ph.D.

Behavior change, why is it so hard to do? Come and learn the answer to this age-old question, along with techniques you can use to reach the goals you set for yourself.  Even if you have long since given up those New Year’s resolutions, it is never too late to honor a commitment to improving your health and sense of well-being. Worry that the cancer may come back is the most common long-term effect of living with a history of cancer. Curiously, it is not the most frequently studied, leaving many to wonder how to manage this anxiety. Come learn about techniques and strategies to master fear of recurrence and embrace uncertainty.

About Julia H. Rowland, Ph.D.

Dr. Rowland, newly named Senior Strategic Advisor to Smith Center, comes to this position as a long-time clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of psychosocial aspects of cancer. She has worked with and conducted competitively funded research among both pediatric and adult cancer survivors and their families, published broadly in psycho-oncology and co-edited the ground-breaking text, Handbook of Psychooncology.  Dr. Rowland received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in psychosocial oncology. While at MSKCC, where she held joint appointments in pediatrics and neurology, Dr. Rowland helped to develop and was the first Director of the Post-Treatment Resource Program, one of the first non-medical survivorship care programs to be offered by a major cancer center in the U.S. In 1990 Dr. Rowland moved to Washington, DC to become founding Director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Georgetown University and the Lombardi Cancer Center. Nine years later, in September of 1999, she was recruited to the National Cancer Institute to become the first, full-time Director of the Office of Cancer Survivorship, a position in which she served for 18 years, championing the growth of survivorship research and care, before stepping down in September 2017 to assume her new role at Smith Center.

With Laura Pole, RN, MSN, PCNS

Getting well never tasted so good! 

Now it’s your turn to pick the topics around healthy nourishment that you’d like Chef Laura to “riff”  on!  She’d also love you to challenge her to design, on the spot, custom menus to work around your biggest cooking/eating challenges.  Chef Laura will prepare lunch—-maybe even an ” Iron Chef” challenge where you tell her what you’d like to see her do with the ingredients in the bountiful Smith Center pantry and the local Farmer Market! Come with your questions, challenge, curiosity, playfulness, and appetite!

Chef Laura will be shopping at the U Street Farmer’s Market, located on the corner of 14th & U Streets NW, prior to class. Those interested can meet her at 9:00am on Saturday morning for a tour of the market and talk about choosing seasonal foods.

*Please Note: Every individual’s needs are unique. We aim to offer a variety of health-promoting options for each individual to consider, but do not prescribe the specific dietary content of any program for anyone.

Suggested donation: $25, includes a health-supportive meal and all recipes

Our programs are open to the community, and tailored to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.

About Laura Pole

Laura Pole, RN, MSN, comes with a diverse educational background including a Masters degree in nursing, chef certification, and professional music training. For over 20 years, she has been merging her careers as a health supportive chef, professional musician, oncology clinical nurse specialist, and a palliative care educator. Laura serves Smith Center in several ways: Director of Nourishment Education Programs, Director of Professional Trainings in Culinary Translation and Co-Creator/Coordinator of Patient Navigation Trainings. Laura is also on faculty for the nationally acclaimed Cancer-Fighting Kitchen workshops.

with Michael Lerner

The healing power of love is beyond comprehension.  Yet love is also one of the most complex experiences in life, yielding pleasure and pain in equal measure.  Join Smith Center Co-Founder Michael Lerner to explore love in poetry, sacred texts, and archetypal psychology, drawing on Rumi, Hafiz, Jung, Hillman and others.

 About Michael Lerner

Michael Lerner is president and co-founder of Commonweal and president emeritus and co-founder of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.

At Commonweal, he is co-founder or founder of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program, Healing Circles, Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies, The New School, and the Resilience Project.  He taught at Yale before founding Commonweal in 1976.  He received a MacArthur Prize Fellowship in 1983.

With Kiersten Gallagher, RYT 200

Enjoy a greater sense of wellbeing and enhanced energy in our gentle yoga classes.  Learn various yoga postures, techniques in progressive relaxation, breathing practices, and meditation to help reduce stress, as well as balance mind, body, and spirit.  Our classes are specifically designed for adults facing stress, cancer, or other illness and are open to anyone interested in attending. All levels are welcome.

In addition, our yoga classes are listed with the National MS Society and we welcome patients and caregivers of those with multiple sclerosis to our gentle yoga classes.

Kiersten’s Gentle Morning Yoga Classes Meet Weekly on Thursdays from 10:15am – 11:30am.

Our programs are also open to the community, and tailored to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.

Suggested Donation for 1 Class: $10

Suggested Donation for 1 Month of Classes: $25

About Kiersten Gallagher

Kiersten Gallagher, RYT 200 and Certified Herbalist has studied yoga for over 25 years. Over the last decade, Kiersten has developed yoga programs and has provided a place for healing in the cancer community, in underprivileged neighborhoods, for special needs children, for teens and adults with drug addiction and for those struggling with body image.Kiersten invites you on a journey of healing to help guide you to a place where yoga will make a real difference in your life.  Kiersten’s goal for you is that you feel better when you leave class- mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, than you may have felt when you stepped through the door to begin your practice.