Tag: Health

To register for this class, please click the RSVP button above or email programs@smithcenter.org.

with Chef Laura Pole

Healing in the Kitchen with Chef Laura: Preparing Delicious Food to Eat Now or Freeze for Later

One thing you can do to prepare for treatment is to make sure you have nourishing, easy to prepare and eat meals on hand. If others have been asking what they can do to help, bring them along to Chef Laura’s class.

You’ll all learn how to prepare nourishing meals and snacks to put in your freezer for those days when you don’t feel like cooking. You’ll learn about storing and reheating foods so they maintain their taste and pleasing texture.

We’ll be making and eating some scrumptious soups, sauces and snacks as well as protein-packed patties. Come with a good appetite and a sense of lightness knowing you will eat well during treatment.

Suggested Donation: $30

This program is offered for free or at a low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis. Contributions are not required to attend, ensuring accessibility for everyone. If you’re able to donate, we deeply appreciate your support—every contribution directly funds our cancer support programs.

About Laura Pole

Laura Pole is an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Health Supportive Chef who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation and education services for over 35 years. Her interest in integrative cancer care began way before the field was well-known. She has spent years learning about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) so that she could help both patients and clinicians become aware of safe and effective therapies to weave into conventional cancer care. She is also helping shape the practice of culinary translation—helping people with practical ways to translate a diet prescription into delicious healthy food. Laura’s earliest passion in oncology care has been helping people manage pain and other distressing symptoms. Along with that,  she helps people talk about and choose care that aligns with their goals, wishes, and values.

Laura is Director of Nourishment Education Programs and retreat head chef for Smith Center. She is the  Co-Creator and Co-Coordinator of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts’ national training in integrative oncology patient navigation. She is Senior Researcher for Commonweal’s “Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies” project to provide patients, clinicians and researchers with the best available resources for integrating conventional and integrative cancer therapies. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” Listserv for Smith Center.  For most of her career, Laura has also been consulting with and educating patients and professionals in palliative care and advance care planning.

Laura is also the senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices, a free online web resource that gives information and guidance in integrative Cancer Care.

WEEK 27

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Phebe Duff

A community for those who want to explore ways to be present in their lives. This group will examine a different topic each week relevant to members’ lives. We will explore meditation and mindfulness practices that can be applied to life experiences in a supportive way. The group is open to people at any level of experience with meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in class, so you can join at any time as topics will differ each week. This is a year-long weekly class that will meet every Wednesday beginning September 18th from 5-6pm EST.

Beginning in January 2025, this class will meet from 5-6pm EST.

Please Note: This class will began at Week 1 on September 18th.

Suggested Donation: $15/session

This program is offered for free or at a low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis. Contributions are not required to attend, ensuring accessibility for everyone. If you’re able to donate, we deeply appreciate your support—every contribution directly funds our cancer support programs.

About Phebe Duff

Phebe Duff is a long-time meditator and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. She completed the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Dharmacharya program offered by the Venerable Pannavati at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Phebe has facilitated MBSR courses for a wide variety of populations since 2005. Since retiring after a 30+ year career in human resources and as a professional musician, Phebe has taught meditation and MBSR for Wellness House of Annapolis and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Working with the cancer community and sharing the practices of meditation and mindfulness to support their healing journey has been the best experience of her teaching career.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Lashondra Love, LGSW, LMSW

Survivorship Support Group

This group is designed for cancer survivors who have completed their primary cancer treatment(s) and are now either post-treatment or on maintenance medication (such as hormonal therapy). Cancer can be emotionally and physically draining — many times we aren’t able to fully process the experience until after treatment is over and we are trying to get back to our “normal” lives. The struggle and expectation to find “normal” again can also be an overwhelming process. This group is a space where you can talk openly about these issues and process the trauma of cancer with other survivors.

The Survivorship Support Group will meet Monthly on the 2nd Tuesday from 7:00-8:00pm EST.

Beginning in April, the group will go back to meeting Monthly on the 2nd Tuesday from 6:30-7:30pm EST and will be hosted by Lashondra Love, LGSW, LMSW.

About Lashondra Love, LGSW, LMSW

Lashondra Love is deeply committed to the work of Cancer Support Community (CSC), having previously served as a Program Associate where she supported our past two program directors. During her time in this role, Lashondra gained invaluable experience working in Wards 7 and 8 in D.C., which sparked her passion for the intersection of social work and cancer care. Her professional journey has always centered on providing emotional, social, and practical support to individuals navigating the complexities of cancer, both personally and professionally.
Since moving to the DC metro area in 2016, Lashondra has continued to expand her expertise, most recently as a Supervisor at BTST Services in Lanham, MD, where she oversaw rehabilitation services and worked closely with clients to ensure their goals aligned with individualized care plans. Throughout her career, Lashondra has been driven by the belief that cancer care goes beyond medical treatment—it’s about providing holistic, compassionate support to the whole person.
Outside of her professional life, Lashondra enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, and helping others connect to the resources they need to thrive. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her into a trusted, warm, and relatable advocate for individuals impacted by cancer.

WEEK 8/25

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Phebe Duff

On February 10th, the Mindful Cancer Journey class will begin a new series working with the book Neuro Dharma by Dr. Rick Hanson. Rick has written a powerful book that synthesizes 2,600 year old meditation practices with current neuroscience to strengthen the neural circuitry of our brains to enhance contentment and inner peace.  We will do a variety of practices, see videos of Rick explaining his work and a variety of other activities. There is no obligation to purchase the book and each class has been designed as a stand-alone program for those who have to miss a class. We hope you will join us!

This series will run from 02/10 – 08/11/25

Suggested Donation: $15/session

This program is offered for free or at a low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis. Contributions are not required to attend, ensuring accessibility for everyone. If you’re able to donate, we deeply appreciate your support—every contribution directly funds our cancer support programs.

About Phebe Duff

Phebe Duff is a long-time meditator and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. She completed the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Dharmacharya program offered by the Venerable Pannavati at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Phebe has facilitated MBSR courses for a wide variety of populations since 2005. Since retiring after a 30+ year career in human resources and as a professional musician, Phebe has taught meditation and MBSR for Wellness House of Annapolis and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Working with the cancer community and sharing the practices of meditation and mindfulness to support their healing journey has been the best experience of her teaching career.

WEEK 26

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Phebe Duff

A community for those who want to explore ways to be present in their lives. This group will examine a different topic each week relevant to members’ lives. We will explore meditation and mindfulness practices that can be applied to life experiences in a supportive way. The group is open to people at any level of experience with meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in class, so you can join at any time as topics will differ each week. This is a year-long weekly class that will meet every Wednesday beginning September 18th from 5-6pm EST.

Beginning in January 2025, this class will meet from 5-6pm EST.

Please Note: This class will began at Week 1 on September 18th.

Suggested Donation: $15/session

This program is offered for free or at a low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis. Contributions are not required to attend, ensuring accessibility for everyone. If you’re able to donate, we deeply appreciate your support—every contribution directly funds our cancer support programs.

About Phebe Duff

Phebe Duff is a long-time meditator and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. She completed the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Dharmacharya program offered by the Venerable Pannavati at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Phebe has facilitated MBSR courses for a wide variety of populations since 2005. Since retiring after a 30+ year career in human resources and as a professional musician, Phebe has taught meditation and MBSR for Wellness House of Annapolis and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Working with the cancer community and sharing the practices of meditation and mindfulness to support their healing journey has been the best experience of her teaching career.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Erin Price, LICSW, OSW-C and Lashondra Love, LGSW, LMSW

This monthly virtual group is for Stage 0 – 3 Breast Cancer patients and survivors and is open to those newly diagnosed, in treatment, or in survivorship. Come join others dealing with the issues and impacts of a breast cancer diagnosis. All meetings are hosted using Zoom.

This group is hosted in partnership with Cancer Support Community.

You can also register for this group by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

The Breast Cancer Support Group meets Monthly on the 1st Tuesday from 6:00-7:00pm ET. 

About Erin Price, LICSW, OSW-C

Erin Price

Erin serves as Smith Center’s Director of Young Adult and Psychosocial Support Programs. She is trained in Integrative Patient Navigation, a Project LEAD graduate, and holds a Masters in Social Work. A ten-year+ breast cancer survivor, Erin is passionate about providing support and community to other cancer survivors, especially young adults. She works with Smith Center’s DC Young Adult Cancer Community and is also actively involved in the cancer community through the Association of Oncology Social Workers, the Young Survival Coalition, the Georgetown Breast Cancer Advocates, and the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

About Lashondra Love, LGSW, LMSW

Lashondra Love is deeply committed to the work of Cancer Support Community (CSC), having previously served as a Program Associate where she supported our past two program directors. During her time in this role, Lashondra gained invaluable experience working in Wards 7 and 8 in D.C., which sparked her passion for the intersection of social work and cancer care. Her professional journey has always centered on providing emotional, social, and practical support to individuals navigating the complexities of cancer, both personally and professionally.
Since moving to the DC metro area in 2016, Lashondra has continued to expand her expertise, most recently as a Supervisor at BTST Services in Lanham, MD, where she oversaw rehabilitation services and worked closely with clients to ensure their goals aligned with individualized care plans. Throughout her career, Lashondra has been driven by the belief that cancer care goes beyond medical treatment—it’s about providing holistic, compassionate support to the whole person.
Outside of her professional life, Lashondra enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, and helping others connect to the resources they need to thrive. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her into a trusted, warm, and relatable advocate for individuals impacted by cancer.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Jessica Gelfarb, MSW, LICSW & Sara Richman, LICSW, GW Cancer Center 

This monthly support group is designed for adult patients/survivors diagnosed with gynecologic cancers (including cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers) and their caregivers. The group will incorporate education lectures coupled with emotional support and is hosted by and offered in partnership with the GW Cancer Center.

GW Cancer Center Head and Neck Cancer Support Group

The Gynecologic Cancer Support Group meets Monthly on the 1st Tuesday from 11:00am-12:00pm ET. 

About Jessica Gelfarb, MSW, LICSW

Jessica Gelfarb

Jessica is a licensed clinical social worker who has experience working with patients and families facing a range of medical diagnoses in both inpatient and outpatient settings.  She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from University of Michigan and her masters degree in social work from University of Maryland with a focus on clinical and medical social work. Jessica recently joined the team at the George Washington University  cancer center as an oncology social worker. Prior to her role at GW Jessica worked extensively with organ transplant patients at Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute and co-led the institute’s transplant support group. She has also spent time working on cardiology and intensive care units throughout her career.  Jessica initially became interested in pursuing oncology social work after attending the Association of Oncology Social Work’s annual conference a number of years ago as well as observing first- hand the widespread impact that cancer has on so many individuals and families.   She is passionate about partnering with patients in order to provide psychosocial and emotional support as they navigate their diagnosis and treatment.

About Sara Richman, LICSW

Sara Richman, LICSW is a licensed and certified oncology clinical social worker (OSW-C). She received her masters in social work (MSW) at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Prior to working at GW, Sara was an oncology clinical social worker at MedStar Washington Hospital Center where she worked with all types of blood cancers and disorders.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Jessica Gelfarb, MSW, LICSW & Joslyn Trovati, LICSW, OSW-C, GW Cancer Center 

This monthly support group is open to adults with lung cancer, survivors, and caregivers. Facilitated by a licensed clinical social worker, the group will offer emotional support and educational talks and is hosted in partnership with the GW Cancer Center.

GW Cancer Center Head and Neck Cancer Support Group

The Lung Cancer Support Group meets Monthly  on the 4th Thursday from 11:00am-12:00pm EST on Zoom.

About Jessica Gelfarb, MSW, LICSW

Jessica Gelfarb

Jessica is a licensed clinical social worker who has experience working with patients and families facing a range of medical diagnoses in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from University of Michigan and her masters degree in social work from University of Maryland with a focus on clinical and medical social work. Jessica recently joined the team at the George Washington University  cancer center as an oncology social worker. Prior to her role at GW Jessica worked extensively with organ transplant patients at Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute and co-led the institute’s transplant support group. She has also spent time working on cardiology and intensive care units throughout her career.  Jessica initially became interested in pursuing oncology social work after attending the Association of Oncology Social Work’s annual conference a number of years ago as well as observing first- hand the widespread impact that cancer has on so many individuals and families. She is passionate about partnering with patients in order to provide psychosocial and emotional support as they navigate their diagnosis and treatment.

About Joslyn Trovati, LICSW, OSW-C

Joslyn Trovati MSW, LICSW, OSW-C is an Oncology Social Worker at the George Washington University Cancer Center, where she provides emotional support and resources to people with cancer and their caregivers. Joslyn earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from The George Washington University. Joslyn’s professional interests include the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer community, fertility preservation, and grief work. In her free time, Joslyn enjoys traveling, going to museums and concerts, playing word games, singing with her local choir, and exploring DC’s vibrant culinary scene.

To be sent the brief questionnaire required to participate in this program series, please email olivia@smithcenter.org.

with Phebe Duff

 

This program is being offered virtually over 9 weeks from Tuesday, September 9 through November 4 from 4:00-6:30pm ET. The program also includes a mini virtual retreat on Saturday, October 18th from 9:00am-12:00pm. We ask that participants commit to attending all sessions including the mini-retreat. Limited space available.

We are asking participants to contribute toward their participation in this program, however, we do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone in accessing this program. As such, we are encouraging each person to choose to contribute a one-time amount between $25 to $150 that feels comfortable for you based on your own personal income circumstances. If you have any questions, please contact us, we are happy to discuss any additional issues privately.

Are you at a tipping point, overwhelmed by the stress of our fast-paced lives?

Are you experiencing life events affecting your physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing?

Are you just looking for a way to get your life back into balance?

The good news is that you already have the resources you need to come back to health and wellbeing. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Cancer Recovery training can help you reconnect to those inner resources. Even if you’ve never heard of mindfulness or have never meditated, MBSR can teach you these skills.

This interactive, experiential course runs for 9 weeks and includes:

  • Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
  • Gentle stretching and mindful yoga
  • Small and large group discussions
  • Daily home practice assignments
  • A three-hour mini-retreat of uninterrupted practice on Saturday, October 18th

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. MBSR has over 25 years of peer-reviewed research covering a wide variety of physical and mental health issues. It is the most scientifically researched and validated mindfulness program and is used in clinical and non-clinical settings worldwide.

What are the benefits of MBSR?

Mindfulness is the practice of present moment, non-judgmental awareness of one’s life experience. Through the use of mind/body techniques, one begins to relate to the stress and anxiety in life differently in ways that allow for more creative solutions and possibilities.

It can help you:

  • Improve focus and concentration
  • Improve mind-body awareness
  • Reduce reactivity and increase calm
  • Support better behavioral choices and Improve the ability to handle the ups and downs of life
  • Feel kinder to yourself and others
  • Improve relationships
  • Experience more positive emotions
  • Start or restart a meditation practice

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Week Date Topic
1 09/09/25 Introduction and Orientation
2 09/16/25 Mindfulness
3 09/23/25 Mindfulness Attitudes
4 09/30/25 Mindy-Body Wisdom and Healing
5 10/07/25 Balance in the Autonomic Nervous System
6 10/14/25 Mindful Coping
RETREAT 10/18/25 Mini-Retreat: A Morning of…. Silence
7 10/21/25 Cultivating Beneficial States of Heart and Mind
8 10/28/25 Deepening and Expanding
9 11/04/25 Moving Into the World

 

About Phebe Duff

Phebe Duff is a long-time meditator and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. She completed the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Dharmacharya program offered by the Venerable Pannavati at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Phebe has facilitated MBSR courses for a wide variety of populations since 2005. Since retiring after a 30+ year career in human resources and as a professional musician, Phebe has taught meditation and MBSR for Wellness House of Annapolis and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Working with the cancer community and sharing the practices of meditation and mindfulness to support their healing journey has been the best experience of her teaching career.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

Please Note: April’s session will be will be discussing nutrition specifically related to prostate cancer. Whether you are living with prostate cancer or are a caregiver or provider supporting someone who is, we hope this discussion will provide valuable insights and information.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Lauren Powell, RDN, LDN, GW Cancer Center

GW Cancer Center

GW Cancer Center Nutrition Club

Nutrition Club is a chance for patients, survivors, caregivers and providers to get together to discuss nutrition topics and learn more about how nutrition can play a role in cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship. It is hosted and offered in partnership with GW Cancer Center.

Please Note: April’s session will be will be discussing nutrition specifically related to prostate cancer. Whether you are living with prostate cancer or are a caregiver or provider supporting someone who is, we hope this discussion will provide valuable insights and information.

Nutrition Club will be hosted Monthly on the 1st Monday from 12-1pm ET.

About Lauren Powell, RDN, LDN

Lauren Powell

Lauren Powell (RDN, LDN) is a registered dietitian working in the DC area. She has served in many settings including food services, long-term care, rehab facilities, post-surgical, and intensive care units. While working at George Washington University Hospital she found her passion for Oncology Nutrition. She now works as the Dietitian for the GW Cancer Center helping to support the nutrition needs of those undergoing treatment and survivors.