Tag: integrative care

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 Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C, and Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

This bi-monthly cancer support group provides participants with the opportunity to explore their experience with cancer in a safe group setting with a trained social worker and to connect with others who are facing a similar challenge. This group is designed specifically for individuals that have been diagnosed with cancer.

The Cancer Support Group meets Bi-Monthly on Mondays from 6:00-7:30pm.

Upcoming Sessions:

  • September 27 (updated)
  • October 3 & 17
  • November 7 & 21
  • December 5 & 19

About Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C

Jennifer Bires

Jennifer Bires is a licensed clinical social worker, who works with people affected by cancer. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Jennifer knows how distressing a cancer diagnosis can be for patients and their families. Her goal as an oncology social worker is to help patients and family members adjust to the emotional impact of a diagnosis.  Jennifer specializes in working with young adults, caregivers and patients who have advanced disease. She strives to help patients and families maintain a high quality of life in the face of their illness.

About Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

Lauren Broschak
Lauren is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in DC and Virginia. She has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work, and has been working in oncology for just over three years. She developed her passion for oncology in Michigan where she worked at Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit supporting those touched by cancer. Since moving to the Metro DC Area she has worked at the GW Cancer Center in Washington, DC and is now an Oncology Clinical Therapist at Life with Cancer in Virginia. Lauren is particularly interested in providing support to the young adult community, and has presented at the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) national conference twice regarding young adults. Most recently, she became the Co-Chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult Special Interest Group at AOSW.

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 Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C, and Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

This bi-monthly cancer support group provides participants with the opportunity to explore their experience with cancer in a safe group setting with a trained social worker and to connect with others who are facing a similar challenge. This group is designed specifically for individuals that have been diagnosed with cancer.

The Cancer Support Group meets Bi-Monthly on Mondays from 6:00-7:30pm.

Upcoming Sessions:

  • September 12 & 27 (updated)
  • October 3 & 17
  • November 7 & 21
  • December 5 & 19

About Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C

Jennifer Bires

Jennifer Bires is a licensed clinical social worker, who works with people affected by cancer. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Jennifer knows how distressing a cancer diagnosis can be for patients and their families. Her goal as an oncology social worker is to help patients and family members adjust to the emotional impact of a diagnosis.  Jennifer specializes in working with young adults, caregivers and patients who have advanced disease. She strives to help patients and families maintain a high quality of life in the face of their illness.

About Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

Lauren Broschak
Lauren is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in DC and Virginia. She has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work, and has been working in oncology for just over three years. She developed her passion for oncology in Michigan where she worked at Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit supporting those touched by cancer. Since moving to the Metro DC Area she has worked at the GW Cancer Center in Washington, DC and is now an Oncology Clinical Therapist at Life with Cancer in Virginia. Lauren is particularly interested in providing support to the young adult community, and has presented at the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) national conference twice regarding young adults. Most recently, she became the Co-Chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult Special Interest Group at AOSW.

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 Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C, and Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

This bi-monthly cancer support group provides participants with the opportunity to explore their experience with cancer in a safe group setting with a trained social worker and to connect with others who are facing a similar challenge. This group is designed specifically for individuals that have been diagnosed with cancer.

The Cancer Support Group meets Bi-Monthly on Mondays from 6:00-7:30pm.

Upcoming Sessions:

  • August 22 (updated)
  • September 12 & 27 (updated)

About Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C

Jennifer Bires

Jennifer Bires is a licensed clinical social worker, who works with people affected by cancer. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Jennifer knows how distressing a cancer diagnosis can be for patients and their families. Her goal as an oncology social worker is to help patients and family members adjust to the emotional impact of a diagnosis.  Jennifer specializes in working with young adults, caregivers and patients who have advanced disease. She strives to help patients and families maintain a high quality of life in the face of their illness.

About Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

Lauren Broschak
Lauren is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in DC and Virginia. She has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work, and has been working in oncology for just over three years. She developed her passion for oncology in Michigan where she worked at Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit supporting those touched by cancer. Since moving to the Metro DC Area she has worked at the GW Cancer Center in Washington, DC and is now an Oncology Clinical Therapist at Life with Cancer in Virginia. Lauren is particularly interested in providing support to the young adult community, and has presented at the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) national conference twice regarding young adults. Most recently, she became the Co-Chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult Special Interest Group at AOSW.

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 Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C, and Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

This bi-monthly cancer support group provides participants with the opportunity to explore their experience with cancer in a safe group setting with a trained social worker and to connect with others who are facing a similar challenge. This group is designed specifically for individuals that have been diagnosed with cancer.

The Cancer Support Group meets Bi-Monthly on Mondays from 6:00-7:30pm.

Upcoming Sessions:

  • August 1 & 22 (updated)
  • September 12 & 27 (updated)

About Jennifer Bires, LICSW, OSW-C

Jennifer Bires

Jennifer Bires is a licensed clinical social worker, who works with people affected by cancer. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Jennifer knows how distressing a cancer diagnosis can be for patients and their families. Her goal as an oncology social worker is to help patients and family members adjust to the emotional impact of a diagnosis.  Jennifer specializes in working with young adults, caregivers and patients who have advanced disease. She strives to help patients and families maintain a high quality of life in the face of their illness.

About Lauren Broschak, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C

Lauren Broschak
Lauren is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in DC and Virginia. She has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work, and has been working in oncology for just over three years. She developed her passion for oncology in Michigan where she worked at Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit supporting those touched by cancer. Since moving to the Metro DC Area she has worked at the GW Cancer Center in Washington, DC and is now an Oncology Clinical Therapist at Life with Cancer in Virginia. Lauren is particularly interested in providing support to the young adult community, and has presented at the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) national conference twice regarding young adults. Most recently, she became the Co-Chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult Special Interest Group at AOSW.

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 carla@smithcenter.org.

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

Featuring Anthony Hyatt, Caleb Hacker, Nina, Scott Stoner, Tamara Wellons, Tiffany Carmouche and Turner Houston. Hosted by Lisa Simms Booth.

2021 Marks the 25th Anniversary of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

Patient & Participant in Our Artist-in-Residence Program

Smith Center 25th Anniversary Conversation Series

Signature Programs: Artist-in-Residence Program

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. In celebration of this momentous achievement, we are launching a series of special conversations. Across the course of the coming year, members of our Smith Center family will join us to reflect upon Smith Center’s roots, examine its present programs and impact, and imagine what the future may hold for us at Smith Center and the larger world of integrative healing.

Our next collection of conversations, focused on Smith Center’s Signature Programs, will resume on Monday, February 28th from 6 – 7:30 pm (Eastern Time). Highlighting our Artist-in-Residence Programs, we are honored to welcome a few of our program administrators, artists and care recipients: Anthony Hyatt, Caleb Hacker, Nina, Scott Stoner, Tamara Wellons Tiffany Carmouche, and Turner Houston. The panel will be interviewed by Smith Center’s Executive Director, Lisa Simms Booth.

We hope you will join us for the conversations in this special series. Please feel free to circulate this announcement and share with others the details of this upcoming conversation.

This program is being offered to support Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary. Participants are encouraged to donate $25 (or whatever amount you can afford) to support our work.

Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will be hosted throughout 2021.

Selected Themes:

  • Visionary Leaders in Integrative Care
  • Smith Center’s Signature Programs
  • Participants’ Perspectives
  • Envisioning the Future

All donations for the 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will support Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Fund. Suggested Donation: $25.

About Anthony Hyatt

Anthony Hyatt

Anthony Hyatt is a violinist who incorporates singing and movement in his work at many Washington, DC area health and human service organizations. Also a teaching artist, he is well-versed across music genres and improvisation practices. He adheres to “The Art of Presence” as a means for engaging patients, caregivers and staff in arts-based healing experiences. He is currently working on a book about his Arts in Healthcare experiences. 

About Caleb Hacker

Caleb Hacker

Caleb Hacker is a singer-songwriter, born and raised in northern Virginia. His unique voice and style helped him grow a loyal fan base worldwide through posting covers and originals on his YouTube channel – including recognition by top artists like Snoop Dogg and Christina Aguilera. He is building a local fanbase in the DMV, performing at an array of venues throughout the area, is currently gearing up to release an EP of all new original music.

About Scott Stoner

Scott Stoner

Scott Stoner serves as advisor and an artist in residence for Smith Center’s AIR Program. He has devoted his career to advancing the arts as a catalyst for social change, conflict resolution, and healing in communities nationally and internationally. Since 1999, he has recruited, trained, and supervised multi-disciplinary teams of artists for Smith Center’s Artist in Residence Programs. He holds graduate level degrees in Art Education and in Mental Health Sciences (Art Therapy), and as a visual artist, Scott works with mixed media.

About Tamara Wellons

Tamara Wellons

Tamara Wellons is the program manager for Smith Center’s Air Program. She is a professional vocal music artist with over a decade of experience in the recording industry and a diverse career as a performer and a recording artist. Prior to Smith Center, Tamara worked as a singer-in-residence for the Arts and Humanities Program (AHP) at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at MedStar’s Georgetown University Hospital. Tamara is Vice President of the Washington, DC Chapter of the Recording Academy.

About Tiffany Carmouche

Tiffany Carmouche

Tiffany Carmouche is a social conscious sculptor, author, and advocate devoted to art and creativity as an essential means of healing ourselves, our communities, and to foster social change. She has employed her creative skills to lead workshops and retreats that integrated music, dance, and visual arts to inspire and empower others to embrace self-expression, innovation and living life without regret. 

About Turner Houston

Turner Houston

Turner Houston blogs about creativity and her various passions as a photographer, a writer, a painter, and teacher of knitting and collage-making for health and healing. Formerly an art director and executive producer at The National Geographic Society,  she pursued the design and production of educational CD-ROMs in California–most notably with the Walt Disney Company. She currently devotes her time to her art, and to using art to bring a sense of calm and healing for patients, staff and caregivers at Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

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 carla@smithcenter.org.

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

Featuring Cara Scharf, Charity Sade, Erin Price, LICSW, OSW-C, Kimberly Parekh, and Tyler Jachetta. Hosted by Lisa Simms Booth.

2021 Marks the 25th Anniversary of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

Smith Center 25th Anniversary Conversation Series

Signature Programs: DC Young Adult Cancer Community

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. In celebration of this momentous achievement, we are launching a series of special conversations. Across the course of the coming year, members of our Smith Center family will join us to reflect upon Smith Center’s roots, examine its present programs and impact, and imagine what the future may hold for us at Smith Center and the larger world of integrative healing.

Our next collection of conversations, focused on Smith Center’s Signature Programs, will resume on Monday, October 25th from 6 – 7:30 pm (Eastern Time). Highlighting our DC Young Adult Cancer Community and programs, we are honored to welcome a few of our young adult cancer survivors: Cara Scharf, Charity Sade, Erin Price, Kimberly Parekh, and Tyler Jachetta. The panel will be interviewed by Smith Center’s Executive Director, Lisa Simms Booth.

We hope you will join us for the conversations in this special series. Please feel free to circulate this announcement and share with others the details of this upcoming conversation.

This program is being offered to support Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary. Participants are encouraged to donate $25 (or whatever amount you can afford) to support our work.

Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will be hosted throughout 2021.

Selected Themes:

  • Visionary Leaders in Integrative Care
  • Smith Center’s Signature Programs
  • Participants’ Perspectives
  • Envisioning the Future

All donations for the 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will support Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Fund. Suggested Donation: $25.

Cara Scharf

Cara Scharf

At age 21, right after graduating college, Cara learned that she had the BRCA 1 gene mutation, which she was tested for because of a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer. At age 25, her first screening MRI picked up stage 1 triple-negative breast cancer, which she treated with a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. Ten years later, at age 36, Cara feels fortunate to remain cancer-free and to have space and time to reflect on her experience and how it changed her understanding of her life, her relationships, and the world. In the past ten years, Cara participated in and led many young adult-focused support communities through organizations such as Young Survival Coalition, as well as co-founded her own support community in her hometown of Philadelphia called Young Adult Cancer Connection. Her day job is Assistant Director for Community-Based Learning at Drexel University, where she helps college students develop identities as active and engaged citizens, but she considers her most important work to be organizing around social justice issues in her community. In her free time she enjoys exploring Philadelphia’s parks and cultural assets, listening to Broadway musicals, and playing her ukulele. 

Charity Sade

Charity Sade

Charity Sad​e​ is an up and coming comedian from Indiana, but has resided in Washington, D.C. for the last 8 years.

She has performed across the country, and won a new comic competition at Greenwich Village Comedy Club. ​Within her first year of comedy, Charity made her festival debut at the 2018 DC Comedy Festival as well as the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival.

She has always used humor to get through difficult moments in her life, including her breast cancer diagnosis at age 27. ​On stage, she takes her difficult life experiences and turns them into relatable, humorous tales. Her comedic superpower is her ability to make you simultaneously laugh and cringe.

Charity is the creator and founder of Comedic Relief: Coping Through Comedy. You can catch Charity hosting, producing, and performing on shows across the DMV.

Erin Price

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.

Kimberly Parekh

Tyler Jachetta

Tyler was diagnosed with grade III brain cancer in 2018, and has been supported by the Smith Center’s Young Adult program in a variety of ways since.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register using the button above or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

Featuring Carole O’Toole, Cheryl Shaw, Chu Chu Saunders, Myrtle Washington, and Thelma Jones. Hosted by Lisa Simms Booth.

Smith Center 25th Anniversary Conversation Series

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. In celebration of this momentous achievement, we are launching a series of special conversations. Across the course of the coming year, members of our Smith Center family will join us to reflect upon Smith Center’s roots, examine its present programs and impact, and imagine what the future may hold for us at Smith Center and the larger world of integrative healing.

Our next collection of conversations, focused on Smith Center’s Signature Programs, will begin on Monday, June 14th from 6 – 7:30 pm (Eastern Time). Highlighting our Patient Navigation services and trainings, we are excited to welcome a few of our Patient Navigators alongside patients they have navigated: Carole O’Toole, Cheryl Shaw, Chu Chu Saunders, Myrtle Washington, and Thelma Jones. The panel will be interviewed by Smith Center’s Executive Director, Lisa Simms Booth.

We hope you will join us for the conversations in this special series. Please feel free to circulate this announcement and share with others the details of this upcoming conversation.

This program is being offered to support Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary. Participants are encouraged to donate $25 (or whatever amount you can afford) to support our work.

Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will be hosted throughout 2021.

Selected Themes:

  • Visionary Leaders in Integrative Care
  • Smith Center’s Signature Programs
  • Participants’ Perspectives
  • Envisioning the Future

Tickets for each conversation will be $25.

Carole O’Toole

Carole O'Toole

Cheryl Shaw

Chu Chu Saunders

Myrtle Washington

Thelma Jones

This program is being offered to support Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary. Participants are encouraged to donate $25 (or whatever amount you can afford) to support our work.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register using the button above or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

Featuring Charles Leighton, Laura Pole, Lorraine Washington, Lucia Effros, Rick Steinberg, and Jim Wilner. Hosted by Lisa Simms Booth.

Smith Center 25th Anniversary Conversation Series

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. In celebration of this momentous achievement, we are launching a series of special conversations. Across the course of the coming year, members of our Smith Center family will join us to reflect upon Smith Center’s roots, examine its present programs and impact, and imagine what the future may hold for us at Smith Center and the larger world of integrative healing.

Our next collection of conversations, focused on Smith Center’s Signature Programs, will begin on Monday, May 10th from 6 – 7:30 pm (Eastern Time). We are excited to welcome a few of our core retreat alumni and staff: Charles Leighton, Group Leader, Laura Pole, RN, Chef, Lorraine Washington, Alumni, Volunteer Staff, Lucia Effros, Alumni, Volunteer Staff, and Rick Steinberg, Alumni, “Viking Group” , and Jim Wilner, Alumni, “Viking Group.” The panel will be interviewed by Smith Center’s Executive Director, Lisa Simms Booth.

We hope you will join us for the conversations in this special series. Please feel free to circulate this announcement and share with others the details of this upcoming conversation.

Tickets for this event will be $25 and will help raise money for Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Fund.

Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will be hosted throughout 2021.

Selected Themes:

  • Visionary Leaders in Integrative Care
  • Smith Center’s Signature Programs
  • Participants’ Perspectives
  • Envisioning the Future

Tickets for each conversation will be $25.

Charles Leighton, LCSW

 

Laura Pole, RN, MSN

Laura Pole

Lucia Effros

Lorraine Washington

Rick Steinberg

Rick Steinberg

Jim Wilner

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register using the form below or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

Featuring Donald Abrams, MD

Smith Center 25th Anniversary Conversation Series

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. In celebration of this momentous achievement, we are launching a series of special conversations. Across the course of the coming year, members of our Smith Center family will join us to reflect upon Smith Center’s roots, examine its present programs and impact, and imagine what the future may hold for us at Smith Center and the larger world of integrative healing.

Our third conversation will be held Monday, April 12th from 6 – 7:30 pm (Eastern Time). We are honored to feature Donald Abrams, MD, Integrative Oncologist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Abrams will be interviewed by Smith Center’s Executive Director, Lisa Simms Booth.

We hope you will join us for the conversations in this special series. Please feel free to circulate this announcement and share with others the details of this upcoming conversation.

Tickets for this event will be $25 and will help raise money for Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Fund.

Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will be hosted throughout 2021.

Selected Themes:

  • Visionary Leaders in Integrative Care
  • The Facilitators’ View on Caring and Healing
  • Participants’ Perspectives
  • Envisioning the Future

Tickets for each conversation will be $25.

About Donald Abrams, MD

Donald I. Abrams, M.D. is the past chief of the Hematology-Oncology Division at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, an integrative oncologist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. He graduated from Brown University in 1972 and from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1977.  After completing an Internal Medicine residency at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Francisco, he became a fellow in Hematology-Oncology at the UCSF Cancer Research Institute in 1980 during the time that the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed. He was one of the original clinician/investigators to recognize many of the early AIDS-related conditions.  He conducted numerous clinical trials investigating conventional as well as complementary therapies in patients with HIV including therapeutic touch, Traditional Chinese Medicine interventions, medicinal mushrooms, medical cannabis and distant healing. His interest in botanical therapies led him to pursue a two-year Fellowship in the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona that he completed in December 2004. His particular passion in the field is nutrition and cancer. Since completing his Fellowship, Dr. Abrams has been providing Integrative Medicine consultation to people living with and beyond cancer at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. His integrative oncology interests are in medicinal mushrooms, Traditional Chinese Medicine interventions and nutrition. He co-edited the Oxford University Press textbook Integrative Oncology with Andrew Weil, M.D.. He is a member of the NCI PDQ CAM Editorial Board. Dr. Abrams was President of the Society for Integrative Oncology in 2010.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register using the form below or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

featuring Shanti Norris

Smith Center 25th Anniversary Conversation Series

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. In celebration of this momentous achievement, we are launching a series of special conversations. Across the course of the coming year, members of our Smith Center family will join us to reflect upon Smith Center’s roots, examine its present programs and impact, and imagine what the future may hold for us at Smith Center and the larger world of integrative healing.

Our second conversation will be held Monday, March 8th from 6 – 7:30 pm (Eastern Time). We are honored to feature Shanti Norris, Co-Founder and former Executive Director of Smith Center. Shanti will be interviewed by Smith Center’s Executive Director, Lisa Simms Booth.

We hope you will join us for the conversations in this special series. Please feel free to circulate this announcement and share with others the details of this upcoming conversation.

Tickets for this event will be $25 and will help raise money for Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Fund.

Smith Center’s 25th Anniversary Conversation Series will be hosted throughout 2021.

Selected Themes:

  • Visionary Leaders in Integrative Care
  • The Facilitators’ View on Caring and Healing
  • Participants’ Perspectives
  • Envisioning the Future

Tickets for each conversation will be $25.

About Shanti Norris

Shanti Norris

Shanti Norris served as Executive Director of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts from 1996 – 2017. She initiated the Smith Center hospital Artist-in-Residence program and Healing Arts Gallery. She ran the weeklong retreats for people with cancer, and oversaw new initiatives, including the Faith-based Community Navigation project at Smith Center. Former Vice President of Kent Homeopathic Associates, she has an extensive background in complementary medicine and mind-body approaches to healing. She has taught meditation, yoga philosophy and stress reduction for over 35 years and underwent a formal ten-year mentorship with a renowned yoga master. She is a three-term member of CARRA, the patient advocacy program at the National Cancer Institute and a graduate of Project LEAD from the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She is a graduate of the Georgetown University Nonprofit Leadership certificate course and the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute in Minneapolis/St Paul. She is a former board member of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare and Chaired their Annual Conference in 2004. She is a founding board member of The Art Connection in the Capital Region and a founding member of Arts in Healthcare Advocates (AHA.) She is a frequent speaker on the healing power of the arts. Her formal art training began at New York University and The Cooper Union in New York City and includes running the fine art studio of artist Peter Max. She is a member of ArtTable, the mother of three adult children, and is a painter and sculptor.