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

with Julie McCarter

In this creative workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and practice mindfulness through the art of image making. In a series of photographic assignments, we’ll focus on our internal experience of the present moment, alongside the visual components of photography.

This workshop will give you the tools to develop your own “practice” of mindful image-making that will be both nourishing and life-balancing. you will also have the experience of creating images that reflect your unique vision/voice that is often deeply meaningful.

Join us to discover new ways of being, seeing and expressing with mindfulness and your camera.

Please select one meaningful object for the workshop. Any camera, including a cell phone, is perfect for this workshop.

Suggested Donation: $20


About Julie McCarter

Julie is a fine art photographer and therapist, offering workshops that blend her two worlds of creative expression and emotional wellness. She is based in the Greater Washington DC area. Her photographic work may be viewed at: http://juliefischermccarter.com

Contact email: jfm@juliefischermccarter.com

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

with Bernardine Pinto, PhD (University of South Carolina) and Melinda Irwin, PhD (Yale University)

Did You Know?

Smith Center is pleased to announce the launch of a special series of talks designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the center. Each of the talks will highlight one of eight healing practices that research and practice tell us is important to the health and well-being of cancer patients/survivors, and their loved ones.

The topics include: Eating Well, Moving More, Managing Stress, Sleeping Well, Creating a Healing Environment, Sharing Love and Support, Exploring What Matters Now, and Expressing Oneself.

For each topic, we will have two expert speakers. One will provide a clear and concise review of the science behind the given topic: what we do and do not know about the topic, the impact of this practice on cancer-related quality of life and mortality specifically, and national recommendations for action. The second speaker will “translate” this information into an action plan (e.g., provide user-friendly tips about how to integrate this aspect of healing into your daily life). At the end, there will be time for a question and answer period.


Did You Know? will be hosted Monthly on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30pm.

Upcoming Dates: 

  • February 17 – Moving More
    • with Bernardine Pinto, PhD, University of South Carolina and Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH, Yale University
  • March 17 – Managing Stress
    • with Candida DeLuise, PhD and Paul Jacobsen, PhD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

In honor of our 25th Anniversary in 2021, we are suggesting donations for this series in fractions or multiples of the number “25.” E.G. $2.50, $12.50, $25, etc.


About Bernardine Pinto, PhD

Bernardine Pinto, PhD

Dr. Bernardine Pinto is a clinical psychologist, who received her doctoral degree from Western Michigan University in 1992, after completing her internship at the University of Mississippi and the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.  She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Behavioral Medicine at the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown Medical School. She then began her professional career as an Assistant Professor at the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, W. Alpert Medical School of Brown University and rose through the ranks to become a Professor (Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, W. Alpert Medical School of Brown University and the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health at Brown University).  She is currently a tenured Professor and Associate Dean for Research, College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina.  Her research interests focus on the development of theoretically-based exercise interventions for adult patient populations, and in promoting healthy behaviors among cancer survivors with a special emphasis on exercise promotion among cancer survivors.  She has published over 100 original articles and book chapters including publications in top tier journals in her field.  As Principal Investigator, she has received grant funding from the National Cancer Institute, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute on Aging, the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  She has received continuous federal funding for her research since 1996. Dr. Pinto has extensive teaching experience: in addition to classroom teaching and seminars, she has served as supervisor for psychology interns, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty at the W. Alpert Medical School of Brown University.  She currently mentors students and junior faculty at the College of Nursing, University of South Carolina.  She lectures extensively both nationally and internationally and has received citation awards for her presentations at scientific meetings.  She is a member of the American Psychological Association and a Fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

About Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH

Melinda Irwin, PhD

Melinda L. Irwin, PhD, MPH, Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Epidemiology in the Yale School of Public Health, Associate Cancer Center Director (Population Sciences) in the Yale Cancer Center, and Deputy Director of Public Health for the NIH CTSA Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI), is a prominent leader in the field of cancer prevention and control research. Dr. Irwin is also co-chair of the national SWOG Cancer Research Network Survivorship Committee. Her NCI- and foundation-funded research has focused on randomized controlled trials of exercise, diet, and weight loss interventions on cancer treatment-related side effects, adherence to treatment, biological markers associated with cancer survival and quality of life in patients with cancer. She has served on numerous national advisory boards focused on lifestyle behavior change in cancer survivors. Dr. Irwin is passionate about mentoring, and is PI of an NCI-funded training program in cancer prevention and control and PI of an energy balance and cancer education program for early career investigators. Her vision is to maximize opportunities for new investigators so they can become leaders in their respective fields and have a maximal impact on the health and well-being of patients and the population.

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

with Dr. Antonio N. Puente

This educational talk will cover the following topics:

  • What is clinical neuropsychology and how can it be useful to you and your family.
  • What is chemo-brain and how can we treat it.

Dr. Puente will present his knowledge for the first 40-minutes and reserve the last 20-minutes for question-and-answer.


About Dr. Antonio N. Puente

Dr. Antonio N. Puente is a clinical neuropsychologist and assistant professor at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Georgia following the completion of his internship at the Duke University School of Medicine. He then completed his postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In his current practice, Dr. Puente conducts neuropsychological evaluations of patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, brain tumors, TBI, ADHD) to characterize their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning for diagnosis and treatment optimization. He also provides psychotherapy, and he developed a specialty in treating adult ADHD with cognitive behavioral therapy on internship in the Duke University ADHD Clinic. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Puente has developed a program of research focused on understanding the neural basis of cognition and refinement of neuropsychological methods for improved accuracy in the prediction of behavior.

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

with Laura Pole, RN, MSN (Smith Center for Healing and the Arts) and Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD (University of Alabama, Birmingham)

Did You Know?

Smith Center is pleased to announce the launch of a special series of talks designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the center. Each of the talks will highlight one of eight healing practices that research and practice tell us is important to the health and well-being of cancer patients/survivors, and their loved ones.

The topics include: Eating Well, Moving More, Managing Stress, Sleeping Well, Creating a Healing Environment, Sharing Love and Support, Exploring What Matters Now, and Expressing Oneself.

For each topic, we will have two expert speakers. One will provide a clear and concise review of the science behind the given topic: what we do and do not know about the topic, the impact of this practice on cancer-related quality of life and mortality specifically, and national recommendations for action. The second speaker will “translate” this information into an action plan (e.g., provide user-friendly tips about how to integrate this aspect of healing into your daily life). At the end, there will be time for a question and answer period.


Did You Know? will be hosted Monthly on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30pm.

Upcoming Dates: 

  • January 27 – Eating Well
    • with Laura Pole, RN, MSN, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  • Febraury 17 – Moving More
    • with Bernardine Pinto, PhD, University of South Carolina and Melinda Irwin, PhD, Yale University
  • March 17 – Managing Stress
    • with Candida DeLuise, PhD and Paul Jacobsen, PhD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

In honor of our 25th Anniversary in 2021, we are suggesting donations for this series in fractions or multiples of the number “25.” E.G. $2.50, $12.50, $25, etc.


About Laura Pole, RN, MSN

Laura Pole

Laura, Director of Smith Center’s Nourishment Education Programs, has served as the head retreat chef and nurse consultant since 1997. She is an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Integrative Oncology Navigator with over 40  years experience in caring for people with serious illness. She is also a Certified Health Supportive Chef, professional musician and Nia body-mind fitness instructor. Her popular cooking classes are centered on culinary translation: that is, helping  participants translate a diet prescription to a plate of nourishing delicious food.   Laura is the founder of “Eating for a Lifetime,” a consulting business dedicated to teaching individuals and professionals about health supportive eating and food preparation. In addition to Laura’s work with nourishment, she is the co-coordinator of Smith Center’s Patient Navigation Training in Integrative Cancer Care. Laura also serves as coordinator of the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv.

About Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD

Wendy Demark-Wahnefried

Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD is Professor and Webb Endowed Chair of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and also is the Associate Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at UAB.  Her research ranges from determining mechanisms of action of nutrition-based therapies that are implemented presurgery to developing and testing interventions that are scalable and which improve diet, physical activity and functional status among cancer survivors in broad geographic regions. To date, this research has been supported by 15 NIH grants (including a recent program project) and has resulted in over 300 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Demark-Wahnefried has been recognized as a Komen Professor of Survivorship and an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor. She has served on several committees, including the National Cancer Policy Forum of the National Academy of Sciences and the guidelines panels of the American Cancer Society, the World Cancer Research Fund, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

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

with Chef Kara Garrett

Rosemary Orange Scones

Chef Kara is delighted to return and kick off 2021 with you! She will lead us in making vegan Rosemary-Orange Scones together while sharing some baking tips to make your baked goods healthier. You are welcome to watch & learn if you prefer not to bake along. Scones are quick and easy to make and are delicious with many flavor profiles, savory and sweet.

Please arrive at class with all ingredients and supplies out and ready to use. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about substitutions or equipment needed.


Shopping List: 

  • Whole wheat pastry flour (can use all purpose flour or gluten-free APF)
  • Baking Powder
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Salt
  • Fresh Rosemary (or thyme/oregano/any herb on hand)
  • 1 orange
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit (currants, raisins, cranberries, apricots)
  • Milk of choice (oat or almond work well)
  • Maple syrup (or honey)
  • Coconut oil (butter can be used for non-vegan)

Supplies Needed: 

  • 2 mixing bowls
  • Small ramekin or bowl that will fit in fridge
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Microplane/zester
  • Mesh strainer (optional but helpful)
  • Whisk
  • Pastry cutter or 2 forks
  • Spatula or wooden spoon
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper (optional but makes cleanup easier)
  • Cookie cutters (optional)

Suggested Donation: $10


About Chef Kara Garrett

 

Kara is a health-supportive chef based in Washington, DC. Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, she embraced the challenge of finding a balance between her foodie lifestyle and eating well with cancer. She has adopted a flexible diet plan that focuses on plant-based, sustainable whole foods, but does not restrict indulgences of things she loves. She is passionate about working with others to encourage healthier food choices that energize the body and the soul.

Kara graduated in August 2017 from the Chef Training Program at Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC and spent one month as the sous chef at The Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of New York in Monroe, NY. She is currently enrolled in the Developing Healthy Communities: Nutrition, Behavior, and Physical Activity graduate program at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

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

with Kara Elam

Lotus

The journey from the decision to start a family to holding your little one/s in your arms is not always straightforward and could take much longer than anticipated. This healing circle is meant to provide support, fellowship, and knowledge exchange while you are traversing this road to parenthood in whatever form it may take for you to create your desired family.


What is a Healing Circle?

Healing Circles bring together small numbers of people impacted by a condition or circumstance to share experiences and harvest collective wisdom. Healing Circles is a peer-led process by which people support each other through deep listening and shared learning. When working at its best, this collaborative conversation model leads to authentic and deep connectivity and can create wisdom and healing for participants.

Fertility Journey Healing Circle will be hosted Monthly on Mondays from 6:30-7:30pm.
Upcoming Dates:
  • April 12
  • May 10
  • June 14

About Kara Elam

Kara Elam

Kara Elam, PhD, MPH, MS, As a scientist and avid adventurer I approached starting a family and conceiving our first as I did with everything else: research, data analysis, and meticulous planning. Unfortunately, this approach was not successful and the journey to our desired family became much longer than anticipated. I have embraced this unforeseen adventure in fertility for the lessons and knowledge it has brought into our life. I look forward to sharing this knowledge as well as creating a space for fellowship and support with all of you joining this healing circle. Love, trust, and baby dust.

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

with Kara Elam

Lotus

The journey from the decision to start a family to holding your little one/s in your arms is not always straightforward and could take much longer than anticipated. This healing circle is meant to provide support, fellowship, and knowledge exchange while you are traversing this road to parenthood in whatever form it may take for you to create your desired family.


What is a Healing Circle?

Healing Circles bring together small numbers of people impacted by a condition or circumstance to share experiences and harvest collective wisdom. Healing Circles is a peer-led process by which people support each other through deep listening and shared learning. When working at its best, this collaborative conversation model leads to authentic and deep connectivity and can create wisdom and healing for participants.

Fertility Journey Healing Circle will be hosted Monthly on Mondays from 6:30-7:30pm.
Upcoming Dates:
  • March 8
  • April 12
  • May 10
  • June 14

About Kara Elam

Kara Elam

Kara Elam, PhD, MPH, MS, As a scientist and avid adventurer I approached starting a family and conceiving our first as I did with everything else: research, data analysis, and meticulous planning. Unfortunately, this approach was not successful and the journey to our desired family became much longer than anticipated. I have embraced this unforeseen adventure in fertility for the lessons and knowledge it has brought into our life. I look forward to sharing this knowledge as well as creating a space for fellowship and support with all of you joining this healing circle. Love, trust, and baby dust.

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

with Kara Elam

Lotus

The journey from the decision to start a family to holding your little one/s in your arms is not always straightforward and could take much longer than anticipated. This healing circle is meant to provide support, fellowship, and knowledge exchange while you are traversing this road to parenthood in whatever form it may take for you to create your desired family.


What is a Healing Circle?

Healing Circles bring together small numbers of people impacted by a condition or circumstance to share experiences and harvest collective wisdom. Healing Circles is a peer-led process by which people support each other through deep listening and shared learning. When working at its best, this collaborative conversation model leads to authentic and deep connectivity and can create wisdom and healing for participants.

Fertility Journey Healing Circle will be hosted Monthly on Mondays from 6:30-7:30pm.
Upcoming Dates:
  • February 8
  • March 8
  • April 12
  • May 10
  • June 14

About Kara Elam

Kara Elam

Kara Elam, PhD, MPH, MS, As a scientist and avid adventurer I approached starting a family and conceiving our first as I did with everything else: research, data analysis, and meticulous planning. Unfortunately, this approach was not successful and the journey to our desired family became much longer than anticipated. I have embraced this unforeseen adventure in fertility for the lessons and knowledge it has brought into our life. I look forward to sharing this knowledge as well as creating a space for fellowship and support with all of you joining this healing circle. Love, trust, and baby dust.

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

with Kara Elam

Lotus

The journey from the decision to start a family to holding your little one/s in your arms is not always straightforward and could take much longer than anticipated. This healing circle is meant to provide support, fellowship, and knowledge exchange while you are traversing this road to parenthood in whatever form it may take for you to create your desired family.


What is a Healing Circle?

Healing Circles bring together small numbers of people impacted by a condition or circumstance to share experiences and harvest collective wisdom. Healing Circles is a peer-led process by which people support each other through deep listening and shared learning. When working at its best, this collaborative conversation model leads to authentic and deep connectivity and can create wisdom and healing for participants.

Fertility Journey Healing Circle will be hosted Monthly on Mondays from 6:30-7:30pm.
Upcoming Dates:
  • January 11
  • February 8
  • March 8
  • April 12
  • May 10
  • June 14

About Kara Elam

Kara Elam

Kara Elam, PhD, MPH, MS, As a scientist and avid adventurer I approached starting a family and conceiving our first as I did with everything else: research, data analysis, and meticulous planning. Unfortunately, this approach was not successful and the journey to our desired family became much longer than anticipated. I have embraced this unforeseen adventure in fertility for the lessons and knowledge it has brought into our life. I look forward to sharing this knowledge as well as creating a space for fellowship and support with all of you joining this healing circle. Love, trust, and baby dust.

Please email instruction@knitwell.org to schedule an Individual Knitting Instruction appointment.

with Project Knitwell

Knitwell in the Cloud

During these stressful times, we need the wellness benefits of knitting now more than ever.

Project Knitwill invites you to join Knitwell in the Cloud, a new program offering private, one-on-one knitting lessons via Zoom. It’s a safe, effective way to knit and learn.

Who is this for?  Beginner knitters and those who already know how to knit but need help with a project.

How long are the sessions? 45-60 minutes. You will have up to 4 lessons with your instructor.

What equipment do I need to participate? A smartphone or tablet (iPad, etc.)  and the free Zoom app downloaded on the device you will use.

Do I need to get my own supplies?  No — Project Knitwell will provide you with what you need.


Knitwell in the Cloud is an ongoing program with rolling registration. Please email instruction@knitwell.org  or call 703-249-9112 and mention that you heard about the program through Smith Center.

If you’re looking to meet up with other knitters, consider connecting with K2tog. K2tog events are not formal lessons, but rather are casual get-togethers where everyone brings their knitting projects and chats about different knitting-related topics. Anyone can register by emailing k2together@knitwell.org, even if they have never participated in a previous PK program.

About Project Knitwell

Project Knitwell

Project Knitwell offers knitting as a tool to promote wellness and help people cope with stressful situations at more than a dozen hospital and community settings.

All of Project Knitwell’s programming is provided by volunteers, and services and supplies are provided free of charge to the people we serve.


About the Project Knitwell Volunteers

About Ilene Gast

Ilene Gast

I have been knitting since childhood, learning when I received a knitting kit as a gift.  Knitting allows me to combine color and texture, transforming long strings of yarn into aesthetically pleasing, functional items.  I knit all manner of objects, but my favorites are wild colored socks and unusually shaped shawls.

Although finishing a knitted object is satisfying, it is secondary to the process of knitting. The rhythm of knitting is relaxing; it never fails to relieve stress.  At the end of graduate school, I not only completed a degree, but also created a series of “dissertation sweaters.”  Knitting also lets me take leave of myself.  When I am knitting for someone else, which is often, I can virtually spend time with that person.  Or, if I use yarn acquired in a special place, I am transported back in time and space.  Add portability to these benefits—I can take it with me!

However, most of all, I enjoy sharing the art and craft of knitting with others. I am fortunate to have discovered Project Knitwell, an organization dedicated to bringing the benefits of knitting to people in stressful situations.  I am doubly grateful to be part of the Schar ISC Artist in Residence program.