A center of integrative oncology...maintaining wellness, maximizing health, and complementing the best oncologic practices and scientific research through individualized care offered by a multidisciplinary team committed to enhancing the physical, psychological and spiritual well-being of people touched by cancer.

The Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology is primarily oriented toward the practice of integrative medicine through a wide variety of clinical services and programs.

 Current Clinical Programs 

Individual Integrative Oncology Counseling by Integrative Medicine Physician -- Individual educational sessions (1.25 to 1.5 hours) for patients with cancer or individuals at risk for cancer.  These sessions provide an opportunity to ask questions on nutrition, dietary supplements, strategies to decrease the likelihood of recurrence and enhance well-being.  The goal is to assess each person individually taking into consideration their own goals and tailor a wellness plan that the person can implement.  Selection of appropriate nutritional and dietary supplements or herbs as well as the development of strategies to manage specific symptoms are addressed along with educated advice on utilizing therapy offered by other CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) providers. Patients complete a comprehensive multi-dimensional assessment prior to evaluation incorporating information from medical history, nutrition, complementary medicine practices, mind/body strategies, spiritual practices and goals. (Fee for Service) 

Educational Groups by an Integrative Medicine Physician (Fee for Service)

We offer a range of small group classes (4-6 individuals) on specific topics to help individuals develop strategies to increase wellness while living with cancer, its treatments and beyond. Examples of some of the intimate group classes include: 

• Bring Your Medicine to the Doctor:  A Chance to Have Your Personal Questions Regarding Supplements, Herbs and Drugs Answered
  

• Turning Down the Heat:  Natural Strategies to Help Manage Menopause Even after Cancer
  

• Let Food Be Your Medicine: Nutritional Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Cancer Discuss strategies for dietary choices and weight management to lower risk of cancer
  

• Symptom Management During Cancer Treatment  Natural therapies and mind/body techniques  to manage common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation
  

• Nutritional Strategies During Cancer Treatment  Healthful strategies to maintain weight, healthy lean body mass and wellness during treatment
  

• Am I Done Now? How to Live Your Life After Treatment is Done Dietary and life style strategies to maximize wellness once cancer treatment is complete
  

• Nutritional Strategies to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer (or Recurrence) Discuss strategies for dietary choices and weight management to lower risk of breast cancer
  

Comprehensive psychosocial assessment by health psychologists and clinical social workers – For UCLA patients and their family members, interventions are provided which are oriented toward reducing the psychological impact of cancer as well as teaching mind-body techniques to facilitate coping and wellness.  Psychologists and oncology social workers work with patients and family members both in the Center and in other UCLA oncology clinic environments to help assess needs, identify resources and provide concrete and psychological interventions. Referrals are often made to many of the support groups and workshops that are offered in the Center. 

Support Groups and Workshops 

On-going groups and workshops, including traditional and integrative approaches—Open to the Public.  Groups are offered on weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.  Contact the Center for a current schedule.   Here is a listing of frequently held groups. 

• Healing Through Art -- Offers an opportunity to work with drawing, collage, and sculpture to explore, understand and heal from the cancer experience.  
  

• Mind/Body Approaches to Coping with Cancer – A workshop for patients and adult family members to learn and practice techniques that will help them manage the stresses associated with cancer and its treatments.
  

• Qi Gong – This class teaches the ancient Chinese art that promotes healing, mental health and clarity as well as systemic changes in lifestyles health and fitness.
  

• Meditation: Inner Healing – Mind/body techniques such as guided imagery music, color and movement are utilized to reduce stress and promote balance and healing.
  

• Husbands (Partners) of Women with Cancer Support Group – When the woman you love is diagnosed with cancer it can alter life creating a parallel journey through cancer.  Research indicates that men benefit from other men’s experiences.
  

• Young Adults with Cancer – A monthly support group for those who are currently being treated for cancer.
  

• Lung Cancer Support Group – A weekly support groups for patients undergoing treatment for lung cancer and their family members.
  

• Family and Friends -- A support group to assist for those who provide love and support to an adult relative or friend with cancer.
  

• Living Beyond Limits – A support group for women with metastatic or recurrent cancers offering information, support and comfort from others who understand.
  

• Support Groups for patients with breast cancer and DCIS (ductical carcinoma in situ) – Separate support groups for patients with early stage breast cancer and DCIS.
  

• Looking Ahead – Support for individuals with a history of cancer but who are no longer on treatment.
  

Annual “Insights Into Cancer” monthly lecture series on mainstream medical and integrative medicine topics as well as concrete issues affecting patients with cancer.  This lecture series features high level faculty members and is open to the public at no charge.  Lectures are offered on one Tuesday evening per month from 7:00-9:00 pm in the RPB Auditorium in the Jules Stein Plaza at UCLA.

Access to Educational Materials

• Extensive on-site educational materials as well as on-line resources, including streaming video of Insights Into Cancer
  

• Education based newsletter covering mainstream medical, psychological and integrative topics  
  

Reflections Boutique – A boutique to assist patients with the physical appearance changes brought about by cancer including items such as hats, wigs, scarves, mastectomy bras, breast prostheses and lymphedema garments.  Reflections also carrys a wide range of high-quality physician-selected nutraceuticals of particular interest to people with cancer. 

The following is a list of some of the professional education programs that we offer in integrative medicine. 

Internships for Mental Health Professionals (Applications accepted in Spring)

• 2nd year MSW students (24 hours per week)
• Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology students (15 Hours per week)
• Post-Doctoral Fellows
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Trainings for Professionals -- In house trainings for nurses, physicians, residents, fellows or mental health practitioners and interns

• Compassionate End of Life Care (2 CME nurses)
• Bi-monthly Case Conferences:  Care of the patient and family with cancer
• Caring for the “Whole Person” with Cancer
  • Oncology Fellows
  • Family Medicine Residents
  • Nursing Staff



Medical Student Training

• Elective Rotation for 4th year medical students wanting to experience integrative oncology provided in collaboration with the Stiles Program in Integrative Oncology at UCLA another CCIM.

Current Research 

We collaborate with faculty from psychology, oncology, other CCIM programs such as the Stiles Integrative Oncology Program and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

• The Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Medicine (formerly the Ted Mann Family Resource Center) has served the UCLA community of oncology physicians and patients since 1994.
  

• In fiscal year 05/06 a survey was conducted and found that 100% of UCLA’s oncology physicians and nurses rated our services (crisis counseling, assessment and interventions, individual/family counseling and assistance with concrete needs) as “very important” or “important.” Respondents also supported the need for additional integrative oncology services. ?/LI>

• In fiscal year 05/06 our outcome evaluations from patients found that the Center received a top rating of 9.65 on a scale of 1-10.  This is consistent with previous years.  All patients indicated that they would recommend the Center to others and the following comment by one patient reflects a consensus about the Center, “I think it is a core essential and absolutely necessary part of patient care, just as important as the clinical aspects of treatment.”
  

• In fiscal year 05/06 our outcome evaluations of individual counseling, family counseling and support groups were 4.7, 4.7, and 4.8 on a scale of 1-5 with five representing outstanding.  This is consistent with previous years and is reflected in the comments made by patients and family who have used the program:

“ Therapists at [the Center] been remarkable in helping me to cope, to grow and to live a happier life. Very professional and skilled at their jobs, very caring. I appreciate so much all I have been able to find at this wonderful place.” 

“In a time when most medical care can be reduced to highly technical details, the patients and family can become confused, isolated and objectified. The Center provides a nourishing and reassuring atmosphere that we have not lost our humanity because we have become ill. “ 

“Over the last year and a third we've received a great amount of support from the Center. The emotional and psychological assistance has been the most useful way to cope with this unbelievable occurrence.” 

• In fiscal year 05/06 we expanded services to include an integrative medicine physician to provided education and guidance to patients.  Integrative medicine was identified as important by more than 50% of the patients in our survey to assess the need for integrative oncology services. The service has been well received by patients and oncology providers as is reflected in these comments:
  

            “The whole tone of the consultation made me feel as if I really would be able to be a partner in my healing which I intend to be.  Plus, I never knew how much protein I was supposed to be eating.” 


            “To meet with a physician knowledgeable about the cancer and nutrition was for me wonderful.  This was exactly what I have been looking or since I was diagnosed.” 

• The Center offers robust training programs for MSW, PhD, and MD students as well as post doctoral fellows, nurses, physicians, and other students.  The training program is highly rated by those who have participated and as summarized by one intern, “Very educational experience.  I feel that I was able to learn as much as I did, in such an intense atmosphere, mostly due to the expertise, time and help provided by staff.”
  

• Host for the Integrative Oncology Interest Group sponsored by the Clinical Working Group of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers of Integrative Medicine (the national organization of 32 medical schools with integrative medicine programs).  This allows professionals from around the country to talk to each other on a monthly basis and exchange information and ideas in the practice of integrative oncology.
  

• Women Fight Cancer Through Art:  Beyond Words and Time Exhibit in conjunction with the MOCA exhibition:  “Wack! Art and the Feminist Revolution” Co-sponsored by the Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology and the New Center for Psychoanalysis.  An exhibit from the Center’s Group, Healing Through Art.
  

• Mary Hardy, MD, Medical Director of the Center and Integrative Medicine Physician has been appointed to the Expert Advisory Committee of the Natural Health Product Directorate of Canada which is a prestigious appointment recognizing her expertise in the safety and use of herbs and dietary supplements.
  

• Anne Coscarelli, PhD received “Distinguished Service to the Profession of Psychology” in 2007 from the Los Angeles County Psychological Association for her ongoing contributions in psychosocial care and as the director of the Center.

The Center is staffed by a range of caring individuals who understand the importance of a patient-centered approach to care.  Some of the disciplines represented in the center include clinical and health psychology, internal medicine, preventive medicine, oncology social work, mind/body medicine, art therapy, holistic healing, QiGong, individual, couples and family therapy, bereavement, complementary medicine and the psychology of women.

Anne Coscarelli, Ph.D.

Director Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Medicine

Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology,  Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine

Clinical Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology UCLA also a  licensed psychologist

Mary L. Hardy, M.D.

Medical Director Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Medicine

Associate Physician Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of  Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine also a licensed physician Board  Certified in Internal Medicine 

Kauser Ahmed, PhD, licensed psychologist

Anne Coscarelli, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine

Clinical Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology UCLA also a licensed psychologist

Suzanne Bragg Levanas, LCSW, oncology social worker

Thomas J. Pier, LCSW, oncology social worker

Ines Santiago, LCSW, oncology social worker

Karen Duvall, M.D.

Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine

Associate Director of the Preventive Medicine Residency Program at the David  Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Mary L. Hardy, M.D.

J. Kathryn dePlanque, PhD, facilitator of meditation group

Halina Irving, MA, MS, MFT, facilitator of survivors group

Esther Dreifuss-Kattan, PhD, ATR facilitator art therapy group

M. Celeste Torrens, LCSW, facilitator of group for women with metastatic cancer

Tang Wei-Zhong, teacher of QiGong

Jeffrey Tirengel, PsyD, psychologist and facilitator for husbands group 

Marcia Britvan, MBA, Administrator

Miguel Saldivar, BA, Administrative Assistant

The Simms/Mann Family Foundation has a long history of substantial philanthropic support to the Center.  They continue to be committed to providing significant operating support for many of our programs and services.  While we greatly appreciate the funding that we receive from the Simms/Mann Family Foundation, due to the high volume of patients and family members touched by cancer and the extraordinary demand for our services, we need additional private donations of all kinds to continue our wide range of programs.

Voluntary donations are essential for our day-to-day operations. Almost all of our programs are offered to individuals without fees with the exception of the Reflections Boutique and the educational programs offered by Drs. Mary Hardy and Karen Duvall which are fee for service.

We depend on the generosity of others and we encourage individuals to make a financial contribution that is tax deductible to the maximum extent allowable by law. 

For information on how to support the Center please contact the administrator, Marcia Britvan at 310 794-6644 or by writing to SimmsMannCenter.mednet.ucla.edu

The Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology has a primary location on the Westwood campus at UCLA.  However, in addition, many of our programs are offered in satellite community oncology offices in Los Angeles County including the Santa Monica office and soon to be Pasadena.  Please contact our main center for information about specific programs offered in different locations. 

200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 502
Los Angeles, CA 90095-6934
310 794-6644
310 794-9615 fax
www.SimmsMannCenter.ucla.edu
email SimmsMannCenter.mednet.ucla.edu 

Open Monday – Friday 9:00 – 5:00 closed all University Holidays