Seeking proof
Since the Zakim Center opened at Dana-Farber in November 2000, its staff members have been working to promote greater understanding of the advantages of complementary therapies. Led by Medical Director David Rosenthal, MD, Administrative Director Cynthia Medeiros, LICSW, and Project Coordinator Anne Doherty, they are taking a three-tiered approach of education, clinical services, and research.
David Rosenthal, MD
Patients from DFCI, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Children's Hospital Boston who visit the center are interviewed on how its offerings might work with their existing plan of conventional treatment such as radiation and chemotherapy. Workshops and an annual "complementary therapy fair" offer opportunities to try the latest techniques in relaxed settings. And with the help of a research committee composed of oncologists, nurses, psychosocial staff, biostatisticians, and dietitians, the center conducts clinical trials to ensure that patients receive the most effective and safest care possible — and that the medical world gets some of the scientific proof it seeks.
"There is no question we must teach people about complementary therapies and how they differ from alternative treatments and so-called 'quick cures' for cancer, but we also need to make sure physicians understand these differences," says Rosenthal, a past president of the American Cancer Society who currently chairs its Complementary and Alternative Medicine Committee. "The NIH, for instance, has come out in support of acupuncture as a means of reducing nausea caused by chemotherapy, reducing pain, and improving well-being, but many physicians don't know this. As crucial as it is to get clinical programs up and running, maintain a high quality of care, and promote research, part of our role at Dana-Farber must also be to further understanding and acceptance of these therapies."
- Next: A fitting legacy
- Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
