 | Yoga Therapy
In-Patient Services
The Center can also help design and host Professional Meetings and One-Day Retreats.
Primary Care: Family Practice and Children’s Health Services
Primary care focuses on optimizing health, preventing illness and treating acute and chronic conditions. An integrative perspective emphasizes all aspects of an individual’s life, including family and community. A holistic approach includes diet, exercise, stress reduction, self-care and spiritual renewal. The doctor or other primary care practitioner becomes a partner in supporting their patients toward an optimal balance of mind, body and spirit.
Family Medicine Physicians and Nurse Practitioners offer primary care at the Center for adults, infants, children and adolescents. Well-child care includes evaluating your child’s growth and development, physical health, and emotional well-being, keeping in mind the impact that social and environmental influences have on your child’s health. Integrative Family Medicine incorporates nutrition, massage, aromatherapy and other natural therapies for symptom relief and immune system support. Other Center services such as acupuncture and homeopathy may be recommended to support you or your child’s overall health.
Click here to make an appointment with a Center primary care practitioner:Benjamin Kligler, MD, CAc; Sapna Chaudhary, DO, CAc; Pamela Hops, MD, CAc; Rachel Nechemia, FNP.
Integrative Internal Medicine Care for Adults
Our Integrative Internal Medicine practice is a primary care approach that focuses on optimizing health, preventing illness and promoting wellness. This approach is patient-centered and based on maximizing a relationship of partnership and trust between the doctor and patient. The simplest, safest and most cost effective approaches are used starting with lifestyle management (diet, nutrition, physical activity and stress management) as the cornerstone of wellness. In addition, other health practices are available to support a healing response, including expertise in the use of botanicals and supplements and mind/body practices such as stress reduction, hypnosis, and progressive relaxation.
Dr. Martin Ehrlich, Dr. Roberta Lee and Dr. Pamela Yee are also able to use an approach known as Functional Medicine. Functional medicine is an integrative whole person approach that uses biochemical assessment to shed light on subtle triggers of chronic diseases in areas that are normally overlooked in a conventional medical assessment. For instance, functional medicine can identify and characterize the negative health impact from poor gastrointestinal health, excessive environmental exposure to toxins, subtle allergic reactions and extreme nutritional depletion. The information from this assessment is particularly useful in maximizing a successful outcome in complex medical problems such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, perimenopausal syndrome and more.
Click here to make an appointment with Martin Ehrlich MD, MPH, CAc, Roberta Lee, MD, or Pamela Yee, MD.
Integrative Gynecology & Women’s Health Services
All women, from early adolescence to later adulthood, seek health care that addresses their complex health needs. Our women’s health services are comprehensive and holistic, complementing our primary care services by focusing on women’s reproductive health and well-being. Services include sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy, fertility, and peri-and post-menopausal health.
Integrative gynecological care is a blend of conventional gynecological treatments and other expanded clinically proven healing approaches. Each treatment program is designed for the individual needs of the patient. This holistic orientation to gynecological care combines lifestyle management (nutrition, exercise, stress management skills), western herbs, and natural hormones with other therapeutic approaches offered by Center practitioners including acupuncture, homeopathy, integrative nutrition and mind-body medicine.
Click here to make an appointment with Emily Hartzog, MD or Parveen R. Sondhi, MD.
Orthopedic and Sports Rehabilitation
This program offers an integrative approach to the treatment of a myriad of muscle, bone and joint injuries and conditions. Whether it’s an injury which occurred on the athletic field, a herniated disc, or a twisted ankle from stepping off the curb, a rapid diagnosis and appropriate intervention will likely facilitate a quicker recovery. Under the leadership of Robert S. Gotlin, DO and the clinical expertise of Lisa Bartoli, DO the Division of Orthopedic and Sports Rehabilitation has achieved national accolades for orthopedic and sports injury treatment protocol development and implementation. The program utilizes a variety of appropriate and effective treatment approaches including precise physical therapy prescriptions, appropriate personal trainer recommendation, medication prescription, injection, manual therapy, acupuncture and athletic counseling.
Click here to make an appointment with Robert S. Gotlin, DO or Lisa Bartoli, DO.
We FOCUS ON FITNESS
The dynamic team at this facility provides conservative treatment and rehabilitative services for a variety of musculoskeletal ailments. Our treatment goal is to restore optimal function and to reduce activity-limiting pain. Our clients will achieve higher levels of well-being through preventative, restorative and maintenance strategies from our carefully chosen and highly skilled staff of physicians, clinicians and personal trainers.
The Continuum Center for Health & Healing provides a comprehensive continuum of care integrating methodologies such as physical therapy, personal fitness, mind-body therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional guidance. Our team is continuously developing structured and individualized training programs that are scientifically sound and carefully choreographed. Our services include physical therapy, myofascial release, personal fitness training, sports specific training, exercise counseling and youth weight training.
This integrative approach puts We Focus on Fitness on the cutting edge of the rehabilitation industry and serves as a model for such centers nationwide.
We Focus on Fitness is located at 245 Fifth Avenue, 1st floor, at East 28th Street.
Staff:
Robert S. Gotlin, D.O., Program Director
Lisa M. Bartoli, D.O., M.S., Attending Physician
Yvonne Johnson, PT, Program Manager
Joana Cadiz, PT
Phillipe Corbanese, DPT
Cyrian Regalado, MSCP, PT
Jeff Young, Kinesiologist, CSCS, USAW-SPC, Fitness Program Co-ordinator
Hannah-Marie Williams, NSCA-CPT
To make an appointment at the fitness center, call 646 935-2266.
Yvonne Johnson, PT Yvonne is the Manager of Physical Therapy at The Center for Health and Healing. She is a graduate of New York University and has over 19 years of clinical experience. Yvonne has extensive expertise in musculoskeletal and orthopedic assessment and treatment. The majority of her career has been dedicated to the treatment of professional and collegiate athletes and weekend warriors along with the general population. Her approach is a strong, comprehensive mixture of exercise design and manual-based therapies. She believes that the integration of patient specific traditional exercise paradigms with soft issue techniques, like (Myofascial Release), bridges the gap between a good and excellent outcome. She has developed injury-specific therapeutic interventions and has choreographed their adaptation into rehabilitation programs for routine and complex sports-related injuries. Yvonne has been the physical therapist for several of The New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, New York Liberty, The Harlem Wizards and The U.S. Women’s National Rugby Teams.
Joanna Cadiz, PT, OCS
Joanna has been a physical therapist for more than 7 years and for the past three years has been concentrating her practice in the field of sports injuries and orthopedics. She has recently received her board certification as a specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy by the The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She enjoys working with this population because the challenges allow for relatively quick progress and return to function. Joanna combines her love of working with people with her dynamic hands-on manual skills to promote optimal healing. Committed to enhancing her skills as a manual physical therapist, she has taken numerous continuing education courses on Myofascial Release, trigger point therapy, and spine mobilization using Maitland techniques.
Philippe Corbanese, DPT
Philippe received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Touro College over four years ago. Philippe began his career at Beth Israel as a volunteer in the physical therapy department. His love of working with people and learning all he could to improve a patient’s quality of life led him to his current position at We Focus on Fitness. Although he has a vast knowledge in treating patients with various diagnoses, his concentration is in orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries. He continues to increase his skill set on a regular basis through continuing education courses in Myofascial Release and joint mobilizations using the Maitland techniques. His natural ability to motivate combined with his excellent manual skills and exercise science are key to promoting optimum function and returning patients to the activities they love.
Cyrian Regalado, PT, MCSP, PTRP
Cyrian came to Focus on Fitness with more than twelve years experience as a physical therapist both in the United Kingdom and in the Philippines. After graduating in the Philippines with a BS in Physical Therapy, Cyrian moved to London to work for one of the biggest private healthcare providers in the UK working alongside leading consultants and doctors in the South East, Kent. He gained valuable experience in orthopaedics, musculoskeletal, post-operative care, manual therapy, vestibular rehabilitation and chest physical therapy. Cyrian is a highly motivated, professional and dedicated licensed physical therapist with a special interest in sports injury rehabilitation.
Jeff Young, Kinesiologist, CSCS, USAW-SPC, Fitness Program Co-ordinator
Jeff is a medically trained Kinesiologist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He assisted in the creation and opening of We Focus on Fitness and served as Fitness Program Co-ordinator from 2006-2010. Jeff has worked as a Fitness Educator for UCLA Medical Center’s Gonda Diabetes Institute; Fitness Director at Westwood Physical Therapy; trained the Commissioner of Public Health for Los Angeles County as well as his son; and served as a Guest Lecturer for Sport and Rehabilitation students at two local colleges.
Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge and over 15 years of experience, having worked not only for Beth Israel (the Center for Health and Healing and Friedman Diabetes Institute) and UCLA Medical Centers, but Duke University Medical Center and the Center for Sports Medicine at Penn State University as well. His experience in medical fitness includes creating safe and successful programs for individuals with a wide variety of musculo-skeletal issues as well as individuals in various stages of disease. In addition Jeff has lectured and performed workshops in medical, academic, and corporate settings, and at over 15 health clubs in New York and Los Angeles. He takes a safe, progressive, evidence-based, comprehensive approach to fitness. The programs designed address muscle imbalances, posture and flexibility issues, and joint dysfunction to improve movement, function, and quality of life. Jeff also works directly with other healthcare providers in designing each client’s fitness program.
Hannah-Marie Williams, NSCA-CPT
From an early age, Hannah developed a passion for sports and physical activity with a desire to know how everything worked. After 17 years of competition in several organized sports, she suffered an injury that led to a major in Sports Medicine at the University of Virginia. Upon graduating with her BS in Sports Medicine, Hannah served as an assistant athletic trainer at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. After a year and half of personal training, licensed by the NSCA, Hannah left the commercial setting to develop a Sports Medicine and Exercise component at one of the premiere physical therapy practices in the Bronx. The programs there included group exercise classes, land and pool treadmill cardiac rehab sessions, offerings for patients with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and return to play programs for an array of common athletic injuries in area youth. Hannah is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Exercise Science and is studying for her certification exam through the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.
Click here for fitness tips from We Focus on Fitness
Integrative Ear, Nose and Throat medicine (ENT)
Specializing in integrative approaches to ENT illness in adults and children, Dr. Sezelle Gereau Haddon perceives herself as a partner to patients with acute and chronic ear, nose and throat ailments. Many ear, nose and throat disorders are amenable to treatment and cure without necessarily reverting to conventional western medical treatment or surgery. Dr. Gereau Haddon is committed to helping her patients understand their illnesses, get to the root of the problem, and find a treatment plan that fits their lifestyle and needs. Treatment includes dietary interventions, herbal treatments and supplements, homeopathy, manual approaches such as acupuncture and craniosacral therapy, mind-body interventions including meditation and healing visualization, and holistic approaches to surgery.
Click here to make an appointment with Sezelle Gereau Haddon, MD.
Integrative, Functional, & Holistic Nutrition
Personalized nutrition services address primary prevention and underlying causes of illness rather than symptom management. Nutritional assessment is focused on biochemical individuality, personalized nutrigenomics (the interaction between diet and genes), dynamic balance (of all body systems), promotion of organ reserves and health as positive vitality and quality of life.
Both conventional and alternative approaches will be used in nutrition therapy to address health and illness and the human capacity for healing. A collaborative approach will be used to determine which nutritional therapies will be utilized to address both short and long term maintenance and therapeutic goals. Decision making will be guided by science and strength of the evidence, and should be shared with the primary physician prior to implementation.
Diet modifications, dietary supplements, medicinal foods, functional foods, therapeutic teas, herbal extracts, culinary spices, edible flowers, and essential oils may all be utilized. Biochemical monitoring, body composition analysis, and metabolism assessment are unique tools that can guide the delivery and management of Integrative, Functional, & Holistic Nutrition services.
Click here to make an appointment with Mary Beth Augustine, RD, CDN.
Holistic Psychotherapy/Stress Management and Wellness Services
The Center offers a humanistic, comprehensive treatment approach to emotional and physical health and well-being. Our program uses evidence-based practices (scientifically proven) which are customized to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual. The objective is to help you feel better faster by giving you tools you can use in your everyday life.
Approaches include group, couples and individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, short-term counseling, stress management/skills training, wellness and mind-body techniques including relaxation, breathwork, autogenic relaxation training, guided imagery and meditative techniques.
These approaches can provide help for depression, anxiety, psychological distress, coping with a chronic illness, stress management, work-personal life balance, wellness counseling, loss and bereavement, life transitions including pregnancy, child-rearing and retirement, and social phobias.
Click here to make an appointment with Caroline L. Werner, JD, LMSW, SWC(c).
Acupuncture & East Asian Medical Care
Acupuncture and traditional East Asian medicine strategies are used to treat acute infectious illness such as colds, fever, flu, bronchitis, and sinusitis; chronic conditions including digestive, respiratory, cardiac, dermatological, gynecological, urinary and musculoskeletal problems; as well as any condition involving pain. Approaches include Classical Chinese & Japanese medicine as well as techniques like Gua Sha, Allergy and Aversion Elimination, Herbal Medicine and Nutrition. Treatment incorporates practice from traditional classical knowledge as well as modern evidence-based research.
Click here to make an appointment with Arya Nielsen, PhD or Basia Kielczynska, MS, LAc.
Homeopathy
Alexandra Riccio, PhD, FNP
Dr. Riccio uses both conventional medicine and homeopathy to address and treat all illnesses on the mental, emotional, and physical levels. She has successfully treated clients with ADD, allergies, asthma, autism, GI disturbances, urinary tract infections, migraines, skin ailments, emotional problems, hormonal imbalances, psychological issues (anxiety, depression, OCD), pain, and acute illnesses (viral and bacterial infections). Dr. Riccio welcomes anyone to her practice and encourages parents to participate in the healing and wellness of their children. Treating the entire family truly helps to paint the clearest and most descriptive picture of the health imbalances of an individual. Dr. Riccio also integrates nutritional/diet counseling, stress reduction guidance, and life style management
Call 646-935-2257 to make an appointment with Alexandra Riccio, PhD, FNP who will be available for Saturday appointments once or twice a month.
Mind-Body Services
Aurora Ocampo, Clinical Nurse Specialist, heads the mind-body program at the Center. Ms. Ocampo’s clinical approach includes the practice of biofeedback, essential oil therapy, guided imagery, therapeutic touch, reiki, craniosacral therapy, and hypnotherapy. These therapies are part of the treatment regimen for a wide variety of health conditions and help people learn simple mind-body relaxation skills to enhance coping and stress management.
Ms. Ocampo is the Director of the Center’s Holistic Care Program for Patients considering surgery. This program was designed to reduce pre-surgical stress in order to promote a better surgical outcome. Patients who have gone through the program reported they have less pain and discomfort and some have even said that they went home earlier than predicted by their physicians.
Ms. Ocampo also offers programs to train nurses, physicians and the community on complementary therapies. She strongly believes that these healing techniques strengthen the body’s innate capacity to heal and thus enhance the body’s response to treatment.
Click here to make an appointment with Aurora Ocampo, RN, CS.
Integrative Therapies
Expanded therapeutic approaches are integrated into the health care services at the Center. While not all of the following modalities are currently offered at the Center, we think it is helpful to understand the range of therapies that comprise the integrative approach.
Click on any of the therapeutic approaches below to learn more about the history and practice of each approach. To learn about other therapeutic approaches not yet offered at the Center, please visit the Complementary and Alternative Therapies section of our web site.
General
Acupuncture
Acupressure/Shiatsu
Alexander Technique
Aromatherapy
Art Therapy
Biofeedback
Chiropractic
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cranial Therapy
Dance Therapy
Exercise
Feldenkrais Method
Herbal Medicine
Homeopathy
Hypnosis
Imagery
Massage Therapy
Meditation/Relaxation
Music Therapy
Nutrition/Supplementation
Osteopathic Medicine
Prayer
Qigong
Reiki
Rolfing
Tai Chi
TENS
Therapeutic Touch
Trager Approach
Yoga
Click here to make an appointment with a Center health care practitioner.
Traditional & Indigenous Healing Systems
Over thousands of years a variety of healing systems were developed by indigenous cultures around the world. These are complete systems of medicine in their own right and are still used today as the principle form of medical care in a great portion of the world. The Center is committed to learning from and integrating these healing systems into our health care practice in order to create a more complete approach to the understanding of health, wellness and healing.
The following traditional and indigenous healing systems are currently offered at the Center. Click on any of the systems to learn more about the history and practice of the healing approach. To learn about other healing systems not yet offered at the Center, please visit the Traditional & Indigenous Healing Systems section of our web site.
Ayurveda
East Asian Medicine
Kampo
Native American Medicine
Tibetan Medicine
Click here to make an appointment with a Center traditional and indigenous health care practitioner.
Welcome to New Center Staff
Special Clinical Programs
Holistic Fertility Care
The East Asian Medicine Division and other providers at the Center have joined together to provide holistic care for women seeking fertility support. For women who have already chosen to support their fertility through holistic treatments, this program has been designed to provide a well-balanced, natural approach to conception. Women who choose assisted reproductive technology can also benefit through natural approaches known to improve the outcomes of assisted reproduction, such as acupuncture before in-vitro fertilization. This approach supplements women’s gynecological care with fertility awareness training, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional consultation, and other services such as stress management and Ericksonian hypnotherapy.
Basia Kielczynska, MS, LAc, acupuncturist, Aurora Ocampo RN, stress management specialist, and MaryBeth Augustine RD, dietitian/nutritionist, coordinate the program and make referrals to other providers at the Center and in the community. The team works closely with Ilene Richman of the Fertility Awareness Center in Manhattan (www.fertaware.com). Practitioners address issues related to fertility that are often overlooked, such as structural imbalances, imbalances related to stress, diet and lifestyle or the environmental challenges. Click here to make an appointment with Basia Kielczynska, LAc, Aurora Ocampo, RN or MaryBeth Augustine, RD.
Rejuvenate and Power Up: a special offer from the Center
Many people experience sleep difficulties during times of stress. This can impact your health physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The Center has created a special offer: a “Sleep Package” comprised of clinically-proven healing approaches and lifestyle interventions. Working with our acupuncturist, nutritionist, mind-body therapist and homeopath in this carefully tailored program can help you regain the resilience, peace of mind and refreshed perspective to face the challenges of the times.
Click here for details on the Sleep Package.
THE NATURAL APOTHECARY AT THE CENTER FOR CENTER FOR HEALTH AND HEALING
We are happy to announce the opening of the Center for health and Healing’s Online Natural Apothecary at http://www.thenaturalapothecary.org
Working together with an experienced pharmacist we have chosen a range of products and brands that we recommend and believe offer quality and value.
These products are generally safe when used as directed. However, all supplements and botanical medicines should be discussed with your health care provider, especially if you have serious medical conditions, are using prescribed medication, are pregnant or are secheduled to have surgery.
Any profit made from the sale of these supplements will support the mission of The Center for health and Healing, quality patient care, education and research in Integrative Medicine.
You can call in an order at 800 628-0276 or order online.
TRAVEL CLINIC NOW AT CCHH
The Center for Health and Healing is proud to announce that we now have a Travel Clinic to address all your travel health needs. We offer complete travel health consultations including all necessary immunizations and preventative care. As well, we are a certified Yellow Fever Vaccination Center.
As in our practice, our approach will be integrative and will include routine medical advice with more holistic solutions to common problems and prevention of travel related illnesses.
We recommend that, if possible, you make an appointment for your travel visit at least 4-6 weeks prior to departure to maximize the effectiveness of any immunizations you may need.
For further information on any vaccinations you may need for the area you will be traveling to, please consult www.mdtravelhealth.com.
Call CCHH at 646-935-2257 to make an appointment for your travel visit.
Yoga Therapy
Yoga is an ancient physical and spiritual discipline and philosophy that originated in India. The word yoga come from the Sanskrit root “Yuj” which means to yoke, join or unite. The integration of all aspects of an individual holistically can result in therapeutic benefits. Yoga therapy helps patients to connect movement, breath and a positive intention. It has been proven that this mind-body integration can be vital to the healing process.
Take a break from or begin your workday with a strengthening and focusing journey. Enhance clarity and creative thinking, increase productivity and maximize the quality of your health.
Programs are customized to meet specific needs and include:
-Private sessions at all levels including basics
-Prenatal
-Therapeutic / Restorative Yoga to target relief of pain, anxiety, circulatory and metabolic challenges
-Breath Awareness
-Meditation
Jillian Friedman, RYT is Supervisor of the Yoga Therapy program at Beth Israel Medical Center. She is an Advance Board Certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher with additional certifications in prenatal yoga and Urban Zen’s Integrative Yoga Therapy. Her training includes yoga, reiki, aromatherapy and meditation/breath awareness techniques. Jillian incorporates an intuitive and holistic approach and deepening awareness of the senses into her work with patients to inspire and create balance from within.
Jillian was born in New York City. She holds a B.A. in French and Business from the University of Vermont and has worked for twenty years in fragrance development.
To schedule and appointment please contact Jillian at jillian@jillianfriedman.com or 917 482 9611.
In-Patient Services
•Acupuncture Services
In addition to the outpatient acupuncture services offered at the CCHH, acupuncture services are available for inpatients and for the hospital-based rehabilitative care of outpatients in select departments at Beth Israel. These new services are provided free of charge by licensed acupuncturists through the Acupuncture Fellowship Program, directed by Dr. Arya Nielsen, senior acupuncturist at the CCHH. Acupuncture has been studied in the US, Europe and Asia and has demonstrated therapeutic value pre-and-post surgery, in obstetrics and gynecology, rehabilitation medicine, pulmonary and cardiac care, otolaryngology, emergency medicine, and other medical specialties.
Acupuncturists have assigned shifts on several units throughout the hospital and acupuncture consults are available to all patients with physician approval on a first-come, first-served basis. To arrange acupuncture services for patients already in the hospital, call (646) 935-2248. Please be aware that while we will do our best to accommodate treatment requests, they cannot be guaranteed.
•Holistic Nursing: Preparing for Surgery
This program was designed to support patients through the surgical experience. Aurora Ocampo, MA, RN, CS, the Clinical Nurse Specialist who directs this program, is an experienced nurse clinician with certification in biofeedback, therapeutic touch, clinical imagery, aromatherapy, Reiki and clinical hypnotherapy.
This program helps patients reduce stress before and after surgery using self-healing tools, including Centering and Grounding, Aromatherapy, Guided Imagery, Biofeedback, and Energy Healing (Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, Healing Touch).Demonstrated benefits include: reduced anxiety, reduced post-operative discomfort and pain, reduced length of hospital stay, faster healing time, and improved coping skills.
The Preparing for Surgery Program is tailored to different lifestyles and offered in three formats: Group, Private, and Online.
This group educational program is provided to patients free of charge. To register for the program, contact Aurora Ocampo at (212) 420-2496.
Private sessions are available by appointment on a fee-for-service basis. To set up an appointment call (646) 935-2265
The Preparing for Surgery program is also available at no cost online thanks to a donation from the Balm Foundation: www.preparingforyoursurgery.org
•Integrative Yoga Therapy Program
The Integrative Yoga Therapy Program at Beth Israel Medical Center is offered through the Department of Integrative Medicine. In this program, highly skilled integrative yoga therapists are available to provide bedside care to patients and to provide support for family members, care providers, and hospital staff. Individual and group sessions are tailored to meet the needs and abilities of each individual patient. These sessions focus on movement, restorative postures, meditation practices and breath awareness techniques and are designed to promote relaxation and healing. Therapists with additional certification may also utilize modalities such as reiki and aromatherapy.
The goal of the Integrative Yoga Therapy Program is to help patients relieve symptoms of “PANIC” (pain, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and constipation), and to develop an awareness of their breathing and own internal healing mechanisms. The belief is that movement and mind-body integrative is vital to the healing process.
This program is currently available to Oncology and General Surgery patients. The program will be expanding to other departments in the future. Integrative Yoga Therapy was first introduced at Beth Israel through a grant from the Urban Zen Foundation, and was met with such success that it has now become incorporated as a service of the Department of Integrative Medicine.
•Reiki and Energy Therapies
Energy Therapies such as Reiki, Healing Touch, and Therapeutic Touch, enhance wellness by gently encouraging balance throughout the entire system: body, mind, and spirit. Energy Therapy sessions can reduce stress and anxiety, lessen pain, and promote coping and faster recovery. This service is offered at Beth Israel through the Department of Integrative Medicine as a service of The Beth Israel Healing Touch Volunteer Program to patients in the general surgery and oncology floors. While the availability of treatments is currently limited, we hope to expand it in the future.
•Contemplative Care Program: Buddhist Chaplains & Contemplative Care Volunteers
In partnership with Beth Israel Medical Center’s Departments of Integrative Medicine and Pastoral Care, the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care (www.zencare.org) provides Buddhist Chaplains and Contemplative Care Volunteer services to patients, families and staff of any faith tradition or spiritual background throughout the Medical Center. The goal of contemplative care is to meet the needs of the whole person: their concerns, their feelings and beliefs, and what touches and inspires them.
They offer:
•Chaplains and trained Contemplative Care Volunteers to meet with patients
•Contemplative Compassionate Care at the bedside
•Guided and silent meditation instruction for individuals, families and staff
•Rituals for important moments
While in the Medical Center, if you or someone you care for would like to meet with a Buddhist Chaplain or Contemplative Care Volunteer, please contact the Pastoral Care Department at (212) 420-2759.
To view the PBS video from the program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly click here:
http://www.tricycle.com/community/compassion-action
•Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Initiative
In 2008, The Continuum Center for Health and Healing and Beth Israel’s Department of Integrative Medicine received a generous grant from the Urban Zen Foundation, a program launched and sponsored by internationally acclaimed fashion designer Donna Karan. Under the leadership of Dr. Woodson Merrell, Chairman of the Department of Integrative Medicine and M. Anthony Fisher Director of Integrative Medicine at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing, this initiative at Beth Israel helped to transform 9 Dazian, the medical oncology unit, into an “Optimal Healing Environment.”
The Urban Zen grant covered feng shui-inspired physical renovations, yoga therapy, holistic nursing training, a patient navigator to help guide patients through the often complex process of cancer care, and a research study to determine clinical- and cost- effectiveness, which is important in establishing this as a replicable model for cancer care.
After the completion of this successful pilot program, the Department of Integrative Medicine continues to collaborate with Urban Zen’s Integrative Therapy Training Program in furthering our common mission of bringing Integrative Therapies such as Therapeutic Yoga, Reiki, and Aromatherapy into the hospital setting.
For more information on this project please visit the Urban Zen website at http://www.urbanzen.org
To view a wonderful video on Urban Zen at Beth Israel click here http://www.cancerconsultants.com/video-center
To learn about the Urban Zen Navigating Cancer event on Wed October 5, 2011 click here
http://www.urbanzen.org/events/food-solutions-2011-gateway-healing-navigating-cancer
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Content last modified on Jan 5, 2012
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in restoring health. At the Continuum Center for Health and Healing we stand at the forefront of this evolution in healthcare — helping to develop a new type of medicine that combines the best of conventional medicine, traditional indigenous medicine and expanded healing approaches. We find patients benefit most when working in partnership with their health care provider — we value our patients’ experience and voice.