- Program Dates: April 19-24, 2012
Application submission deadline extended! January 31, 2012
Hallowood Retreat & Conference Center, Comus, Maryland
Smith Center's Groundbreaking Training in Integrative Cancer Care
Our training is a unique blend of didactic and experiential sessions that provide a comprehensive yet deep learning experience in the practice of integrative cancer care navigation. The goal of our training is to provide each participant with the knowledge, resources and tools to establish an integrative navigation practice that offers each client individualized, holistic support throughout the entire cancer experience, from screening and diagnosis through treatment, recovery, survivorship, and end-of-life.
Our training is modeled after Smith Center’s signature Cancer Help Program Retreats. It is offered in a retreat setting, to encourage full immersion in the curriculum, away from everyday distractions. We require that each participant stay on-site at the retreat center for the duration of the training. We purposefully limit the size of the class to allow for individualized attention with an average student/faculty ratio of 2:1, and to facilitate close interaction with fellow participants, which enhances the learning experience and fosters additional support for the individual navigator.
Finally, we offer on-going support following the training that is shaped by the needs of the participants, via regular teleconferencing and list serves.
"Great education, exposure, discussion and experiential learning." -Previous Participant
Course Topics and Experiential Sessions Include:
Client Assessment, Stress Reduction Techniques, Survivorship Issues, The Art of Healing, Spiritual Support, Nutrition, Oncology 101, Yoga, Client Resources, Education and Outreach in Navigation, Planning Your Integrative Practice, and Communication Skills.
Each day offers time for questions and group discussion, and there is ample opportunity to practice learned skills and seek individual assistance.
“The integrative part of the training was incredibly useful. It covered what other patient navigation models don’t.”
– Previous Participant
A Typical Day of Training
7:30am: Yoga - 8:30am: Breakfast
- 9:30am: Didactic Session
- 10:30am: Break
- 10:45am: Didactic Session
- 11:45am: Movement Break
- 12pm: Lunch
- 1pm: Free Time
- 1:30pm: Didactic Session
- 2:30pm: Break
- 2:45pm: Didactic/Skill Practice Session
- 4:45pm: Questions and Answers
- 5:15pm: Free Time
- 6pm: Dinner
- 7pm: Experiential Session in Integrative Care
- 9pm: Sessions End
Our Faculty
The navigation training is co-led by:
Carole O’Toole, MS, Training Facilitator, is Director of Smith Center’s hospital and community-based patient navigation programs, and was instrumental in the development of their integrative navigation model. She was trained as a Cancer Guide through the Center for Mind Body Medicine, founded a private cancer coaching practice, and served as a navigator at a Washington, DC area hospital. Ms. O’Toole has been involved with cancer navigation for 15 years, is the author of two books on integrative cancer care, and has chaired the DC Cancer Consortium Workgroup on Patient Navigation Training and Education.
Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS, Training Facilitator, is an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and head chef for Smith Center retreats. Ms. Pole is also a consultant in palliative care for the Roanoke Valley End of Life Care partnership, nurse educator for the Virginia Association of Hospices, and past president of the Southwest Virginia Pain Initiative. She was trained as a Cancer Guide. Ms. Pole has had numerous faculty and Board appointments, and is the recipient of an Outstanding Nurses of America award.
Together, Ms. O’Toole and Ms. Pole bring more than 40 years of experience in navigation, integrative cancer care, clinical training and teaching expertise to this training. A faculty comprised of seasoned integrative practitioners, cancer coaches, cancer survivors, distinguished physicians, clinical health professionals, and national leaders in cancer care joins them.
Confirmed 2012 Faculty Includes:
- Kavita Avula, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Ted Billings, LCSW, Psychotherapist
- Greg Finch, DMin, MDiv, MTS, BEd: Executive Director, Community of Reconciliation, Washington National Cathedral
- Hunter Groninger, MD, Staff Clinician, Pain and Paliative Care Service, National Institute of Health
- David McGinness, LCSW, Hispanic Program Coordinator, Life With Cancer
- Kimberly Sevilla, BRA, RYT, AHFP, Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor
“This training was meticulously organized—top-notch leaders, presenters, and participants. In addition to giving us outstanding guidance and a wealth of knowledge, you have fostered ongoing supportive relationships that will help us both personally and with those we ultimately serve.”
– Previous Participant
Continuing Education Credits:
This program will be co-provided by Smith Center and Capital Caring.
Capital Caring is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Virginia Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses' Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Nursing Contact Hours will be awarded to those who complete the requirements of this training, which includes attendance throughout the entire event. This year’s training has been expanded from last year’s training, in which over 42 contact hours were awarded to participants.
Smith Center is a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Approved Continuing Education Provider (#6327) and may offer NBCC approved clock hours for events and programs that meet NBCC requirements. Smith Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
Smith Center for Healing and the Arts is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
Our Training Facility
Our training is offered at Hallowood Retreat and Conference Center (see www.hallowood.org), a modern, well-designed and comfortable retreat house located on 55 acres in rural Maryland, approximately 35 miles from Washington DC and 50 miles from Baltimore. Hallowood is the site of Smith Center’s signature Cancer Help Program weeklong retreats. The property includes a lake, walking labyrinth, and hiking trails.
Who Should Attend
There are two general categories of candidates for our training:
Licensed or License-Pending Professionals: Includes health care and/or mental health professionals, such as physicians, nurses, social workers, psychotherapists, and integrative healthcare professionals.
Non-licensed Individuals: Includes both new and experienced navigators.
Note: All non-licensed individuals are required to attend the Pre-Training Session on Oncology 101. This session will be offered on Thursday, April 19, from 1:30-3pm. All training participants will join us following this session at 4pm to begin the formal training program.
The Oncology 101 course is optional for all others, but highly recommended. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Cost
The registration fee for the five-night, six-day training is as follows:
- Licensed or Licensed Pending Professionals: $1,600
- Non-licensed Individuals: $1,200
The registration fee includes all training materials, faculty fees, continuing education credits, and resources for your practice (books, educational literature, reference manuals, DVDs, and CDs).
Accommodation costs and all meals: $750 for shared room; $850 for private room (a limited number of private rooms are available). All rooms have private baths. Healthy, whole foods meals are prepared on-site at Hallowood, under the direction of our Cancer Help Program chef.
Please be aware that the actual cost to provide the training is $4,800 per person. Everyone’s attendance is subsidized through grants and contributions.
Application and Registration Process
The application is a two-step process. An application form must be completed and submitted to Smith Center by January 10, 2012. This is followed by a telephone interview.
We are looking for candidates who will take the information and skills learned at the training and either apply them to their existing navigation program, expanding their practice to offer holistic care, or establish a new integrative navigation practice in their community.
Space is limited in this program to 20 attendees. We generally receive more applications than we can accommodate. We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
We will be conducting our telephone interviews as we receive applications.
Notification of Acceptance: You will be notified of your acceptance as soon as possible following your telephone interview. Every effort will be made to notify all applicants of their status by February 1.
Registration and Payment Schedule: Once you have been accepted for the training, you will be asked to complete a registration form that will need to be completed and returned to Smith Center along with a minimum payment of half of your total training costs in order to secure your space. Full payment is due to Smith Center no later than March 15.
Cancellation Policy: Students will receive a full refund for the training if they notify Smith Center by March 1. Students who withdraw from the training between March 2 and March 15 will have half of their deposit returned. No refunds will be made to students after March 15.
Accommodations and Travel
Given the rigorous nature of the training schedule, all training participants must stay on-site at Hallowood for the duration of the training.
The cost for room and board at Hallwoood is $750 for the entire training for a shared room and $850 for a private room. Availability of private rooms is limited; private room reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Accommodation costs include a comfortable en suite room with queen size beds, private bath, and all meals.
To make your reservation: Contact Toroitich Cherono at toroitich@smithcenter.org or 202. 483.8600. Do not contact Hallowood Retreat Center directly for reservations.
If you need to arrive the day before the training begins, please let us know when reserving your room and we will assist you in reserving an additional night’s stay.
Please note: Individual travel arrangements and costs are your responsibility, as are your accommodation costs, regardless of any scholarship assistance you may receive. As a non-profit organization, Smith Center cannot provide financial assistance for accommodations or meals at Hallowood. Scholarships can only be applied to actual training costs.
Scholarship Assistance
Smith Center has very limited support for scholarships. Thus, we ask that if you are considering scholarship assistance that you apply first to your institution/employer before applying to Smith Center.
Requests for scholarships generally exceed our resources. We offer partial grants amounting to one quarter or half of the program fee. In cases of extreme hardship, we will consider a larger grant.
Please help us to assist the greatest number of participants by considering carefully whether scholarship support is necessary for your participation.
To request a scholarship application, please contact Toroitich Cherono at at toroitich@smithcenter.org or 202.483.8600.
Please note: As a non-profit organization, Smith Center cannot provide financial assistance for accommodations or meals at Hallowood. Scholarships can only be applied to actual training costs.
