Region's first integrative therapy clinic opens at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center

Sentara Healthcare believes treating cancer means treating the whole patient: mind, body and soul. The Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies is now open to all cancer patients in the Hampton Roads region inside the Sentara Brock Cancer Center. Services in the Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies are in memory of Jeanne Carrillo and David Kern.

Integrative therapy is an approach to wellness that combines traditional medicine with holistic treatments such as acupuncture, massage, nutrition, reiki, yoga, Tai Chi, meditation, art therapy, pet therapy, and more. The Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies will be the first in the region to integrate a range of these services into a patient’s care plan. Click here for a full description of each of the unique services offered.

“I have experienced first-hand how integrative therapies can support a patient’s mind, body, and soul when they are undergoing cancer treatment,” said Suzanne Carrillo, generous donor in honor of her sister, Jeanne Carrillo and brother-in-law, David Kern. “When our loved ones, Jeanne and David, were battling cancer they independently sought integrative therapies to support their comfort and care. It is important for these services to be accessible and affordable to all cancer patients in Hampton Roads.”

Patients are eligible for integrative therapy services from the time of cancer diagnosis through their first-year post-treatment. Services are not limited to patients of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center; any cancer patient or survivor can visit the Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies. Many of the services are free to patients (such as reiki, group nutrition classes, and art therapy), while other services not covered by insurance will be offered at discounted rates. Generous donations will offset the cost of these services in the Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies. Donations can be made to the Sentara Foundation by clicking here.

“Integrative therapies can be very successful in providing patients relief from uncomfortable symptoms physically, emotionally, and spiritually throughout their cancer journey,” said Dr. Ying Li, co-medical director of the Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies. “We use evidence-based therapies, backed by ongoing research, to help patients cope with their distress from cancer and/or treatment side effects like pain, depression, anxiety and lack of energy. These are often services patients seek out independently and we believe offering these therapies at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center in conjunction with a patient’s treatment plan can offer great benefits to their quality of life and overall health.”

Dr. Ying Li, Sentara Clinical Program Director of Palliative Care Medicine, will co-lead the integrative therapy center alongside Dr. Lara Bonner Millar, EVMS Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, who is fellowship-trained in integrative medicine. Dr. Boon Kok, VOA Medical Oncologist, will also be involved in ensuring cancer patients in our community become aware of these unique offerings. The Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies was designed and modeled after several of the most successful integrative therapy clinics across the country.

To learn more about the integrative services offered, please visit the Carrillo Kern Center for Integrative Therapies website or call 757-624-0420. The center is located on the fourth floor of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center at 6251 E. Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA, 23502.