This month, the
MEP Interest Group on Integrative Medicine and Health will host a webinar on the added value of Integrative Oncology, in partnership with the European Society for Integrative Medicine (ESIM) and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
Integrative Oncology is a holistic and patient-centered approach to cancer care. Integrative Oncology utilises practices from different medical traditions alongside conventional cancer treatments, aiming to optimise health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes, in all stages of the disease. Multiple studies have demonstrated the benefit and potential of integrative cancer care in reducing patient suffering and improving long-term prospects.
Following the 2020 Integrative Oncology conference and the 2023 Integrative Oncology Breakfast Roundtable hosted by the MEP Interest Group on Integrative Medicine and Health, this webinar is part of the ongoing debate on the contribution of integrative oncology in tackling cancer. We will explore the added value of patients from various integrative treatments and discuss best practices of integration across Europe.
We will be joined by speakers Dr. Eran Ben-Arye, Dr. Jalid Sehouli, and Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, Elisa Baldini, Adrianne Waldt, Manuela Ripa. A Q&A will follow.
Date: Mon 27 May
Time: 12:00 – 13:00 CEST
Register to the webinar here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDchcB-8pN06JmSDBPXs4dZSnyi73zwKQdMi-2PaE7C9XFlQ/viewform
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The speaker’s bios:
Prof. Dr. Georg Seifert
Professor Dr. med. Georg Seifert is a distinguished senior physician specializing in pediatrics. He holds the prestigious position of Europe’s first professorship in integrative medicine in pediatrics at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, and serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
At Charité, Professor Seifert leads a groundbreaking project aimed at establishing a center dedicated to translating experiential traditional and integrative medicine (TCIM) into evidence-based practices supported by scientific data. This initiative seeks to broaden opportunities for individual health promotion, prevention, and therapy within society, with a particular emphasis on children and adolescents. His research interests span across various areas, including mind-body medicine, nutrition, and whole medical systems.
Professor Seifert’s work is driven by a deep commitment to exploring the intersection of TCIM with modern healthcare systems. He is passionate about harnessing the potential of TCIM to drive innovation and sustainability in healthcare delivery, aligning with the global strategy outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO), where he serves as a TCIM expert.
Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer
Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer is a physician specialised in pediatrics, who also holds a Masters of Public Health in Health Systems Management. Tido spent 14 years with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in a variety of positions and countries, and was the Executive director of the MSF Access Campaign to increase medicines availability in developing countries. He has also served in several advisory groups for the World Health Organization (WHO) and as a board member of UNITAID. He currently has an anthroposophic pediatric practice in Geneva and is a researcher with the ARCIM Institute at the Filderklinik (Germany) and the Department of Paediatrics of Fribourg Hospital (Switzerland).
Dr. Eran Ben-Arye
Dr. Eran Ben-Arye is an accomplished medical professional with a diverse background in complementary and traditional medicine. He holds an MD degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Ben-Arye specialised in family medicine at The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, and later developed and taught a complementary medicine education program at the University of Maryland in the United States. Currently, he serves as the co-founder and director of the Unit of Complementary and Traditional Medicine at the Department of Family Medicine, Haifa. He is also the director of the Integrative Oncology Program at the Haifa and Western Galilee Oncology Service. Dr. Ben-Arye is involved in various research activities, including the Middle East Research Group in Integrative Oncology (MERGIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guideline development panel. He has authored numerous manuscripts and chapters on integrative oncology, doctor-patient communication, and evidence-based medicine. Dr. Ben-Arye has also conducted several clinical studies in the field of complementary and integrative medicine.
Prof. Dr. Jalid Sehouli
Prof. Dr. Jalid Sehouli is a distinguished gynecologist and oncologist, serving as a professor and the Deputy Director of the Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC) at Berlin’s Charité hospital. Appointed to teach gynecology and obstetrics in 2005, he attained a W2 professorship in 2007 and a W3 full Professorship for Gynaecology in 2014, becoming the Director of the Clinic for Gynaecology.
Dr. Sehouli is renowned for his pioneering work in women’s health, founding Berlin’s first certified Ovarian Cancer Center in 2007. He holds a doctorate (1998) and completed his specialisation in gynecology and obstetrics by 2002. His habilitation thesis on “Multimodal Management of Malignant Ovarian Tumours” was completed at Humboldt-Universität in 2005.
His expertise includes experimental surgical gynecology, oncosurgery, and doctor-patient communication. Dr. Sehouli has authored numerous articles and books on gynecological oncology and actively participates in international studies on targeted therapies. He has played key roles in the European Society of Gynecological Oncology and received awards such as the Roma Focus Award in 2015 for his scientific contributions. An accomplished author, his works extend beyond scientific literature.
Veronique Verheyen
Véronique Verheyen is a language teacher for a Belgian governmental organisation and a breast cancer survivor, currently undergoing treatment for her second diagnosis. Advocating for holistic patient care, she has integrated conventional and complementary treatments, such as acupuncture and art therapy, into her journey. Now a multilingual artist, Véronique transforms “company culture cancers” into empowering environments and bridges different cancer therapies and mindsets through her art. She is currently working on writing a book/performance and producing podcasts called “Healing Hands at AZ Musica,” featuring insights from patients and medical experts.
Madene Shachar
Madene Shachar has been receiving active oncology treatment at the Lin Oncology Service in Haifa, Israel. She was referred to a free one-hour integrative oncology (IO) consultation, where she shared her expectations and quality of life (QoL) concerns. Following a comprehensive QoL assessment, a personalised IO treatment plan was developed.
Madene has participated in weekly IO treatments provided by physicians and therapists trained in both IO and supportive cancer care. These treatments, monitored under a pragmatic research protocol, were offered at no cost in both outpatient and inpatient settings. The aim was to ensure continuous IO care, evaluate treatment effectiveness in improving QoL, reduce oncology treatment toxicity, and enhance adherence to the treatment protocol while prioritising safety.
MEP Manuela Ripa
Manuela Ripa is a member of the Ökologisch-Demokratische Partei (Ecological Democratic Party) and has served in the European Parliament since July 2020, representing Saarland, Germany. Raised in Saarbrücken, she developed a strong European awareness due to her bilingual upbringing in German and Italian and the proximity to France and Luxembourg. In addition to her political role, Ripa is also a member of the Interest Group on Integrative Medicine and Health within the European Parliament. As a dedicated advocate for sustainability and ecology, Ripa emphasises the importance of these issues for future generations.
Elisa Baldini
Chair of EUROCAM from 2024. IVAA (International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations) Secretary General from June 2018. She is a specialist in EU Advocacy, who holds a Masters in International Relations and an Executive Masters in EU Project Management. She has previously worked for the Christian Blind Mission, Plan International and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, in roles focusing on the health and education sectors as well as on the EU budget. From 2011 to 2014, Elisa was a member of the European Network Action for Global Health.
Adrianne Waldt
Adrianne Waldt is the Coordinator of the MEP Interest Group of Integrative Medicine and Health of EUROCAM and the Head of Advocacy at the European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (ETCMA).
She works as a pain nurse and acupuncturist in a conventional hospital in Belgium, emphasising personalised care and education to enhance patients’ health and well-being by engaging them in their treatment. She conducted clinical acupuncture research and is passionate about integrating evidence-based theories into practice. Previously she worked as staff on international affairs for a humanitarian organisation for which she gave guest lectures at institutes and universities, developed publications and organized training courses.
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