Newswise — WASHINGTON (April 30, 2014) — The George Washington University (GW) Cancer Institute has launched its sixth module on cancer recovery and rehabilitation. This module is released one year after the Cancer Survivorship E-Learning Series for Primary Care Providers was launched in collaboration with the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Over the last year, we’ve had the opportunity to educate more than 400 U.S. providers about the ongoing health care needs of cancer survivors and advocate for greater quality of care post-treatment,” said Mandi Pratt-Chapman, M.A., director of GW Cancer Institute. “With more and more cancer survivors, this training program couldn’t come at a more crucial time.”

The learning objectives of module six are to:

- Understand the role and importance of rehabilitation post-treatment.- Understand the role and importance of spirituality during recovery post-treatment.- Identify interventions to assist in physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery of cancer survivors.

Christina Puchalski, M.D., director of the GW Institute of Spirituality and Health and professor of medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, will discuss “The Role of Spirituality in Cancer Care,” and Julie K. Silver, M.D., associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, will discuss “Cancer Rehabilitation: A Critical Component of Survivorship Care.”

“This module is unique in that it focuses on a holistic approach to recovery for cancer survivors from both a spiritual and a physical perspective,” said Anne Willis, M.A., director of the division of cancer survivorship for GW Cancer Institute.

The series was created as an integral part of the National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center’s mission to shape the future of cancer survivorship care and improve the quality of life of cancer survivors as they transition from treatment to recovery and beyond. The e-learning series is available to a range of health care providers, including general medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses who practice in a variety of primary care settings. The series is free and offers continuing education credits.

To access module six or to register for the series, visit www.cancersurvivorshipcentereducation.org.

Media: For more information, please contact Lisa Anderson at [email protected] or 202-994-3121.

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About the GW Cancer Institute:The GW Cancer Institute, housed within the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, takes a comprehensive approach to a complex disease. Working together with the GW Hospital and GW Medical Faculty Associates, the GW Cancer Institute brings multidisciplinary clinical, research, education and outreach programs together in a comprehensive approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. The mission of the GW Cancer Institute is to ensure access to quality, patient-centered care across the cancer continuum through community engagement, patient and family empowerment, health care professional education, policy advocacy and collaborative multi-disciplinary research. www.gwcancerinstitute.org

About the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences:Founded in 1825, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was the first medical school in the nation’s capital and is the 11th oldest in the country. Working together in our nation’s capital, with integrity and resolve, the GW SMHS is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national and global communities. smhs.gwu.edu