Lifestyle Oncology for Nurses

Director of Nursing, President of Palliative Care Nurses Australia

Adjunct Associate Professor Kate Swetenham is a registered nurse and the Director of Nursing for the End of Life Care team in the Department for Health and Wellbeing. She holds qualifications in general nursing, psycho-oncology, palliative care, and a Master of Science, where her research focused on the introduction and implementation of a nurse-led palliative care clinic. Kate is a member of the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying at Flinders University and a Board Director for Eldercare Incorporated. She currently serves as the president of Palliative Care Nurses Australia. Kate received a Nursing and Midwifery travel scholarship in 2011 to study Day Hospices and Rapid Response programs and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2017 to travel to the UK, Ireland, and Canada to investigate end-of-life care strategies. She has been involved in commissioning services to deliver the Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care Measure in South Australia and the Palliative Care Navigation Pilot and has provided clinical leadership in the implementation of voluntary assisted dying.

Medical Doctor, Professor, ESPEN faculty and guidelines

Nutritionist (ON0047N), Physician, Specialist in Immuno-Hemotherapy (OM55311). She holds a PhD in Nutrition, Oncology, and Metabolism and has expertise in Clinical Nutrition from ESPEN (European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism) as well as in Clinical Research from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon. She engages in clinical practice in clinical nutrition, metabolism, oncology, immuno-hemotherapy, and clinical medicine. At the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Portugal, she holds the positions of: Professor of Medicine, Nutrition, and Scientific Research, Member of the Scientific Council, Librarian Professor, Member of the Coordination of the Master’s Program, and Member of the Scientific and Installation Council of the Doctoral Program. She is the Director of the International Postgraduate Program “Nutrition and Metabolism in Oncology” and Team Leader and Principal Investigator at the Interdisciplinary Research Center in Health at UCP and CatolicaMed Platform. She is also an Associate Professor of Physiological Biochemistry at Egas Moniz University Institute (IUEM) and Principal Investigator at the Interdisciplinary Research Center Egas Moniz (CiiEM), Egas Moniz University Institute (IUEM). She is a member of the ESPEN Faculty and the ESPEN Guidelines Committee. She is the author and co-author of over 70 original scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

Registered Nurse and Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Priyanka Vandersman is a Registered Nurse and Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. Her research focuses on palliative care, digital health, and aged care. She contributes to the national palliative care project *End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC)*, enhancing Australia's aged care sector's capacity to deliver quality end-of-life care through innovative approaches. Priyanka specializes in developing, implementing, and evaluating novel digital technologies to support end-of-life caregiving processes.

Researcher and Lab Director, University of Iowa

Dr. Gorzelitz is equal parts kinesiology and epidemiology applied to cancer survivorship. Her research focuses on the importance of physical activity in cancer survivorship, with special emphasis on gynecologic oncology and the importance of muscle-strengthening exercise.

Her academic preparation all comes from the University of Wisconsin - Madison including formal training in kinesiology, epidemiology, population health, and physical activity epidemiology. After she completed her PhD, she completed the Cancer Prevention Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute within the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. During that time, she advanced her cancer epidemiology and biostatistical training. She continues to use both her observational epidemiology training along with her skills as a behavioral interventionist.

Now at the University of Iowa, she directs the Physical Activity and Cancer Survivorship (PACS) lab where she uses distance-delivered behavioral change approaches to advance physical activity behaviors in individuals with a cancer history.

Clinical Research Physician at EORTC

José Pais Silva has a background in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicine. He then underwent specialist training in Medical Oncology at the Lisbon Portuguese Institute of Oncology whilst also taking a masters in Palliative Care. He has then worked as a Medical Oncologist connected to the clinics and with an interest in research. He is currently working at the EORTC (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer).

Medical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester

Dr Gomes received most of his medical training in Lisbon (Portugal), where he achieved his MD having then finalised the medical oncology training between the Lisbon Central Hospitals and The Christie. After completing the speciality training, he continued at The Christie where he worked until 2020 as a clinical research fellow caring primarily for patients with lung cancer and melanoma. During this time, he also worked with the experimental cancer medicine team (ECMT) and completed a MRes in experimental cancer medicine with a distinction at The University of Manchester. In 2020, Dr Gomes was appointed as a Consultant in Medical Oncology with several roles and responsibilities (described above).

Doctor

Medical degree from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, NOVA University of Lisbon (OM 52675).

Internship in medical oncology (IPO Lisbon) for 2 years and 9 months (not completed).

Palliative care internship at Repatriation General Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre (Adelaide, Australia).

Master's degree in Palliative Care from the Catholic University of Portugal.

PhD in chronic dyspnea (shortness of breath) in advanced disease (Flinders University, Australia).

Clinical research position in Palliative Care at the University of Wollongong (Australia).

Certification in Lifestyle Medicine by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (United States).

Training in Functional Medicine (Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice) by the Institute for Functional Medicine (United States). Training in Health Coaching by the Health Coach Institute (United States).

Introduction to Integrative Oncology course at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona (United States).

200-hour certification for teaching yoga (Australia).

Specialization and certification for teaching yoga in oncology (yoga4cancer, United States).

Nutritionist, researcher and professor, Lund University and European University of Madrid

Pedro Carrera Bastos is a Portuguese and Spanish nutritionist, researcher, and PhD candidate at Lund University, Sweden, and the European University of Madrid, Spain. He holds a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, a BA in Business Administration, an MSc in Human Nutrition, and post-graduate diplomas in Biochemistry, Clinical Nutrition, and Exercise and Health. Pedro lectures extensively on Nutrition worldwide and is a cofounding partner of CEAN, a Spanish-based company that provides education in Nutritional Sciences for health professionals in Spain and Latin America. He is a co-author of highly viewed and cited papers, including "The Western Diet and Lifestyle and Diseases of Civilization," with over 1.7 million views, and "Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the lifespan," which ranks in the 99th percentile of all tracked articles in Nature Medicine.

Medical Oncologist and Researcher, Melanoma Institute of Australia

Inês earned her MD from Universidade Nova de Lisboa and specialized in Medical Oncology at Instituto Português de Oncologia. She completed her PhD in tumor immunology at Bhardwaj Lab (NYU Cancer Institute), focusing on how innate immune dysfunction affects melanoma progression. She has participated in clinical fellowships at NYU Cancer Institute and Melanoma Institute Australia, serving as a co-investigator in various clinical trials for melanoma. Inês has presented her research at numerous conferences and received several awards, including the best poster award at ESMO 2019 and multiple merit awards in 2019, 2020, and 2021. With over 50 publications, her work has appeared in prestigious journals like *Lancet Oncology*, *Journal of Clinical Oncology*, and *Cancer Cell*. Her research interests include biomarkers for immunotherapy response, mechanisms of resistance to treatment, and understanding patterns of metastasis and response, as well as toxicity associated with immunotherapy.

Clinical Psychologist, Champalimaud Foundation and President emeritus of IPOS

Luzia Travado is a clinical health psychologist specialized in psycho-oncology, holding a PhD from the University of Coimbra. She has over 35 years of hospital experience, with national and international relevance, in the integration of psycho-oncological care in the treatment of cancer patients. Currently, she is involved in clinical practice and research at the Champalimaud Foundation. In 2022, she received a prestigious international award for her work in promoting psycho-oncology.

Integrative Occupational Therapist and Energy Medicine Practitioner

Hima Dalal is an experienced occupational therapist with 43 years of practice, combining vibrational energy and medicinal science for a unique integrative approach. She earned her degree from Mumbai University and is a National Board Certified OT. Hima’s career includes working at Case Western Reserve University on breast cancer rehabilitation and later running a successful private practice in Mumbai. After moving to South Carolina, she opened Vital Energy Wellness & Rehab Center, expanding to two locations. Hima now focuses on teaching and holistic healing through her own practice, Hima Dalal Integrative Health Practice, offering specialized integrative OT interventions.

Nurse, Oncology and Rehabilitation

Nurse since 2003, specialist in Rehabilitation Nursing (2015) and vice-president of AICSO. Works in oncological rehabilitation and educational campaigns about cancer. She has training in CanRehab (2019), a Master's in Rehabilitation Nursing (2023), and is a doctoral student in Nursing Sciences at ICBAS.

Medical Oncology Assistant

Dr. Helena Luna Pais is a Medical Oncologist at Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon. Her clinical and academic work is grounded in a strong commitment to evidence-based and patient-centred cancer care. With specialized training in palliative care and a focus on digestive and breast cancers, she actively participates in national and international clinical trials. A member of SPO, ESMO, and ASCO, Dr. Pais also contributes to professional development and advocacy through her involvement in early-career and patient-focused groups within the Portuguese Society of Oncology.

Medical doctor

Dr. María Laura Nasi is a pioneering medical doctor specializing in Integrative Oncology, rooted in Psycho-Neuro-Immunology (PNI). With advanced training in Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York), she has excelled in oncology research and led international projects. As a Mindfulness facilitator, she sees her role as a guide on the journey to self-knowledge, empowering individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives through techniques such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, bioenergetics, expressive arts, and somatic practices for trauma healing. Dr. Nasi teaches PNI at various universities and offers engaging workshops on integrative health practices.

Nutritional Scientist

Toral Shah, a Nutritional Scientist and Integrative Oncology Practitioner, focuses on

optimizing health, reducing cancer risk, and preventing chronic diseases through nutrition

and integrative methods. A breast cancer survivor, she understands the importance of diet

and lifestyle changes post-diagnosis. Her MSc thesis examined dietary strategies to

reduce breast cancer recurrence, and she has created integrative oncology courses for

breast and prostate cancer patients. She collaborates with NIHR and other academic

institutions on cancer patient prehabilitation and rehabilitation research including

nutrition and lifestyle, with a particular focus on breast cancer . Outside clinical work,

Toral educates and advocates through collaborations with brands, organizations, and

media. She co-founded South Asian Supernovas to tackle health disparities in cancer care

in South Asians.

Research Fellow and PhD

Dr Slavica Kochovska is a Research Fellow at the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and an Adjunct Research Fellow at IMPACCT, University of Technology Sydney. She is a palliative care researcher with an academic background in linguistics. Her research focuses on delineating the impact of chronic breathlessness for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families, and alleviating its impact through better recognition, assessment and response in clinical practice.

Physical Therapist and Researcher

Physical therapist with over 20 years of experience, including as lead therapist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Since 2018, she has led advancements in oncology rehabilitation in Israel, co-founding the first national course in oncology physical therapy and the Oncology PT Subgroup of the Israeli Physical Therapy Society. She contributes to research, lectures widely, and serves as Education Lead for IPT-HOPE.

Physiotherapist

Physiotherapist with clinical and academic expertise in palliative care and respiratory physiotherapy. She has worked in a palliative care unit in Lisbon since 2015 and was part of a community team from 2020 to 2023. A graduate of ESSA and King’s College London, she collaborates with educational institutions on physiotherapy training in palliative care. She is a member of the Working Group on Oncology and Palliative Care of the Portuguese Order of Physiotherapists and the EAPC Task Force on Rehabilitation in Palliative Care.

Consultant Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Matt Fowler is a Consultant Advanced Clinical Practitioner in cancer services at University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. He specialises in advanced nursing practice, same-day emergency care, low-risk febrile neutropenia, and cancer-associated thrombosis, running weekly clinics in colorectal oncology and thrombosis. Fowler holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Duke University and lectures nationally and internationally at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Health coach and cancer rehabilitation specialist

Georgios Mavropalias is an exercise oncology and cancer rehabilitation specialist with a PhD in muscle and connective tissue adaptation. He has an international academic and clinical background, with extensive experience in exercise medicine, clinical nutrition, telehealth, and oncology-focused research.

His work spans clinical practice and research, including leadership roles in exercise oncology studies, coordination of multicentre clinical trials, and the development of personalised exercise and lifestyle interventions for people undergoing cancer treatment. His areas of expertise include managing treatment-related side effects, improving functional capacity and body composition, and integrating evidence-based exercise and nutrition into comprehensive oncology care.

Alongside his clinical and research activity, he is an experienced university lecturer and author of multiple peer-reviewed publications in international scientific journals. His work contributes to advancing the role of exercise and rehabilitation as core components of modern, integrative cancer care.